The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-05

the Secretary of the Navy that each shall be com
uIanded by officer Of the navy assisted by -four
passCd midshipmen 10 serve as watch olhcersj that
the Secretary of the Navy shall have the right IL
place on board of each two guns of heavy calibre,
with the necessary TO serve them, and, in case
of war; Ia take the ships for the exclusive service
of the United States, on paying their appraised
value. t requires the contractors 10 carry, each
voyage, many free colored emigrants, not ex-
ceedng 500, the Colonization Society may send,
for ten dollars paid in advance for each twelve,
and five dollars for each under twelve years OF
age; together with such necessary agents as the
Government the society may require, free Of cost;
and, finally, To have the ships in readinesstwo OF
them within two-and half years, and the third
within three years after the execution of the con-
tract. 1t also provides that the Government shall
pay $4,000 for each trip; and take security for per-
torrance OF the contract, and lien on the ships
for repayment of the advances.
The steamers are required to make monthly
trips to Liberia, touching their return at GER
tain points in Spain, Portugal, France, and Eng
land, thus one ship will leave New York every
three months, touching at Savannah for freight and
MALE; one will leave Baltimore every three months,
touching at Norfolk and Charleston for passengers,
freight, and mails; and one will leave New Or
leans every three months, with liberty to touch at
any of the West India islands They will proceed
directly TO Liberia, with liberty TO touch at any of
the islands ports Of the coast of Africa thence to
Gibraltar, carrying the Mediterranean mails !;
thence TO Cadiz, some other port of Spain to be
designated by the Government; thence to Lisbon;
thence TO Brcst, some other port of France, to
be designated as above; and thence to London
bringing mails from all those points to the United
States.
The estimated cost of the three ships is $2T00,-
900. Annual expense, including cost OF running,
interest, repairs and Insurance. ) ,22l 900 Esti-
mated receipts 1854 900, made up of Government
pay $3.50 900, and passa ge- money of colored emf
grants s 81 900. This leaves balance of expense,
over Government pay and profit of emigrants, OF
$GS7 200, TO be raised by commerce and passen-
gers.
The removal of free blacks to the coast Of Africa
is regarded a measure in which all sections of
the country equally concerned; and by which
all interests, and chiefly those of the ernigrans
themselves essentially promoted. But there
various other considerations which justly com
mend the project to public favor. The planting
and building up of Christian colonies on the coast
of Africa is certainly Of the effective obstacles
to- if the only practical preventive Of, the prose-
cution of the slave trade. The extension OF our
steam marine is also of paramount importance, in
the increased facilities it affords to commerce and
the it adds to the which is established
for its defence and protection.
In commencing the above plan, we Of course do
not to endorse all its details to the price
Of the steamers, rate of compensation to be paid by
the Government, &c. all this being matter which
requires calculation and study, well as know
ledge of ship building. But the plan itself is ad-
mirable, and worthy Of the great American Repub-
lie