New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-09-16

other country entering our ports. This vas the
evidence of what we could accomplish under the
cid system in the event of war. The Introduction
of steam gave her the means, as was snDposed, 20
reverse tbis state of things. She was the frat to
test Tia pow err and utility in naval warfare, and IN
abe Carrying trade. The skill OF her engioeersand
mechanics, their experience in the coneTactlon OF
steam machinery, her vast expenditures Tor na7si
purposes and the great wealth o her mercnahte,
seemed for time TO bid defiance to all competition:
She soon constructed powerful steam navy aad
by uniting q very large amount OF goveranea. e1-
penditure with private enterprise, mas eAtonu
ed her steam mail packet systeF to al parts Oh Suo
word This mode of creating a steam navy sne
appears most anxions TO encourage ana P'osect' o
the reason shat1ts desit ned TO putdown su cotnpe
tition in the carrying trade, and 1iUlaaIey '"
port self on and 10 control sne COZ ino.No VI -.
nations There cannot be doaot snal sno unoASy
ennolv maid for the conveyance OF letters ana ON
armsiIsbe matter at sea, by passengers ano Tor
f,e;ght nm package goods, ia amply Suilc'ens 20
ar,,oo,t a steem navy powerful enough TO crush all
tba nnilipg naVes Of the present day and eocn are
~ i.rua al trade and commercial ,a!ercourse that
psckets are taking the place OF sailing snlPs
IN sU branches of commerce Whatever one mer-
ehnntoan do in the prosecution OK his baslness,
with ceytainy ceteraty and f,rott, sill others must
do who attempt to compete Wlth nina.
Ifan importer in the city OF Ne@.Vork erd5rs
bis sooos IRON Liverpool to be sent In steamer
and receives them within twelve Gays AFTER tuey
have been shipped, and his competlsoss enp.oy San,
ing ahips which are thirty Gays On s1e pansa50,
wSo fas received bis supplies by thu steamer not
onlv aaves eighteen days interest IN hla money,
INIT .uopies the msrke t and perfovms this opera
finn nearly three times while biB lazy ne'ghoors
are attempting TO do it once This process "o1u
aoon enrich the man who employs gteaul, auo iln
poverisb chose who move by oals, Anese re'n"ss
anDlv. of course to the valuable packsge-gooos
,rade articles OF NODES &c. &c. which pay hign
fraiehts and are most valued tg tier season. 30
IL ia with passengers and the mails. NO man
thinks row oftabing passage In or Senolng ettefS
by, sailing packet, il therels steamer on Tue
same route The wholetravel and correspondence,
therefore, Of the world, by sea, liz rapidly passing
into Steamship Tnese are she iaws' a,So, ~ua.a
govern Communications on land w hle we are
1,eipg the Importance OF cheap postage, apd CON
Main at paving ten cents sheet OF lester-paper'
we are daily sendng telegraphc dispatches Wncn
ccst that sum for every word
In the PROCESS of examining all the consldefatlons
connected with ocean steam nev1gation' !. va" ab
aartnued that steamer, TO TeSast $ucceSsJuSty 0"
sotelv the effects of q heavy sea Grtpen ny "e0@-
mind guust be btaH strong enough 20 carry guns
ana wi,hntand the discharge OF battery and,
therefore all ships of that descr palon might % e
ployed for the two great purposea OF commences anu
war. To construct sailing shlpa lor tue mercu@us
aarvice 40 az TO mako them suitable Tor war pur-
With smber az to render 1t impossible for them TO
rxnonete in the carrying trade, with vesees OF tue
oydinary construction. This 10 the reason WY the
mercantile marine has not been regarded Ell OF mucn
value for naval purposes. H. then, lh'he progress
ogayents, steam navy has become necessary 70
Smr nositon and safety as great commercial ma
son and for the protection and security oil our e8-
4snsiye cosetg embracingth the shores OF the Atantlc
from the ST. Croix to the southern point OF Florida
more than three fourths Of the Gulf OF Mexico, ana
seventeen degrees of latitude in the Pacific wnlon
cannot be defended against g. iees OF armed ste9.
mers by any system OF iortlilcatons WINCH 'ne sa III
of man could devise or the wealth OF the nation
eatabisb it becomes proper to consider what
c0urse of policy will at the least expense produce
vyhat we require In the first place, we must tsKe
into view the fact that at least years are required
20 construct the machinery OF 8 warateamer OF inc
frat class, and place it in the ahlp. III therefore,
WE wait until war shall actually have commenced
before we prepare the machinery Tor steam navy,
npat expect to suffer all the disasters which an
sntsrprising enemy may intiics upon us during the
kime REQUIRED TO enable US to meet BIN With force
similar to bis own. II we attempt to proceed now
10 the construction of ateam navy az powerful az
we should require in state OF war, the exPandl-
sure would be much greater than congress or inc
country would permit.
But suppose the money nhould be appropriated
and the ships built, the probability Ia, they would
decay or require sum equal to their original cost
10 keep them in repair and their machinery wouo
ha rendered vaueless by new improvements aud
inventions. before they would be required in actual
war, The changes which are constantly taking
Mace in stesm machinery render it luexPedlent to
waste money In preparing 1t until II Is required Tor
actual use; 20 it will be perceived that thsre are
auch great and striking pecuaritles attending toe
maintenance of steam navy In time oil peace,
Ahstif a courge of policy can be pursued which
svil give us an ample supply OF that description oil
Sorce nj q comparatively small cost 1t would seen,
wise to adopt it. Such believe to be tho policy
which has been extensively adopted by Great
Britain and to limited extent, by our own Gov
eminent. of combining Government expenditure
with nrivate enterprpe in the establishment o
lines Of mail steamers, 90 constructed az to be
available at all times for war purposes; 60 be KEEP
in commission, and all improvements In machinery
aaopted, at the expense of the contractors, until
finally, in the progress OF events, it shall be able
Supportitself' ,.o, 49,. .,;. .u.,,,
sbonld be left entirely to individual enterprise.
is nosaible that the skill and energy OF our mer
chants NAV have accomplished something In tia
way, If they had only TO contend against the capl
fal and efforts of individuals, but that 10 not tht
Gaze the Government of Great Britain has come
Eorw ard in such spirit as TO leave no doubt o.
oneation that she has adopted the system as beint
vital TO her commercial and naval supremacy, sn(
conae ouently it would be folly, if not madness t
nuppose that our merchants can compete, unalded
with such antagonists. Vhis system, as far 90 I
has been adopted by our Government aaH worked
well. The line on the Pacific from Panama to sar
Frsnoisco moat fortunately, went into operation
coon after the discovery of gold in California anc
aerved a most valuable purpoRe IN keeping up 9
raeplar communication with that distant LEI rltory
At a most critical and important period, in coavey
ing emigrsnts to it and in afording safe and
speedy means Of conveyance for large quantities o.
gold to the Atlantic States.
The advantages thus derived to the country tron
the establishment of this line, and tfe one tfoa
NewYork to New. Orleans which connects win il
at the Isthmus, cannot well be estimated in dollars
and cents. The line from New York 70 New,Or
leans has performed another important achieve
mani. 1t has accomplished what was designed il
Tia establishment. Ithss caused the withdrawal o
fhe British West lada line OF fourteen steamers