The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-10-07
The Ebony Line,


information is sweeping condemnation OF the
African mail line As to the constitutional right |
of Congress to make the appropriation, we can
only say that the majority of Naval Committee are
democrats. Mr.. Stanton, the chairman, is the
democratic member from Memphis, and we are
| inclined to believe they keep up with democracy,
which is essentially progressive. But Independent
| of the endorsement of this democratic commuee'
we think word or two may be said In favor oil the
| the constitutionality of the measure whlch Ihat
committee recommends. Congress ls pound 10
1 establish and keep up navy, the particular
mode is left TO its discretion. John Adams was |
the great patron of the navy, and during his Admin
istration that branch OF our national defence re-
ceived great attention. So strong was party spirit,
however that the navy was looked on as federal
favorite, with monarchical tendencies and from
the Administration of Mr.. Jefferson it received neg
lect Timber procured for the construction of
frigates and seventy -fours, was used for building
the gun-boats
The number of frigates in service was dimin-
shed, and we were soon prepared for the
intercourse and embargo laws of the next Admin
stration-those suicidal measures to our CONNER
cial prosperity.
Under the Administration of Mr.. Madison, how
ever, more attention was paid to the navy. A. war
with or more OF the Continental powers seemed
inevitable, in spite of efforts to keep the peace,
| by compelling ships to rot at the wharves,
| rather than take their chances to escape French
and British cruisers The brilliant victories of our
trigates at rendered the navy the favorte of
| the people. And it has since maintained its
high rank in the navies of the world. One great
mistake was the gun-boat system another was
the other extreme, that of building huge unman-
ageable ships, many of which remained for years on
the Stocks decaying from dry rot The Pennsy
vana the most magnificent blunder ever made
in naval architecture.
The construction of sea steamers has effected
total change in the character of war ships. The
| British Government originated the plan which
combines at once the elements of commercial and
, martial power. By advances of money, and by
liberal compensation for the mail service, induced
! merchants to build steamships to be engaged in
the ordinary pursuits of commerce in peace, but
which can in a week be transformed into war
steamers. By this admirable plan, that Govern
men has built up at once and without the cost of
dollar, the most powerful fleet now on the ocean
She can in thirty days collect hundred powerful
steamers at any given point in either quarter of the
globe The American Government has been slow
to follow the example; but beginning has been
made. The Pacific line of steamers has been Gre
ated upon the same plan; and in the event of a
war, the Government has at command a squadron
of war steamers on that ocean. There is no dan
ger that whalemen and Canton ships will again
fall victims to their ignorance.
The African line will add three war steamers
of the first class to our Atlantic force. Ofthe de-
| tails we do not pretend to speak. The Naval Com
mitee, however, we presume, are not so "Uerdqnt''
| as the Picayune represents. They have in view
| the increase of the American steam power. They
think that the establishment Of line of steamships
TO Africa will greatly assist in Kidding the country
| of population worse than useless, but VIII CHI in
the country of their origin will add to the CONNER
cal wealth both of Africa and America, The
Pcayune is mistaken when il asserts that the Gov
eminent is TO pay two-thirds of the of the ships
1t simply to loan five per cent. stocks payable in
thirty years The Government is to pau $40 900
for the mail service, per month. This is the entire
cost to the Government for the maintenance Of
three war steamers of the largest class They are
to be under the control of the Secretary of the
Navy, to be commanded by an officer of the Navy,
with four midshipmen, all to be paid by the Com
pany. The Secretary to have the right to put on
board of each ship two guns of heavy calbre, and
men TO SerUe them, at the expense of the Company
steamer is 10 leave ana return TO 6dcn OF these
ports once in three months-NewYo York, Baltimore,
and NeD Orleans The NewYork packet will
touch at Savannah, the Baltimore one at Norfolk
and Charleston, the NewOreans Que al any of the
West India Islands. They will land mails at Lii
beria with liberty touch at the African Islands
and ports, thence to Gibraltar Cadiz Lisbon, Brest
aud London.
The commerce of Africa is already valuable to
Great Britain, and with the extinction of the slave
trade and the regular arrivals of packets the trade
with the interior will inevitably increase For it
is law of political economy, that the facilities for
commerce create commerce. Do The honor safety
and position of America, require naval steam
power! Can it be created and maintained at a
cheaper rate
The citizens of NewOrea certainly ought to
have deep interest in the success of the measure
B, 1t is to give four additional steamships year
+ II is to open trade with the African coast Why
e then discourage measure of direct local interest
Ii Congress is disposed to aid by its credit, the es
d adjustment of this line, and the increase of the
steam power of the country, let us rather encour
$ age the feeling. Certainly as citizens of NewOr
leans it does not become us to Iidicule or condemn
D measure which is calculated to increase ou
commerce and add to resources
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