The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-24

of Central America and Mexicoshe is busy engaged in
helping herself TO slice after slice In the East Indies
and Asia. The Exeter-HAll phase is for u.s. 1t con
siss of very solemn lectures upon morality upon the
universal millennium upon peace and its benefits, upon
duties TO her and subjecwe are ectured by
all these considerations and told TO behave ourselves
pretty we'll We lecured the horrors Of the inst
tuition OF slavery and on great many other horrors
While all this is DONE step by step In both continents she
is securing within her control, by her policy of
naturalization, where that is available the mastery of
everything which hedge this nation round both
sides, south and north in Central America and In Cana
dawih British navies TO command the seasour CONNER
cial rival in peaceour formidable enemy In of
We are asked to vote money out of our treasury to arm
her again. that may be- by the twin serpens of her
power and her diplomacy, encoed, every limb like the
fabulous Laocoon and as the argumen for all this
told that peace come that to be preserved
that to be sneerd at when contemplate tho
effect which these measures may have upon us and peo
pie in case of the unfortunate contingency ofa war; Why
sir it wise maxim, approved by the authority Of
Washington that it duty in time of peace pre-
pare for war; and, despite the senator from New Hamp
shire and despite too, my friend from illinois, shall feel
1t to be my duty to look to the consequences of this
policy in the of unfortunate misunderstanding
We certainly have many very valuable relations with Eng
andrelaons which would be the last man to disturb
rashlyreIatons which if disturbed would inhct mischief
upon equal to the mischief which would be inflicted
upon her. But sir am free to say that think there
greater misfortunes than war When see policy which
aspres TO control all the affairs of Europea policy which
by union with France dictates terms in the of all the
intestine quarres of the European powersa policy which
10 Prussia tnuS lar, ana TO switzerland
you may defend thus arwhen is added course of
aggression and control in ASIA and s 10 be pursued by
her power and domain upon this continent,
both sides of policy which exacted from us in the
Oregon treaty the right to maintain her forts and her gar
rsons upon soil in Oregon and Washington Ter
roresl not disposed for one at any instgaton to
give her the power of extending it any further say this
because have been provoked to say it. have never be-
fore in the Senate alluded to the question at all but now
that have said it let it stand rrevocably II the senator
from New Hampshire any other senator thinks it
subject of merrment he Ia nil he
can make out Of it.
say again, sir, that in my Judgment the importance of
this measure to the British government such and it's ut
ter lack of importance to SUCH that il
affords an opportunity for u.s. by negotiation, to obtain
from her the most important advantages which ba
given to US on this continent both respects the
cial advantage in time of peace in relation to fisheries
and the safety of our northern frontier in of war
Other senators may think differently they at liberty
to vote differently but my convictions that sub
ject are sincere, and must vote in accordance with them
referred to the ClaytonB Bulwer convention because it
had received the assent of both The honor
able senator from Illinois says that he desires such
traizaon as has been proposed under that conventions
nor do am entirely with the senator that question
but this at all events is worthy of considerations il the
which has been promised us in Central
America and 10 which have agreed submit be worth
anything 1t s worth the price of naturalization in the
northeast corner of the continent If Great Britain does
not observe the naturalization of New Brunswick and
Newfoundland, she longer ask to submit to her
system Of naturalization in Central America We at all
events shall have that guarantee We put the the
Same footing, and If she offers to this teegraphc
communication in time of war, in spite of these
tons will be in our power TO seize the communications
at Panama and at Nicaragua and to prevent her from
using them 81 .I s#
repeat if the British government intends to act in
good faith this bill need not be delayed Mt ALL 1t may
be passed with this amendment to the effect
for am not strenuous about the FORM and she may
cude the convention before this Congress adourns If
she is not in good faith, then it behooves u.s. at all
events government leave this enterprise where we
found It,
Mr. BENJAMIN. have listened, Mr., President, with a
great deal Of interest to the discussion and first with
out the slightest intention to participate in it but
the views which have been presented by the gentleman
from Ohio strike me as so extraordinary that cannot
did suppose at first that the senator from Ohio
was serious in his proposition to invite from Great Britain
what is termed concession Of naturalization of portion
Of her undonbted possessions and cannot think that the
honorable senator locks upon this subject practically when
he speaks to us Of this being golden opportunity when
Great Britain is so greatly in need of this communication,
and we have 30 little for it putting it in power to
exact terms from her Why sir the senator has not cali
culaed the sum Of money that involved in this bill when
ne speaks OF ta great Importance The sum Of money
that ha proposes to give for the of this ee
graph will amount in the twenty-five years. to something
between 100000 and f40O000 Now if this be matter
golden opportunyand if indeed her control Of this line
be such powerful engine whether in in peace lit
not most extraordinary that she proposes to full share
its benefits and in its CONTROL and allows
equal rights with herself in the transmission of
ncaons for the Of about 100000 to be paid in
nual insalmens through twenty-five years II Is obv
government
in the light in which the senator from Ohio views it 1t
ia obvious that if this be indeed very important nsru-
mentality In behalf of Great Britain for the conduct of
her commerce. the government of her possessions the
efficient action Of her troops in time of war; the 100000
expended upon it but drop in the bucket when
compared with the immense of that empire
think therefore, may well discard from consid
Grafton of this subject all these visions about the immense
Importance of the governmental aid in this matter be
rendered under the provisions of this bill.
Again. sir it has been suggested that there is questioned
power. If have right to hire ware
house Port Mahon in the Mediterranean storing
val stores have not right hire company carry
our messages Does this bill propose the construction OF
line telegraph by the government? Does propose the
appropriation of money out of the federal treasury for any
purpose not anticipated by the constitutions Not at ALL sir
company here and tells "If you will pay
much per annum for such service for such length Of
time will perform that service for YOU it is in
which your government Ia neresed you will not give
US that pay for that service, may may not be
able hereafter TO render it upon terms which shall
have the power to exact but if you viii not make that
contract now in advance we, our side will not bind our
Selves you must abide the issue Of the enterprise and be
subject to such exacons we please to impose if you
want to use the work"
That is all and should as think of questioning
the constitutional power Of the government to pay freight
to vessel for carrying its maibags tho
pay tolegraphic company certain per annum for
conveying its messages by the of the electric telegraph
We are not engaging in any enterprise authority for which
is not committed by the constitution. We do not
in advance work OF great public Importance and interest
not only to the government but to the people OF the uni
ted States say to the engaged in private enter
prise that If they will embark in this enterprise we will
hire their services in advance at fixed rate IL by the
alurement OF this offer of something OF extra pay that