New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-24
DEBATE ON A GREAT SOUTHERN AND
WESTERN MEASURE.

/
warned by the vatchmen who break into
the room where they are playing. The
| game OF party politics must be equally
exciting, and those who play must be
| equally unconscious of the outside dan
ger that threaten them.
The West is oppressed with the vast
| produce o: it, fields. 1t has endeaNoreo
to work this ,,irDi;is up into manufactured
| fabrics but neither war abroad. nor the
| developed productions of the plantation
| States can furnish market adequate TO
it, CONSUMPTION. New England produces
| certain fabric, which cmbody skill and
| material. For this she has no foreign
market, and the home demand Is threat
enad with competition by the new artl-
-icers O: the West There is Il large ship
| building interest now almost excluded
| from the sea by the cheaper vessels On
Europe.
In th;, state of industrial blockade and
embargo. comes a proposition to establish
line OF postal steamers to Mexico, partly
at the expense of the nation. 1t is shown
that thi, trade is very valuable: that II
passes or doors to foreign ports, and that
England has been enabled to build up
and carry away thu, trade by extending
government aid to steam lines. This
trade is even reduced to figures. OF fifty
five millions of foreign trade, the tnited
States only enjoys about five millions, eN-
cept an exceptional addition given last
wear by It's. such a subvention as is now
asked 1t is shown that by shortening
and making certain the time between
NV Orleans and Vera Graz. the
whole specie shipment. whether
for the United States Or for Liver
pool. can be passed over or roads in less
time and at less insurance than by
the British steamers. 1t is known that
the southern States are SO impoverished
that they have not the means to make this
connecting link upon which this valuable
commerce depends. Yet, notwiths.and-
in this. y bill granting a moderate sub
ven.ion has had to fight as many battles
for position a, Grant did in the memorable
campaign of the Wilderness, Strange as
it NAV seem. the most formidable oppoSl-
ton came from the West. Our Senator,
Mr. Kellogg, was charged with the con
duct Of the bill. Il WA, introduced at
the last session, but was not set for con-
sheraton until the last day, Of January.
1t then had a series of combats. Ill which
the most in,iiious AID indirect tactics
were employed to postpone Or defeat 1t.
Finding that the steamship subsidy bill
was pressed with sSch pertiRcity that il
must be passed or killed, its antagonists
prepared to a3sail its most Vulnerable
provisions, ami on Wednesday. the four
.aeatn instant. va, the great and decisive
field day which resulted III its success.
We do not arrogate anything to our excel
lent representative when We state that he
made TIL, fight in behalf Of his con-
st:1uents alone, and that to hi, ability,
good temper, tact and persona. popularity
is due the favorable vote on that occasion.
These commentators are derived from
a 1er,,sal Of the debates. Mr.. Ramsey,
from the posto1fice committee, moved to
strike out the corporatorS named III the
bill. and insert new list. Mr.. Edmunds,
o. Vermont, expressed surprise that the
po,tofice committee should depart from
the usual practice OF authorizing the
Postmaster General to contract for the
service, and leave him to invite COMPETE
ton from all who might be interested.
lIr. Kellogg replied by citing the exam
pie Of bill that passed both houses IN
1873; and again, to the subvention bill
giving aid to q postal line between New
York and Rio Janeiro on condition that
Brazil would give a subsidy also.
At this stage New York attempted to
get in body blow" i'll the shape OF a
remonstrance against all subsidies, and a
petition for permission to import ships
ready made. Mr.. Fenton said this was
signed by two hundred prominent firms
of New York. It was read, but not b!
way of argument, and was referred to the
Committee on Commerce. This 1'as en-
tirely out of order. and seemed only in
tended to damage the impending bill
Mr.. Kellogg manifested a degree OF fair
ness which saved much valuable time and
disarned some opposition. He moved tt
allow the Postmaster General to pay pro
portion of the subsidy during the period
when the contractors were engaged IL
building the steamships. and then came
square up to the proposition OF the
Senator from Vermont 10 test the sense OF
the Senate upon the principle of contrac
to the best bidder Messrs Ramsey, Ed
munds, Warner, Harlan, Pomeroy and
Chandler then perfected the bill to make
it conform entirely, in all its details, to the
principle they advocated.
A dangerous harmony seemed now i'm
minent, and Senator Sherman, who la,
been a sort of Nctellu, Climber, who
likes not the bill from the beginning
nov interposed. Taking up the Statement
OF Mr. Kellogg, that there was no posta
service at this time between New Orleans
and Vera Cruz, he assaulted the bill as no
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