New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-31
XXXvIrH CONGRESS.
SENATE. .W.,uI,oror M,v N ,see
FIRST SESSION.

1nomas IL. Hhrfls was passed.
MIR. WIGFALL Dem, Texas called attention 1.
the speech Of Mr. Bingham, in which an extraet .s.
made from one of his WiRallsl speeches, in which
language attributed to him that he never u,ed
He pronounced the quotation utterly false.
Mr.. BINGHAM tRep., Mich) said he found the Ian.
guage in a newspaper and supposed il to be correct
He had no intention Of incorporating the Senator
| from Texas.
Mr.. TRUMBULL Rep ILL., rose to personal ex
plauation in regard 10 article In The C0nsiitytion
attacking his and that of Mr.. Haun, upon one OF
Mr.. Dayss resolutions and said Il the editor Of that
journal had read his remarks at that tne he woGd not
have made false statement as to bis position. He
had never denied that Congress should protect oonsti.
tutiOnal rights IN Territory, but no did deny TIA.
holding slaves constitutional right II i'll becans
the editor OF The official organ and the Printer Of the
Senate thus to wilfay msrepresent the views Of Sen.
| atOrs.
| Mr.. SLIDELL Dem, La. reported back the BIZ,
for the acquisition of Cuba but said he would not pres.
it at this session. He gave notice that he should call
1 up at the next session.
| Mr.. SLIDELL presented report from majority
of the Committee appointed to investigate the charges
of corruption against the Printer of the Senate accom-
panied by resolutions. which he moved DO printed
| Mr. KING rep, n. " to make an expIans-
tion but cut short bya motion to take up the 0v-
| land Mail bill, which prevailed.
| Mr.. GWIN Dem, CALI appealed to Mr. Hale 10
withdraw his substitute for the present. in order topper
| feet the original bill.
The CHAIR called up the special order, being the
Mr. GWIN moved to postpone it in order to continue
the consideration Of the California Overland Railroad
bill.
Mr.. FESSENDEN rep, Me- objected.
Mr. TOOBMS Dem, Ga.l hoped the motion would
not prevail II matters were left over in this way,
and the Senate jumped from subject to another.
they would be able to get through with business
The motion to postpone was carried BY Yeas, u;
Mr. WADE REP, Ohio offered resolution that
during the remainder of the present session no Senator
should speak more than fifteen minutes, nor more than
once on the subject.
Motion objected to-
Mr. HALE rep, n. H. withdrew his substitute
for the Overland Mail bill.
Mr.. LATHAM Dem, CAL offered an amendment
authorizing the Postmatertienera to contract With
the contractors on the routes between st. Joseph, Mo-
and Great Salt Lake, and between Salt Lake and
Placerye for a semi-weekly mail, the distance TO be
done in twenty. daysat not more than s4b2 Oo annu-
ay also to contract for the transportation OF printed
matter and franked documents by steamships al nos
over S4C0 900 per year; also to contract LOT day
mail by coaches from April l. to December ana TIL
weekly for the balance of the year from Sacramento
Portland Oregon at not over 100000 per annum;
aso 10 contract for weekly mail from St. Paul, Min
nesoia to the falls of Oregon at not over s2OOo
Mr.. LATHAM explained the provisions Of his
amendment.
MIR. LATHAM referred to TIE great interest felt in
this subject by the people Of California which for their
immediate benefit was paramount even TO the racine
Railroad. Every conceivable proposition on this SUB
tertaned but opinion as to the proper course OF
legislation, in which in the first instance he believed
bis colleague and the entire delegation from California
concurred. Attempts however, TO reconcile conflicting
interests had failed and he thought his colleague would
now agree upon their original policy as the one most
satisfactory to California and the whole country Mr.
Latham then read statement Of all the contracts aud
their term and present condition, derived from COM
munication from the Post Office Department, winch
showed the following result: From st. Louis and
Memphis to San Francisco, twice a week with John
Butterfied & Co.. $500, 600; om st. Joseph TO
Salt Lake, weekly, with Mr.. Hockaday, at $l900o0,
decreased afterward to two trips per month at sooV0
which, with the amounts paid on the other routes,
made the entire expense Tor t9e overama d ,Se
Steamship Company, which made the total cost OF the
mail service to the Pacific 1872 SS 9efs So EI show s.
log u saving of 81 O75 42l Ii was now proposed to
bring the mail service to the Pacific and intermediate
territories back to such SYSTEM as, while not
materially increasing the present cost would give such
ABILITIES demanded. The people of California
were unanimous in demanding daily overland mail,
10 be performed in the most expeditions manner, and
free from sectional jealousy to the selection Of
the route. He wanted great highway over which
the mail should pass, and along which emigration could
be protected. The Representatives, however, who
naugurated the overland mail system, had been inhu
enced BY sectional eaousies, and they had to leg
isate with reference to vested rights and existing
tracts He was unwilling, for one, when parties in
good faith had made contract with the Government,
and neqrred expense to step in d and snpqi
in great Government, and unworthy Of
Congress The Government, to be respected, must
observe good faith and keep the contracts made with
its citizens. Ii was nonsense to talk of compromising
parties by giving them damages their application 70
Congress The delays of claimants were too well
known 1t was therefore, their duty to legislate with
reference to the existing contracts and protecting them,
at the same time perfect their system. He was sorry
to disposition in Congress hurriedly to abrogae
the Bhtterfed mail route, the history Of which was
of the trumphs of the age and solely because of
sectional prejudice. When the Postmaster General in
1857 made the contract, Messrs. Buttereld Co. OBJ
ected to the circutousness of the route il increased
their outlay. But the Postmaster insisted and the
contractors had to yield. Since the route has been in
operation there has been single failure in the
schedule time, the average time having not been
twenty-five but twenty-five days: and this, too IN the
face Of seemingly nsurmounable obstacles, and in one
year, without single dollar from the Govern
ment, the Post-0iIice Appropriation bin having
failed. The average time made by this line from
st. Lous TO San Francisco during the six months end
ing March 81, 1850, was q days, Is hours Nowh
was proposed to abrogae this useful ne and give the
Company 100000 as hqudated damages. He was
opposed 10 such action unjust and dsrepntbe, and
unoaled for. The Company had expended, to put the
line III operation over sJ0oOO0 and up TO this time
the receipts for mails and passengers had not covered
the annual outlay. They had been obliged, in pur-
suancc of their contract to build one hundred and fifty
stations, stock them with animals and guard them
with men. Their contract was peculiar, containing no
provision for giving excuse in OF failure and
only paying them when the service was performed
They also to receive protection by the Govern
ment from Indians, which not being DONE they had TO
protect themselves at their expense, not even re-
ceivng the mail pay during the greater portion of ths
time. Mr.. Latham, therefore, thought Con-
gress possessed no right to terminate the con.
tract, except by the exercise of despoc power.
BY the terms Of the contract the PostmasterGeneral
could annul change It's provisions aud hero be
read the letter Of the POSTMASTER General, dated April
4. -. r