Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-15

/ N"a'ieSton, savannah, anu Havana, and from Iia
vana to Chagres;" for three steamers to be EN-
ployed in like manner from Panama to Oregon. IS
rs TO connect with the mail from Havana to Cha
grcs across the isthmus;" and for five steamers (,
be employed in like manner from New York 4
Liverpool. These steamers will be the propert,
of the contractors, but are to be built 'sunder I'm
superintendent and direction of naval construct
or IN the employ of the Navy Department. and Il
he SO constructed as TO render them convertible n
the least possible expense into war steamers of th
| first Glass;
prescribed number of naval officers. "a wei
as post Office agent, are 10 he on board of them
and authority is reserved to the Navy Department
at all times To ''eXcrcise control over said steam
SHIPS" and ''to have the rght'' ',o take them fo
the exclusive use and service Of the United States
upon making proper compensa,ions to the con
tractors thcrcfur.n
Whilst these steamships will be employed in
transporting the mails Of the United States coast
wise, ana to foreign countries, upon an annual
compensation TO be paid to the owners they will be
ready, upon an emergency requiring it. TO he con-
VeItcd into war steamers; and the right reserved
To take them for public use, will add greatly To the
efficiency and strength OF this description of on,
naval force. To tho steamers thus authorized I'M
der contracts made by the Secretary Of the Navy,
should be added five other steamers authorized un-
der contracts made in pursuance of law by tho
postmaster General, making an addition, in the
whole, OF eighteen war steamers subject TO be IA
Ken Tor public use. AS further contracts for the
transportation of the mail to foreign countries NAV
be authorized by Congress this number NAV bn
enlarged indefinitely.
The enlightened policy by which rapid COM
m'tnication with the various distant parts of the
globe Is established, by means of American built
sea steamers, would find an ample reward in the
increase oil our commerce, and in making our coun-
Try and It's resources more tavoraby known abroad ;
but the national advantage is still greater of hav
ING our naval officers made familiar with steam nav
lgaton; and of having the privilege of taking the
shiTs already equipped for immediate service at 4
moments notice and will be chcaply purchased
by the compensation TO be paid for the transporta
uoh Of the mail In them, over and above the posta
gos received
Just national pride, no less than our CONNER
cial interests, would seem TO favor the policy of
the number Of this description of YES
sells. They can be built in our country cheaper
and in greater numbers than in any other in the
world
refer you to the accompanying report of the
Postmaster General for detailed and satisfactory
account OF the condition and operations Of that de-
partmcnt during the past year 1t is gratifying to
Ind that. within so short period after the rcduc-
ton oil the rates of postage, and Notwithstanding
the great increase OF mail service, the revenue re-
ceivcd Tor the year will be sufficient TO dciay all
the expenses, and that no further aid will be re-
CURED from the treasury for that purpose.
The first of the American mail steamers author
lied by the act of the third of March, 1915, was
completed and entered upon the service ON the first
OF June last, and is now on her third voyage to
Bremen and other intermediate ports. The ether
vessels authorized under the provisions of that act
arc In course of construction and will be put upon
the line as soon as completed. Contracts have al
SD been made for the transportation of The mail in
steamer from Charleston TO Havana
reciprocal and satisfactory postal arrangement
has been made by the Postmaster General with the
of Bremen, and no difficulty is appre-
hended In making similar arrangements with al!
other Powers with which we may have communi-
cations by mail steamers, except with Great Bri-
tain.
On the arrival of the first of the American
steamers, bound to Bremen. at Southampton. in
the month of June last, the British post office di-
rcctod the collection of discriminating postages on
all letters and other mailable matter, which she
took ont TO Great Britain, or which went into the
British post office on their way TO France and other
pars of Europe. The effect of the order of the
British post office is TO subject all letters and other
matter transported by American steamers to double
postage. one postage having been previously paid
on them TO the United States, while letters trans
ported in British steamers are subject to pay but
single postage. This measure was adopted with
the avowed object of protecting the British line of
Liverpool, and, if permitted to continue must spec
Oily put an end to the transportation of all letters
and other matter by American steamers. and give
to British steamers monopoly of the business
just and fair reciprocity is all that we desire.
and on this we must insist. BY OUR laws, no such
discrimination is made against British steamers
bringing letters into our pOrts but all letters arri
wing in the United States are subject TO the same
rate Of postage, whether brought in British OF A
merican vessels. | refer you TO the report of the
Postmaster General for full statement of the facts
OF the case, and of the steps taken by him TO cor
rect this inequality He has cxerted all the power
conferred upon him by the existing laws.
The minister of the United States at London
has brought the subject TO the attention of the Bri
tlsh government, and is now engaged in negota-
tons Tor the purpose of adjusting reciprocal postal
which shall be equally Just TO both
countries. Should he fail in concluding such ar
and should Great Britain insist on en-
forcing the unequal and unjust measure she has 4
dOped, 1t Will become necessary TO confer addition
al powers on the Postmaster General, in order to
enable him to meet the emergency, and to put our
own steamers en- an equal footing with British
steamers engaged in transporting the mail between
the two countries; and ] recommend that such
powers be conferred.
In view of the existing state Of our country.
trust 1t may not be inappropriate, in closing this
communication, to call to mind the words OF wis
dom and admonltion of the first and most iustr-
Gus Of my predecessors, in his farewell address to
his countrymcn.
That greatest and best Of men, who served his
country so long, and loved it so much, forcsaw,
with ''serious conceun," the danger to our Union
''of charactorz;ng parties by geographical discrm-
lnailons-nOrthcrn and southern atlantic and aUest
ern-whenco designing men may ondeavor to ex-
cite belief that there is real difference of local
interests and views" and warned his countrymen
against it.
So deep and solemn was his conviction OF the
Importance of tho Union and Of preserving harmo-
ny between its different parts, that he declared to