The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-27

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tober S4S and should be of the burden of not less
than fifteen hundred tons; that, should the Score
tary of the Navy determine TO employ steamer OF
not less than six hundred tons burden for the
vice between Havana and Chagres, in lieu OF one OF
the five steamers, of not less than fifteen hundred
| tons burden then the contractor agreed to con-
struct steamship complete in all respects for per-
forming the service and answering all the condi-
! tons required by the law. The contractor further
! bound himself 10 complete and have in readiness
for service the two remaining steamships by the
first day of October, 1919; that the line of steam
ships should be kept up by alterations repairs, or
additions (of approved character,) fully equal TO
the exigencies of the service and the faithful ac-
! complishment of the purposes intended by the law;
that the vessels should be in full and entire opera
ton the first of October 1919 that each and all
of said steamships should be commanded by am
officer of the navy of the United States, not below
the grade OF lieutenant, to be selected by the con-
tractor with the approval and consent OF the Secre-
tary of the Navy that the officers should be
modated on board thereof, in manner becoming
their rank and station without charge TO the Gov
! eminent of the United States; and further agreed
TO receive on board each of said steamships and ac
commodate in a manner suitable to their rank,
without charge to the Government, four passed
mdshipmen of the United States navy, 70 serve as
watch officers. In December last, before any Of
| the vessels under this contract were completed,
| the contractors, DESTROYS to meet the wishes of
the Department. proposed TO place on the route,
temporarily, the ocean steamer Falcon, and she
accepted until the steamships to be constructed
under thei contract should be ready to take their
places ON the line; the Department reserving the
| right to terminate the arrangement whenever it
should think proper 10 do Ia view of the facts
that vessel of this line has been completed, that
! the demands of our citizens require every facility
for the transmission of the mails and for the trans
portation OF passengers on this route which can be
afforded, have not thought proper TO discontinue
the service, and the Falcon has been and continues
to be, actively and usefuly engaged between New
| Orleans and Chagres. When the steamships con-
| traCted for shall be accented Or when
/ from any other cause, the Department deems it
proper to dispense with the services of the Falcon
notice will be given to the proprietors i'll accord
! ance with the agreement under which she Is now
| employed. But one steamship built under this
contract has been reported ready for the service,
either by the contractor his assgnees, and that
has not been accepted. Commodore Perry, the SUI
| perlntendlng agent, reported on the 18th OF Sep
| TENDER that the Ohio not then coppered, and
consequently cannot be considered as finally com
! pleted according to contract. The Ohio has, since
that date, been placed, by her owners, the line
| between New York and New Orleans, and sailed on
the Goth of September on her first trip without being
| accepted by the Department, The contractor
some days before the sailing of the Ohio, informed
me that she would commence the mail service on
the 10th OF September, and asked that the watch Of
! hcers provided by law should be sent on board.
The vessel not having been completed according to
| the contract, ! did not accept her in fulflment
thereof, and declined to order the officers to the
| service as suggested. To prevent, however, any
embarrassment or delay in the movements of the
vessel, the officers were ordered to report to Com
modore Perry to be assigned to duty in the event
of the completion of the Ohio according to the agree
ment, and with permission, if she not COM
| pleted, to join the ship such terms might be
agreed upon between themselves and the propre-
| tors. The vessel not having been completed, Com
| modore Perry declined to order the passed mid
| shipmen TO duty on board of her; and the terms
which were proposed by the proprietors not being
such as could be accepted by those officers, they
did not join the ship. The vessel has gone on her
| third trip and has not yet been completed, and
have no positive assurances that she will be finished
on her return third time to New York. The
Georgia is progressing rapidly, and may be ready
IN January next. The construction of the other
vessels for this line has not been commenced.
By contract of assignment, made on the Sd day
of September, lS47, A. G.. Sloo assigned his con-
tract made with the United States TO George Law,
Marshall o. Roberts, and Bowes X. McIlvainc, upon
certain trusts declared In deed dated the 18th of
August lS47, and the assignees and trustees have
proceeded in the contracts with the United States
Difficulties have arisen between these parties which
have led to lawsuit now pending in the courts of
New York. The Department regards this liuga-
ton as well calculated to embarrass and postpone
the final completion of the other vessels, if not to
endanger the ultimate fulflment Of the contract
] with the Government.
The law under which these vessels are constructed
does not clearly and distinctly define the powers and
! rights of the Government over them. While the
| proprletors have been willing 10 receive board
the passed midshipmen, they have nevertheless
Claimed the right 10 prescribe their duties, and to
| assign them their positions and while the passed
! midshipmen received as watch officers the ex-
ecutive duties of the ship and her navigation may
be confded 70 others selected by the proprictors
therefore, urgently invite the attention of Congress
| TO the law under which the contract was made, to
the service in which the vessels are TO be engaged
and 10 the condition of the contract Itself, that,
should It be deemed advisable To extend the terms
then il may regulate the whole subject by some dis
tinct and unequivocal legislation
| After careful consideration of this subject, !
cannot withhold the expression OF an opinion adj
verse TO embarking any further in the proposed
union OF public and private means in this system
oil ocean steamers, as calculated to promote the in
terests Of the navy. Whatever may be the view
which Congress may entertain To the policy Of
transporting the United States mail and atfording
facilities for the transportation of passengers and
! freight In the manner proposed by such system,
entertain decided opinion that If il should be
garded as the mode and manner which Congress
has determined for increasing the naval force of
the United States, 1t will be found in the end en-
urey subverslvc Of the object which II intends TO
promote. To the extent TO which the present con-
tracts have committed the faith Of the Government,
and TO the extent of the obligations under the con-
tracts, they are of course strictly to be regarded
and scrupulously To be performed. Yet, a naval
establishment, deprecate any further extension of
the system, as fraught with incalcuable mischief
TO the navy, and involving immense expenditures
OF public money-All must appreciate the great
Importance OF rapid, regular, and safe transmits
sion OF our mails to all quarters of the world, and
all are sensible of the great commercial advantages
that must result therefrom. The contracts already
made, and the sums already appropriated, are fully
adequate TO thorough test Of the experiment.
believe however, II is subject that should in the
future be left Ia the competition of private enter
prise. feel assured that in the struggle Ameri-
can enterprise and American industry will even
tually be successful.
For naval establishment, that which we arc
most IN need of is an independent naval steam
force, OF such extent and of such magnitude as the
wisdom and liberality Of Congress may think sufii-
Gent and the necessities of the country require.
Those governments from whose examples the pre-
sent system was adopted have immense indcpcnd-
ent steam navies, in which proper military educa-
ton and discipline secured TO the officers and
men, and upon which they mainly rely for their ma
val strength and power. Until VIC have provided
steam power for our navy adequate for our protec-
ton, cannot but consider it as premature and un-
wise to regard the proposed system answering
/ the necessities and wants of the Government for a
naval establishment.
Congress has heretofore, in its hbcraty to the
/ navy, and in view of the necessity Of an indepcnd-
cnt force, expended vast sums OF money in cstab
! fishing navy yards, and in the construction Of
h. 4 a. Al.