The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-24
Til E REP u Lie.
From The London Shipping Gazette, Dec. 2sM.
Ste AIMS hips--England and the United states.

/
From The London Shipping Gazette, Dec. 2sM.
Steamshi hips--lsnsland and the United states.
We are living in GO o-ahead times when no one
can attempt to stand still without danger of com
ing into collision with those who are coming up
, in his rear. There ia nothing in which this on
ward movement is more actively displayed than in
steam intercourse between country and country,
more especially between the ports Of Europe
and the United States, and more distant regions
Of the world. In this race England and America
are the great competitors. There are many rea-
sons why England ought not to be left behind in
the contests it is Of the utmost moment to the
tional welfare that il should not be We must
confess ourselves somewhat sccpticai as to the
adaptation of steam vessels for the purposes Of war,
beyond being useful auxiliaries to a more efficient
fleet, and for the protection of the island from a
! French INVASION. of which we have not the same
Francis Head and Sir Charles Napier, and, in
deed, few years back, by the Duke Of Yelling
ton himself. Notwithstanding this, and our com
paratively low estimates Of war steamers, it is
quite certain that the country which establishes
for itself the most successful and extensive steam
navigation, will infallibly acquire the ascendancy
upon the ocean-not, indeed, as military, but as
commercial state. Wars, Messrs. Golden and
Bright tell US, speedily to cease--the swords of
the nations may be beaten into ploughshares; and
while we cannot look upon such happy consum-
nation as at all likely to become general among
the people OF the earth, at least in time,
cannot but think that, with ordinary prudence
England may enjoy a long continuance of its pre-
sent peaceful pursuits, provided our foreign
retaries are not too bclllgerent
We, therefore, consider the competition which the
nation has to meet to be commercial not military,
and the people of the United States great
rivals. The question then ID, how may they
pect, or how will they endeavor to acquire as
cepdancy over US? Clearly by extending their
steam navigation beyond what doing. and
approxmating, by this means, distant countries to
their shores. 1t is quite certain, but it is a me-
N ms N tan Au,er mo
do thing while we are thinking about doing it. 1t
is by this activity of mind and purpose that they go
often forestall us. In steam navigation-above all,
in the general intercourse with the world around
us, which lies beyond own shores, and is to be
carried on by steam-delay and indifference will
be fatal; the nation must be up and doing, we
shall soon be left behind The progress OF steam
navigation in the United States is probably one Of
the most extraordinary features in the history OF
that enterprisng people; and-when the many nat
ural advantages are considered which this country
possesses the States in it's iron and coal
should we break down in the competition, it can
ly be attributed either to inherent inertiH in
the people, or to impediments which they find it
beyond their power to overcome.
We do not recollect exactly how long it ia since
the necessity of esta tablishing steam communication
with our Australian colonies first brought un-
der public notice, but certainly it long before
California was taken possession of and colonzed
by the United States; yet there is already almost
weekly intercourse between New York and San
Francisco by steamers while the question Of steam
communication with Australia remains where it
was Three years ago the government pledged it.
self 10 establish forthwith this facility of comlnuni
tion for the mails and passengers but up to the
present hour nothing has been done, except that
the Admiralty, from time to time, have advertised
for tenders, which suppose have been placed
upon record in the establishmet at Charing cross.
We know not why wherefore the East India
Company should be mixed up with this question
but so it les and one Of the alleged difficulties in
tablishing the communication is said to be differ
ence between her majesty's government and the
East India directors, as we suppose, IN relation to
The proposed route OF the steamers There is, how
ever. another difAcnlty, which ws/believe weighs
the heaviest, namely, the cost tSfhe public Like
the other mail steamers-tbe North American,
West Indian, and Brazilian, ,the contractors would
require to De paid for carrying the mails as the
traffic in goods and passengers could not, Mt all
evetts in the first instance, the expenses.
But there is an Influential party in the country
which deprecates the public money being go em-
poyed, and ono OF their public organs very lately
complained of the amount that paid for carry
ing the West India and North American mails,
which was represented as premium to those
panes-a monopoly which destroyed private COM
petition This certainly is sheer nonsense but
there are times and occasions when even nonsense
has an undue weight. Neither must it be forgot
ten that the same parties who object to such ap-
plication OF the public money, equally object to
garrsons or ships being maintained for the pro
lection of our colonies; in fact they argue that if
the colonies adhere to us, well and good but II
they do not, should they transfer their allie
glance other flags, it will be no great loss Eng
land ought not to incur any expense to maintain
them This, il we mistake not, is the secret which
occasions the great delay in establishing steam
communication with Australia--a communication
which would probably coon make those colonies of
double the value to us that they are. If New
South Wales produced cotton in the same proper
ton that it does wool, should find a different
feeling existing towards that colony. A curious
fact is stated in letter which Mr. Saunders, the
secretary 10 the Association for Promoting Steam
Communication with Australia addressed to Lord
lob, t,,t
mail packets were discontinued under the inten-
ton then entertained that the place of the sailing
packets would be Immediately supplied by steam
vessels and that since that time those colonies
have been without any means of forwarding
ceivipg their European mails
II is in such matters these that the Americans
excel us; and, although it will be said that, in the
United States, every thing is effected by private
energy and public competition, and the State ia not
required to lend its aid, the circumstances, which
are essentially different, should be taken into ac-
count In the case, for instance, of Australia, if
there the least probability that private steam
crs would pay between Europe and that country,
we might rely upon it they would coon be estab-
lished. The competition OF steam navigation along
our own coast, often ruinous to those who engage
In IT, Is sufficient evidence of the general spirit of
enterprise which is part of the character of the
ton; and if our merchants were, at their own haz-
ard and without aid from the government, to try
the experiment OF running steam vessels regularly
TO Australia, instead of being exhibition of
terprise, il would be one of extreme imprudence
and folly. Besides, SO long have colonies, it
Is the duty OF the government to establish postal
communication with them; and if the public inter
est-the interest Of our commerce and the commu.
nifty, as well at home in the colonies shows that
this can be best done by steamers, the government
have right to pay for the accommodation. Mr..
Saunders, in the letter to Lord John Russell to
which we have referred says that 'the Australian
colonies are, and have BEEN ready to contribute by
their postage, and money grants. more than suiii-
cient to detray the expenses OF the improved mode
OF communication tboy loudly call for" Where
is the will there is the way; and if the government
make up their minds to act independently Of the
Manchester school of economists, we certain
that no real difficulties will be found to interposc in
establishing the communication so long sou ght for
and expected.
EXTRAORDINARY SURGICAL OPERATioN.- We
learn says the Boston Journal, that DR.. Warren,
Of this city, recently took from the stomach of an
Irish girl, at the Massachusetts, general hospital,
by means OF an incision. tape forty one feet
and teren inches in length. The operation wns per