The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-09-15
Mr.. Foot's remarks on the Atlantic
Telegraph Bill, in the Senate Of
the United States, Feb, 26, 1857.

IeleHTdpu DILL III tue oouuto VI
the United States, Feb, 26. 1857
Tie bill to expedite telegraphic COM
munication between the United States and
foreign countries, being under considera.
tion, MIR. Foot said:L-- tis '.ih5
Dir. President, voted for this bill as
it passed the Senate. Ishall vote now in
favor of concurrence in the House amend
ments. Both Houses, full upon consider
alton, have agreed upon the leading fea-
lures, and thus have signifed their ap-
proval of the purposes of the bill. The
House amendments are simple. well un-
derstood by the whole Senate, Of compar-
atively little Importance, and require no
exa amination in committee. They do not
impair or essentially modify the main pro-
visions 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 endanger-
ing the passage of the bill. The amend
ment of the honorable Senator from Vir-
ginia (Mr. Hunter) is an adversary prop
osition, 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 quai-
ter. Such motion will, of course, en-
body the vote of the opposition to the
bill, but will not be likely to command
vote from those who desire its passage.
/ shall vote in favor of concurrence,
because l have no objection to the House
amendments, and am in favor Of the OBJ
| jects of the bill, and desire its immediate,
passage in order to secure those objects
l regard the measure which this bill is
intended to aid as the great and crown
ing enterprise of this age of progress in
the application of art and science to the
practical purposes Of life. l have an
abiding confidence in the complete sue
cess of the proposed undertaking This
confidence is founded chiefly upon the re-
suits of experiments already made, and
upon the opinions Of scientific practical
men. Submarine telegraph lines have
been laid down in several instances, and
in every case they have been attended
with complete success to the extent they
have been tried.
But, Mr.. President, let me inquire for
q moment what is the proposition upon
which we are called to act--the PROPOSE
ton contained in the bill before us? Why
sir, to express it in brief, it is nothing
more or less than whether we will aid in
an effort which, if successful. is to place
us as Government and people in direct
and immediate communication with the
civilized world, for the comparatively
triaing consideration of fifty TO seventy
thousand dollars year. The expert.
ment, if successful costs US nothing but
the use of one, or at most Of two, vessels
for few months, which would otherwise
be unemployed, in assisting to lay dowr
the wire. The whole loss, in case of fail
ure, falls upon the company.
In the event of the success of the en-
terprise-and success is hardly to be
deemed doubtful its benefits to oul
country, and to the whole country, and To
every material interest Of the country
commercial, political, and social, must
indeed, be invaluable. No man may nov
undertake to measure them. 1t places vi
in daily communication with the capita
and the commercial marts of every State
in Europe, and with, portions of Asia ant
Africa. Itplaces us in easily commuui
cation with our diplomatic representative
at foreign courts-at London and Pari
and Madrid and Vienna and st. Peters
burgh and Constantinople and elsewhere
The leading events which transpired oil
the eastern continent on yesterday ar
made known to the American people to
day. The debates In Parliament
revolution in Fran e; the fate Of a bat
tie /; the fall Of a city or an empire ; tn
change of dynasty all the great AM
stirring events of the day, as we'll as tn
daily prices current, are brought forth
with to the knowledge Of our own Gov
ernment and people. 1t is for those VIII
say that all this is nothing, to oppose thi
" measure 1t is for those who may regar'
all this as Of no account, to laugh at it a
wild and impracticable, and visionar
J scheme. 1t is for those who may cour
all this as Of no value, to denounee it q
, an extravagant and unwarrsntable vast
Il of the public money.
q But, sir, l have faith to believe it wi
stand the test Of the seyerest ordeal, an
e. | q - l. A.