The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-09

Ne Nv eSerH COaSL OF .1Jrlca, &c.
Mr. F. p STANTON, of Tennessee, from the Com
port, which was committed and ordered to be
printed:
The Committee on Naval Affairs. to whom
referred the memorial Of Joseph Bryan, of Ala
bama, for himself and his associates George Mich
olas Sanders and others, praying the establishment
OF line of steamers from the United States to the
coast of Africa, designed to promote the coloniza-
ton OF free persons OF color, suppress the African
slave trade, TO carry the mails, and extend the
commerce of the United States, beg leave 10 sub
nit the following Report
The proposition OF the memorial involves an ex
tension OF that system, recently commenced by
Congress, which has for its object the creation Of a
powerful steam navy, to be used in time of peace
in carrying the mais, and in etiecting great pub
lie Objects not to be attained by private enterprise
without the aid Of Congress. How far it may be
desirable to extend this system will depend upon
the double consideration Of the present condition of
our naval force, and the importance and feasibility
OF the ends to be accomplished by the measure
AS to the first of these, the committee will present
brief statement of the facts material to correct
understanding Of the comparative extent of our pre-
sent steam navy.
In The report of Mr.. Secretary Bancroft, made to
the Senate the I'd March, 1896 the total effective
| steam navy of Great Britain stated, at that
| tune, TO consist Of one hundred and ninety nine
vessels, of all classes; that Of France numbered
fifty four; that of Russia without the Caspian feet
| thirty-two; while the steam navy of the United
States could boast Of but six small vessels and
| In process Of building; and Of these was for
harbor defence, and another steam-tug.
| Since that time, however, Congress has provided
fr the building of four war-steamcrs, and for the
establishment of several lines of steamships
gagged in carrying the mails, consisting of seven
teen large vessels, suitable for war purposes, and
at all times liable to be taken for the public service.
Of these latter, nine will run between New York
| and European ports; five between New York and
| Chagres and three between Panama and San Fran
| cisco.
| Notwithstanding this increase in our force it has
! by no means kept pace with that of other great
commercial nations. The American almanac for
the present year estimates the steam navy of France
at sixty -four steam vessels Of war, besides re-
served force of ten steam frigates now ready, and
siV corvettes and six small vessels nearly ready.
The French government has also resolved TO follow
| the example of England in establishing lines OF
steamers built to be easily converted into
ships of war, to be employed in commerce and for
carrying mails, but being at all times subject to the
| requisuon of the Government.
| England, also, has added largely to her steam
navy, and has increased her lines OF mail steamers,
! giving evidence that she, at least considers this
the best and cheapest mode Of providing In time OF
peace for the eXlgencies OF war. On this subject
the committee refer 10 the following facts, for which
| they indebted to the remarks of the Hon. L.
Butler King, of Georgia, made in the House Of
| Representatives, February 10, lS4S.
| BY act of Parliament, William ~, chap. 8, all
previous contracts entered into for the conveyance
Of the mails by sea were transferred to the Ad mi
| rally. In the year 1899, the idea was conceived
ments might be made subserviertto the purposes of
commerce in time of peace. Accordingly, con-
tract entered into with Mr.. Cunard and his
sociates, for the conveyance of the mails from Liv
erpool via Halifax 10 Boston, in five steamers of
the first class, for fS5 900, about S425,OOO per
annum. 1t was stipulated that they should be
built under the supervision of the Admiralty should
be inspected being received into the service and
certified to be capable in all respects Of being
verted into ships of war, and OF carrying ordnance
| of the heaviest description. Various supulatons
were entered into IN this and other contracts OF
similar character, which placed these ships under
| the control of the Government; thus, in fact, max
ing them to all intents and purposes, at the same
| time part of the mercantile and military marine
| of the country.
| la lS46, the Government enlarged the contract
with Mr.. Cunard and his associates by adding four
ships to run from Liverpool to New York, and in
creased the compensation TO T. l4s 900, or about
4 S725 900 per annum.
| In the year 1910, contract was made by the
Admiralty with the Royal Mail Steamship Com
pany, at G24O 600 sterling, or 200 900 per an
num- for fourteen steamers to carry the mails from
Southamton TO the West ladies, the ports of Mex
| leo on the G ulf and to New Orleans, Mobile, Sa-
vannah, and Charleston. These ships of the
first class, and are to conform in all respects,
! concerning size and adaptation to the purposes OF
war, 70 the conditions prescribed in the Cunard
contracts. They are TO make twenty four voyages
year, leaving and returning 10 Southampton
| semi monthly. Another contract has lately been
| entered into Tor two ships TO between Bormu-
| da and New York these lines employ twenty
FIVE steamers of the largest and most efficient de-
| scriptOn.
In addition TO the above, a contract made.
| lst January, lS4s with the Peninsular and Orien-
| tai Steam Navigation Company, for line Of similar
| steamers, seven IN number, from England TO the
| East Indies and China nj ilOO,oO0 sterling, or
| j 1000 per annum. This line passes from South
! amptOn, via Gibraltar and Malta, TO Alexandria,
in Egypt; thence the route continues overland 20
Suez, at the head Of the Red Sea, from whence the
steamers again start, touching at Alden, Bombay
and at Point de Gale, in the island Of Ceylon, from
! whence they proceed to Singapore and Hong
| Kong. There is a branch line connecting with
tins from Point de Gale to Calcutta, touching al
Madras.
contract was made, list July, ls46, for Pa
cihc line Of British steamers, four in number, run
ming from Valparaiso TO Panama, touching at inter
mediate ports. THIS line connects overland, from
Panama to Chagrcs, with the West India line.
| Besides these, there were, in l545, twelve more
lines Of Government steamer, running between
Great Britain and the continent of Europe; max
ing grand aggregate OF one hundred and htteer
ocean steamships fitted for war purposes. Very
recently the British Parliament has resolved TO eI
tend the mail steamship system TO Australia.
The committee do not propose that our Govern
ment shall attempt 10 emulate this vast network o
steam navigation, with which England has already
cncompasscd the globe But il s believed that tn,
recent increase OF our territory the Pacific anC
in the Gulf of Mexico, forms an additional reason
for considerable augmentation Of our steam navy
whether by direct addition 10 the navy proper, o
by the encouragement Of lines Of steam- kets,
be established by private enterprise under the aus
pices Of Government. II the latter system should
|. be adopted, as already commenced, the ships viii
be built under the inspection Of Government Off
ccr at the expense OF private individuals; they will
, be commanded by officers in the navy. and will b.
at ell times available for the public service. II will
be the interest of the contractors TO adopt, from
time TO time, all tho Improvements which may b,
, made in machinery and in tho means Of propulsion
and the ships will be kept in good repair. Besidc
o being commanded by naval officer, each ship vii
carry a sufficient number of midshipmen for watct
officers, and thus very considerable portion Of h
\ personnel of the service will be kept actively en-
poyed. with the opportunity ofacquiring the know
4 ledge and skill requisite to the proper management
of steam navy. corps of trained engineers anC
fremen will be attached to each ship, aud doub
|, these would generally remain with her when tn,
! ship should be called into the public service.
! The committee are Of opinion that il is highly
desirable to have ready for the public service some
! very large steamships of the description proposed
by the memoriast. They would have great ed
vantage small ships in their capacity to carry
fuel sufficient for long voyages, and to transpor
large bodies of troops, and place them rapidly, In
fresh and vigorous condition, at any point wher,
they might be required.
But 1t is chiefly for the great and benehcent ob