Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-12-10

LIVERPOOL These steamers will be the Dronertv of
the contractors but are to be built "under the SUI
nerintendence and direction of naval constructor
in the employ of the Navy Department, and to he
so constructed as to render them convertible at the
least possible expense into war steamers of the first
Glass;"
most office agent are to be on board of :hem; and
authority is reserved 10 the Navy Department at
all tmesto exercise control over said steamships"
and to have the right " to take them for the ex
elusive use and service of the United states upon
making proper compensation to the contractors
therefor"
Whilst these Steamships will be employed in
Transporting the mails of the United States coast
WISE and to foreign countries, upon an annual COM
pensation to be paid to the owners, they Will al
ways be ready, upon an emergency requiring IT.
to be converted into war steamers and the right re-
served to take them for public USE will add greatly TO
the efficiency and strength of this description OF our
naval force To the steamers thus authorized under
contract made by the Secretary ofthe Navy. should
be added five other steamers authorized under
tracts made in pursuance of law by the Postmaster
General, making addition, in the whole, of eieh-
teen war steamers subject to be taken for public
use As further contracts for the transportation
of the mail to foreign countries may be authorized
by Congress, this number may be enlarged indef-
nitely.
The enlightened policy by which rapid eom-
munication with the various distant parts OF the
globe is established by means of American built
sea steamers would fil.d an ample reward in the
increase of our commerce, and in making our
country and its resources more favorably known
abroad; but the national advantage is still greater
| of having our naval officers made familiar with
steam navigation; and of having the privilege of
taking the ships already equipped for immediate
service at moments notice; and will be cheaply
purchased by the compensation to be paid for the
transportation of the mail in them, over and above
| the hostages received.
| A inst national pride, no less than our CONNER
cial interests would seem to favor the policy of
| augmentng the number ofthis 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-
partment during the past year. 1t is gratifying 10
find that. within so short period after the reduc-
tion in the rates of postage. and Notwithstanding
the great increase of mail service, the revenue re-
ceved for the year will be sufficient to defray all
the expenses, and that no further aid will be requir-
ed from the treasury for that purpose
The first of the American mail steamers author
lied by the act of the third of March, lS45, was
completed and entered upon the service the first
| of June last, and is now on her third voyage to
Bremen and other Intermediate ports. The other
vessels authorized under the provisions of that act
in of construction, and will be put upon
the line as soon completed. Contracts have also
been made for the transportation of the mail in
steamer from Charleston to Havana
Arecprocal and satisfactory postal arrangement
has been made by the Postmaster General with the
authorities of Bremen, and no difficulty is arprc
hended in making similar arrangements with all
other Powers with which may have cOmmuni-
ca ton BY mail steamers except with Great Bri-
tain.
On the arrival of the first of the American steam
ers bound 10 Bremen. at Southampton, in the
month of June last the British post Office directed
the collection of discriminating hostages on all
letters and other maablc matter which she took
out to Great BIitan which went into the Bri
fish post office on their way to France and other
parts of Europe. The effect of the order of the
British post office is subject all letters and other
matter transported by American steamers to dou-
Bile postage, one postage having been previously
paid on them to the United States while letters
transported in British steamers subectto pay but
single postage. This measure was adopted with
the avOwed object of protecting the British line of
mail steamers now ming between Boston and
Liverpool, and if permitted to continue must spec
Oily put end TO the transportation of all letters
and other matter by American steamers, and give to
British steamers a monopoly of the business. A
Just and fair RECIPROCITY is all that desire and on
this we must insist. BY laws, such dis
elimination is made against British steamers bring
ing letters into our ports but all letters arriving in
the United States are subject to the same rate of
postage whether brought in British or American
vessels. | refer you to the report of the Postmas
ter General for full statement of the facts of the
and of tia steps taken by him to correct this
inequality. He has excred all the power conferred
upon him qy the existing laws.
The minister Of the United States at London has
brought the subject to the attention of the British
government, and is now engaged in negotiations for
the purpose of adjusting reciprocal postal arrange
ments, which shall be equally just to both coun-
| tries. Should he fail in concluding such arrange
ments and should Great Britain insist on enfor-
| cling the unequal and unjust measures she has a.
dopted it will become necessary to confer additional
bowers on the Postmaster General. in order to ena-
| Bile him TO meet the emergency, and to put our own
| steamers pOU1I with tiSh
engaged in transporting the mail between the two
countries; and recommend that such powers be
CONFER; d.
In view of the existing state of our country trust
it may not be inappropriate, in closing this COM
| municatlOn, to call to mind the words of wisdom
and admOnion of the first and most ilustrous of
my predecessors, in his farewell address to his
| COuntrymen.
That greatest and best of men, who served his
country 80 long, and loved it so much, foresaw
| with serious concern" the danger to our Union
'of characterizing parties by geographical dscrim-
inations-7,Orthern and SOUTHERN atlantic and 1rest
| eTn-Whence designing men may endeavOr 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 the Union and of preserving harmo.
ny between its different parts that he declared to
his counrymen in that address, sit is of infinite
moment that you should properly estimate the
| immense value of your national Union to your
CoHeCllVed lnulVldudl happiness; tnat you should
| cherish cordial, habitual and immovable attach
ment to it; accustomng yourselves to think and
to speak ofit, as palladium of your political safety
and prosperity watching for its preservation with
jealous anxiety ;discountenancing whatever may
| suggest even suspicion that it can in any event
be abandoned and Indignantly frowning upon the
first dawning of every attempt to ALLEVIATE any por-
ton of our country from the rest, or 10 enfeeble
the sacred ties which now link together the various
parts"
After the lapse Of half century, these admo-
nitions of Washington fall upon us with oil the
force of truth. 1t is difficult estimate the 'im-
mense value'' of our glorious Union of confedera-
ted States to which we are much indebted for
our growth in population and wealth, and for all
| that constitutes us great and happy nation
How unilnportant all our differences of opinion
upon minor questions of public policy, compared
with its preservation and how scrupuously should
we avoid all agitatng topics which may tend to
distract and divide into contendng parties
separated by geographical lines, whereby it may
be weakened or endangered.
| Invoking the blessing of the Almighty Ruler of
the Universe upon your deliberations, il will be nv
highest duty, no less than my sincere pleasure to
cooperate with you in all measures which may
tend to promote the honor and enduring welfare of
our common country. JAMES K. POLK.
WASHINGTON, December, l647.