The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-18
\ N, en- Ii ana Mali Contract Systsni--opPosition
ofCid Corauodores 10 Progress.

70 The report of The Naval Committee, ,Itty present
ed 10 the House of Representatives, N favor OF
he esd blishmtnt Of a line Of mail steamships 10
the western e0as, Of AfIca, and thence via the
Mediterranean 20 London dcsI. ned TO promote the /
emigration Of free persons Of color from the United
States 10 Lbt .a; also To incrt Isr the steam nayy
ard 10 extend he commerce Of the uaied states. |
II will be found ia the report OF the committees
differs most materially from the memorial Of Judge
BRYAN and others, 10 Congress, which asked for
the establishment of line Of Gamers 10 run only
between the United States and Liberia. We re-
gardcd thai project, when il first presented to
the public notice, az utterly impractcable But
the establishment OF line Of steamships 70 run
not merely TO Africa, but also TO open up The Medi-
tenanean trade TO American enterprise, and to
touch at the principal ports of Spain, Portugal and
France, and bring the mails from all those points
and from London, is a totally different affair
The report OF the committee is a very able one.
IL begins by showing that it is expedient extend
the system recently commenced by Congress,
which has for its object the creation of powerful
steam navy, 70 be used in time of peace in carrying
the mails, and in eiecting great public objects not
TO be attained by private enterprise without the aid
Of Congress
The report shows the weakness Of our steam
navy, as compared with those of France and Eng
lend, and particularly dwels upon the example of
England in establishing lines Of steamers built so
as be easily converted into ships Of war, 10 be
employed in commerce, and for carrying mails,
but being al all times subject to the requisition of
the government. This, it is contended, is the
cheapest mode Of providing in time of peace for the
exigencies of war As shown in our columns few
weeks since, by a comparative statement of the
steam navIes of France and England, which are
nearly equal in force, the latter power is re.
lying mainly for its maritime supremacy upon
its fleets of mail steamers, which can, at a
short notice, he converted into vessels of war.
Every now and then hear of the extension of
this system During the present year, fresh con-
tracts have been made for lines of British mail
steamers to Brazil, the Cape of Good Hope, Aus
tralia, &c. and it appears that there are nearly
one hundred and fifty of the ships in the service
of the government. II cannot be supposed that
the mails to and from Brazil for example, will pay
the expenses; but the British government lie con-
tent TO paya good round sum for the support of
this line of steamers, rather than be compelled to
keep war steamers in commission to float about
and do nothing. Not only is there considerable
difference in the expense in favor of the mail steam
ers, but due regard is also had to the fact that the
commerce of the country is extended by the n,
and English power and influence felt, 'hrough their
nstrumenalty, all over the world. In this country,
no plan for increasing naval strength could be
more popular than this and is clear that with the
great increase in the extent OF colsts, and the
vast expansion Of our commerce, il behoves us 10
see that our steam navy is kept upon re spectacle
footing. The report Of the Naval Committee re-
cernmends that the steamers in question shall be
OF not less than four thousand tons burthen, shall
be built under tn, direction of government sur
ysyor, and commanded by officers of the United
States Navy. They are to be constructed express
ly for war purposes and to be used in the pub
lie service whenever required, the contractors |
being paid the value according to arprase naen..
In addition to the conveyance of tree coiored |
persons from the United States to Liberia, under
the superintendent Of the American Colonization
Society, of which Henry Clay is the President,
,hcse ships will touch at Gibraltar, and there con-
meet, we presume, with a line Of steamers plying
on the Neutrality-suspicious. they will proceed to
Cadiz, Lisbon, and some port In Francc-probably
llayre-to London It impossible to estimate the
extent Of the trade that will be thus opened up for
our merchants and manufacturers.
The advantages secured by the proposed line Of
steamers are fourfold, thus
q
expense.
2. The carrying Of the mails from the Mediier-
rsnean, the Peninsula, France, ard London.
g. The encouragement Of the emigration OF free
blacks from the United States TO Liberia.
4. The extension Of American commerce and
influence in Western Africa aad the adjacent
Islands, the Mediterranean, Spain, Portugal,
France, and England.
X Tha ,ty NJ inn al of,
practically acquainted with ssear motive power
for naval purposes.
We understand tina, every proposition to increase
our steam marine Is opposed by some an,iqulted
commodore, who regard with feelings Of envy and
Jealousy the splendid STEAMSHIPS which have been
constructed within the las, few years by private en-
terprise. under the fostering encouragement Of go
veInmeni. Those old fogies nothing in them
to admire, notwithstanding tina, they are the quick
est in the world and put to shame the lubberly at
,empts al steamships built by III. government and
thrown aside in many instances hs complete fail
ures. Those old fogies have been CHARTERED on
the navy so long that they imseire il to be their
private property, and TINT Il ought not TO undergo
any reform or change which does not coincide
with their opinions. They look with horror upon
the mail contract system, knowing very well that
IN the course ~ few years IL will work revolu-
zion in our whole naval system, and render 1t more
democratic in itsohsrscter than IL las heretofore
been. They go, the ear Of Mr.. Preston. Secretary
% the Navy, un5es General Taylor, and worked
o. his credSty 90 Gar as to induce that gentleman
to oppose tho appropriation of the public money for
The convevs zee Of The mails across the ocean, and
TO rscommen thai tAe governmeu, should return
TO thu old system. We apprcheud, however, that
the change Of esbines will not favor their views,
and that in the prceent Secretary Of the Navy. as
well as in Mr.. IiIimose, they will ind gentlemen
csnno, be 90 sasily moulded to their purposes.
I his is a specimen Of the manner in which the
commodores and revi old s.agers have .xerted