The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-17
Ocean steam Navigation,

we learn from the journals and from private cor
espondence, that great solcitude prevails in the com
merca circles with regard to the measure now pending
before Congress the establishment of line of Amer
can mail steamers between New York and Liverpool Ii
is humiliating TO nation that we are behind all
our great commercial rivals in ocean steam navigation
Looking at 1t as commercial question only, is all-im
poant We have, to all ntents and purposes abandon
ed the steam carrying trade of the world to Great Britain
Two millions Of dollars paid annually to English car
rers for the transportation of American letters passen-
gers, and merchandise The French are following in the
footsteps OF their great rivals contract has been en-
tered into by the government of France with distin-
gushed commercial house OF Havre for line of four
steamers between that port and New York Thus,
for the want of little timely assistance from govern
ment, American trade and business running for
egn channels, from which it will be difficult to divert
them, when we shall be roused too late, of
our situation. p'
But we cannot regard this purely commercial ques
ton II embraces higher and more important considera-
tons than those of trade and traffic. The mail
steamers with which Great Britain is penetrating the
hottest seas, not constructed with view merely to
commerce and communication. They r-seamers
in Disguise and subject to the absolute control of the
British Admiralty at moments notice They are a
school for the education of their young naval officers in
the science of steam navigation. While we write,
Great Britain can marshal hundred war-steamers
her service, many OF them of unprecedented magnitude
and power-some of wood, some OF iron-some paddle
wheel steamers, others with submerged popellers and
chnery under the water peall strong, efficient and
viceabe Here we may add that the reliable por-
tha hae nd eat al
this vast marine are the very mail steamers for the sup
port of which the American people are contributing with
aberaity, not to say thoughessness inexamped among
nations H IN
Never, in the history of the world, was more cheap
and ingenious system devised for national defence AS
in the case of the Cunard steamers for instance Great
Britain pays 100000 year to the Liverpool and Boston
line This sum, she is reimbursed, nearly REIN
bursed, by hostages Thus, by the mere Advance Of
this money, she keeps four first-class steamers in
commission, always in perfect repair and condition
and ready to be taken at any time into the public
service Now the interest the cost of of these
ships and the expenses incident to keeping il in commits
sion for year, would be not less than 100000,
the two lines, $,600,O0o 1t might be too much to
say that the whole of this is saved to the government
but there is doubt whatever that netenths Of
saved and there no doubt whatever that it all and
much more, realized by British subjects from American
hostages, American passage-money and American
freighs Thus contributing directly not only to
the British monopoly of ocean steam navigation, but to
maintain that wise and formidable policy by which, al
fifteen days notice, she could line entire coast from
the outlet of the ST. Johns to that of the Rio Grande
with Gordon of steamers To the support of the
British navy pay annual millions Our Eagle is thus
in TRUTH feathcring the shaft which may one day be
pointed at its own breast.