Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-09-03
MIR. Foors REMARKS


was as follows
MR. FOoTs REMARKS
on THE ATLANTIC TELE0RAPH BILL,
Ia the Senate Of the United States. February 25 1857.
The bill to expedite teegraphic commune
cation between the United States and foreign
countries being under consideration, Mr. Foor
said -
Mr.. President IL voted for this bill as
it passed the Senate | shall vote now in
favor Of concurrence in the House amend
ments. Both Houses, full upon consideration,
have agreed upon the leading features, and
thus have signifed their approval of the pur-
poses of the bill The House amendments
are simple. we'll understood by the whole
Senate, of comparatively little importance,
aud require no examination in committee
They do not impair or essentially modify the
main provisions and objects of the bill. The
/ friends of the measure can have no hesitancy
in agreeing to these amendments at once.
without delaying, and thereby enGangering
the passage Of the bill. The amendment of
the honorable Senator from Virginia Mr..
Hunter is an adversary proposition, tending,
| if not designed, TO delay, and so far forth. to
defeat the bill--a legitimate and parliamentary
course, to be sure, as coming from hostile
quarter. Such a motion will, Of course, em-
/ body the vote Of the opposition to the bill,
but will not be likely to command vote
from those who desire its passage.
I / shall vote in favor Of concurrence, because
J have no objection to the House amend
ments. and am in favor of the objects Of the
bill. and desire its immediate passage in or
der 10 secure those objects | regard the
measure which this bin is intended to aid
the great and erowuing enterprise of this age
I of progress in the application OF art and
science to the practical purposes of life.
have an abiding confidence in the complete
success Of the proposed undertaking. This
confidence is founded chiefly upon the results
of experiments already made, and upon the
opinions Of scientific and practical men,
Submarine telegraph lines have been laid
down in several instances. and in every case
they have been attended with complete sue
cess to the extent they have been tried.
But Mr. President let me inquire for
moment what is the proposition upon which
We are called to act-the proposition contain
ed in the bill before us; Why, sir, to ex-
press it in brief it is nothing more or less
than whether we will ale in an effort which,
if successful, is to place us as a Government
and people in direct and immediate com
munication with the civilized world, for the
comparatively trihing consideration of fifty
to seventy thousand dollars year; The ex-
pertinent, il unsuccessful, costs us nothing
but the use Of one, or at most Of two vessels
} for few months. which who'd otherwise be
unemployed, in assisting to lay down the wire
The whole loss in case of failure, falls upon
the company
In the event Of the success Of the enter
prise-and success is hardly 20 be deemed
doubtful--its benefits to our country, and TO
the whole country. and 20 every material in
terest Of the country, commercial, political,
and social. must indeed, be invulnerahle.-
No man may now undertake to measure them.
1t places us in daily communication with the
capital and the commercial marts Of every
State in Europe, and with portions Of Asia
and Africa 1t places MS in daily commnni-
cation with our diplomatic representatives at
foreign courts at London, and Paris, and
Madrid, and Vienna and St Petersbnrgh.
and Constantinople. and elsewhere. The
leading events which transpired on the east
ern continent on yesterday are made known
to the American people to-day. The debates
in Parliament; revolution in France the
fate of a battle the fall Of a city or en-
pire the change Of dynasty all the great
aud stirring events Of the day, as well as the
daily prices current. are brought forthwith to
the knowledge of our own Government and
people 1t is for those who say that all this
is nothing to oppose this measure. 1t is for
those who may regard all this as of no ac-
count to laugh at it as wild and impracti
cable aud visionary scheme II is for those
who may count this as of no value to de-
nounce il as an cxtravagant and unwarrantable
waste Of the public money.
But. sir. have faith to believe it will stand
the test of the severest ordeal, and outlive all
assaults Of whatever character, and from
whatever quarter; that il will command the
undivided consent of the American people as
a great economical mcasure-as measure of
immense practical value to the country--as
measure eminenty promotive Of international
peace. union. and harmony-as one Of the
proudest triumphs which genius and art have
ever aehievcd--as, in short the sublimcst
consummaton of the age in which we live.
Just so widely different are my views and
my anticipations from those of honorable SEN
ators who feel themselves constrained to OPP
pose the passage of this bill A very few
months, however. will tost the results Of the
experiment, and test the wiser policy and the
deeper discernment of those who resist or of
those who favor the measure. When it shall
have been once brought into successful and
triumphant operation as its friends anticipate
! it will vindcate itself-it will silence all
clamor all ridcule, and all opposition, and
be hailed everywhere and by everybody as a
boon to the country and the world And
) when once its benefits and its blessings shall
+ have been fully realized, depend upon it the
: American people will never consent to dis
S pense with our whole system of railroads and
It telegraphs and other modes Of internal com
) munication.
This is by no means the first time that an
n important experimental enterprise has been
i secuted as wild and visionary scheme, in
ID volving a useless waste OF time and money.
N This case belongs not to the thousand schemes
c. and humbugs of the hour, resting upon no
principles of science or Of common sense
but which contravene both II belongs to
Z no class of supposed new discoveries, nol
r does it propose the development of any new
y, principle hitherto untried and unknown. II
/. only purposes to extend ond enlarge the op
Grafton of well known principle of natura
s,t science, and which has been thoroughly tested
But all new and untried enterprises, whether