The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-14

see, chairman OF the naval COInlnlttee OF Inc
House, and Mr.. KING, his predecessor in that
position, in relation to the project now before
Congress for establishing line Of mail steam
ers to the coast of Africa. The facts and ar
| guments presented in Mr.. KNEES letter will
be read with deep interest by all who are inter
ested in the commercial and maritime ascen-
dency Of the United States.
Hon. +. p. Stanton to Hon. Il. Butler King
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,
| September 10, 1850.
| DEAR Sir: | take the liberty Of sending you a
copy of the Report of the Naval Committee of the
House, proposing line of steamers to the coast of
Africa. Your long experience this committee,
and at is head, will enable you to judge, far more
correctly than can, Of the policy of the measure,
and especially of the details Of the bill Ii you can
find sufficient leisure, will it favor to re-
ceive from you any suggestions which may occur
! TO your mind, either favorable or unfavorabe to
| the bill in question.
am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
FRED P. STANTON.
Hon. t. BUTLER KING, present.
Hon. Z. Butler King to Hon. +. p. Stanton.
WAsHISoros, September 10, 1850.
| DEAR SIN have had the honor to receive your
letter Of this date. and also your report proposing
a line Of steamers to Africa, which have read
with great interest The subjects of which ii
treats are, in my opinion, of the utmost import
ance to whole country. No one, suppose,
will hesitate to admit the necessity Of steam navy
if we intend, in the event of war, to protect our
commerce, or defend our ea-coast from ruinous
blockades and actual invasion. There is as little
~ aF
ored people of the United States on the coast Of
| Africa. If any one hesitates to believe this, let
him read the opinions of Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe Marshall, and host of others in favor of colo
MIA ton; let him also reflect, for moment, on the
ma gntude of the evil which must inevitably at
tend the vast increase and permanent esta bsh
ment of q mixed race among us; especially in the
slaveholding States. Your measure, in most
statesnan-like manner, proposes to employ steam.
ships Of the largest class, which may at any mo.
ment be converted into steamers, in the re-
moval of free negroes and colored people from the
United States to the coast of Africa; thus employ
! ing the of defence which modern inven-
tons and Improvements have rendered neoessatR
to our security, in removing evil which threat
ems to degrade our race. and toLhs .Ahe cause OF
much annoyance, and perhaps, in some nstance,,
of danger to the slavebolding States
With respect to the wisdom of the policy of your
measure, as connected with commerce and ma
tional defence, there cannot be, in my judgment,
the least doubt question. In the progress of mar
thine powers, IL Ia quite evident that whatever in.
ventions and improvements may be successfully
adopted by one in naval ornaments or CONNER
ciai intercourse. must be employed by all who
would compete with her. II will not be denied that
the United States are the rival of Great Britain on
the ocean, ana that must either lead or follow
in those Improvements, yield our commerce to
support her power. Before the employment Of
steam in ocean navigation, our mercantile marine
had attained a moet decided superiority over hers,
in the going qualities Of ships, and in the
activity, integrity, and intelligence of our com
manders and crews. The consequence was that
our lines Of paoket-ships put down all competition
| in the conveyance Of passengers, correspondence,
and valuable freight; and there was not such
thing known ass packet-ship from any other coun
l try entering our ports. This was the evidence Of
what We could accomplish under the old System in
! the event Of war. The introduction Of steam gave
her the means, Supposed To reverse this state
Of things. She the first TO test its power and
utility in naval warfare, and in the carrying trade
The skill Of her engineers and mechanics, their e1
I percnco in the construction of steam machinery,
her vast expenditures for naval purposes, and the
great wealth Of her merchants, seemed for time
10 bid defiance TO all com Petition.
She soon constructed a powerful steam navy, and
\ by uniting very large amount Of government ex
penditure nth private enterprise, has extended her
steam mail packet system 70 all parts Of The world
/ This mode Ut creating steam navy she appears
] most anrious 20 encourage and protect, for the
reason that u is designed 10 put down all compcti
ton in the carrying trade, and ultimately TO sup.
port itsclf on and 10 control the commerce Of all
nations. There cannot be a doubt that the money
annually paid for the conveyance Of letters and
other maable matter at sca by passen gers and for
! freight on package goods is amply sufficient 10
support a steam navy powerful enough 10 crush all
| che railing nayies Of the present day; and such are
the laws Of trade and commercial intercourse that
steum packets arc taking the place Of sailing ships
N in all branches Of commerce. Whatever ono incr
chant can do IN the prosecution Of bis business,
with certainty, oei,riiy and profit all others must
do Who attempt TO compete with him.
" an importer in the city Of New York orders
his goods from Liverpool to be sent in a steamer,
and receives them within twelve days after they
have beep shipped, and he competitors employ
sailing ships which thirty days ON the passage,
he who has received his supplies by the steamer
not only saves eighteen days interest his money
but supplies the market, and per forms this opera.
ton nearly three times while he larry neig hbors
arc attempting to do IT once. This process would
soon enrich the man who employs stern and i'm.
povcrish those who move by sails. These remark.
apply, Of course, 10 the valuable packa &c. good.
trade. articles Of modcs, &C.. &c, which pay high
freights and are meet valued in p,ot season So il
is with passengers and the mails. No man think,
now Of taking pass tgc in, sending letters by,
sailing packet, If there Ia steamer on the sam,
route. The whole travel and correspondence
therefore, Of the sorld, by sea, "a rapidly passing
into stesin-sbips. These are the laws, also, whci
govern communications on land. While we ar,
urging the Importance 81 cheap postage, and com
: plain at paying ten cents on sheet Of letter
paper, VIC are daily sending teegruphic de,patche
which cost that sum for every word.
In the process Of examining all the consideration
connected with ocean steam navigation, IL as
ccrtained that stsam,r, 10 re,i,f spccessf,y an,
stis oe Effects Of heary dtipsn Js head ,e,nd
must be built strong enough 10 curry guns, and with
stand the discharge Of battery; and, therefore, al
ships Of that description might be employed for thu
two great purposes Of commerce and war To con