Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-05-24
OCEAN STEAMERS.
FROM Al occAHoHAL CORRESPONDENT.
The H'se, Progress, and Condition Of american
Ocean Steam Navigation.


Ocean Steam Navigation.
| New Yo1K, MAJ IA, 1881.
In pursuance Of promise made two months ago. com
series of letters for the Inteisencsr upon the pro
gross Of our country in the arts developed in their condition
in this great city and in the in which they are pro
secuted here at this time This subject is a. vast interest
ing perpetualy before the minds eve of the refesnp
man as he Perambuates this cy for at every turn
he cannot fail to observe something new in the v.y Of the
adaptation Of Natures offerings purposes as novel as eco
nomcal The dweler in the Interior wherein scientific inn
make their way only in ratio with the actual de-
mand of the locality, has little idea of the manner in which
they crowded the public notice in this great mart
the whole country Gin trade here to purchase so ali
who have wares to sell bring them hhsr for exposition.
Thus we have in New York sort of perpetual worlds fair
accompanied, too by huge wondering, admirns and in
vesgatng crowd composed of strangers from all quarters Of
the GLOBE much like that which specially
in London In fact in this age are surrounded amos,
as much with Babec confusion of tongues as we are with
like confusion Of the results Of the application Of genius
and science to the useful arts.
New York indebted much to her recent remarkable pro
in steam navigation for the existence of this con-
don Of things which is only doubling her capital and
dusing other blessings among her citizens but increasing
the prosperity and lettering the economy of our people from
Aroostook to San Francisco But yesterday as it were the
hrst successful steam voyage the Atlantic was made
and already the business has become Of almost as much
national importance any other branch Of American indus
try, save agriculture refer to the first voyage Of the Great
Western, late in 1885, You cannot have forgotten the
sensation that event created in the American industrial world
demonstrating, it did, tina. the foundation Of one Of the
greatest commercial revolutions the world has witnessed had
been successfully laid.
In defiance Of the gloomy calculations of that great lion of
scientific rules Of the age, Dr. DIorrIUs LARDsHa in the
course Of the next year Mr. CUsARD began his enterprise
and sent over the British Queen to be followed in ls4O by
the Inflated President Unlike their predecessor these first
Cunard Atlantic steamships reflected credit upon their
builders being deficient in power and strength as in model
The sad fate of the President ounderng sea- dsabtess
and the speedy breaking up Of her conso prove the truth of
this remark while their English rival this day indus
triousy and satisfactorily plying between Britain and the
West Indies For year after the regular establishment Of
the Cuna line no parties in this country appeared alive to
the importance Of nsttung American competition with this
enterprise though all sagacous had begun realize that
was the most supendous Of grand series of British Go
Venment measures to retain the control of the
the world which the laws Of nature seemed about place in
our hands The Northeastern Boundary difficulty and the
aar OF the Caroline occurring shortly afterwards awoke the
hst mover IN favor OF American steam navigation E.
\. COLLINS to the importance (naval well as ndusa
OF successful American competition with England for the
carrying trade by between the two continents He re-
paired to Washington where, in interviews with Mr.. YAK
buren,, he endeavored convince the latter of the prime
necessity for the establishment of American line between
New York and Liverpool the great termni and msrs of
the commerce Of the Atlantic But that statesman too busy
with the amportant question Of the succession paid lit
tie attention TO his vast array of commercial statistics his
naval views which have subsequently become the policy
fho ANA Cove III
steam navy by encouraging the construction Of ships to pro-
secu'e what is emphaticay the Of peace, commerce
which convertible though by magic into formidable
vessels Of war, should occasion require The result Of the
Presidential election Of rendered hopeless further ef
forts to interest Mr. Van Burens administration in this sub
ect and the death of HARRsor the commercial policy
Of his Administration developed prevented Mr. CoLL1ss
for while longer from prosecuting the project Of successful
rivalry with the Queen Of the in rans-marine steam
navigation But, his installed be
brought the subject before the Government until
by dnt Of he induced that Executive and his
Cabinet to favor his practical views. The treatment Of
the question in Of his messages during the last Congress
Of bis Administration, and its elaborate review in the
accompanying report Of Mr. Postmaster General WIcKLIrrr
furnished the first tangible evidence that the Government Of
the United States in earnest this subject This off,
cal endorsement speedily followed by the enactment Of
the ADMINISTRATION dlscre
ton in making contracts for the transportation of the mails Of
the United States ocsanwise. Being myself at that time
newspaper aache of Congress- recolect we'll the history
of the Of that law and testify that almost alone
the eIeons Of Mr. COLLINS is the country indebted for
the insertion Of its important clause in the BILL on its
second reading in the Senate whittier from the House.
refer the clause making obligatory maisteamer con-
tractors construct their ships that they should be in
all respects suitable for purposes in Of emergencies
But the Administration of Mr. TYLER died ere this law was
carried out and the work had be gone over de novo
with its successor composed Of gentlemen more than all
other American public jealous Of propositions involving
the expenditure Of the public money At length however,
creon in this connection with which Congress had entrusted
them So Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON contracted for the consruc
ton of line of mail steamers between New York and Bre
men, adopting the principle enforced in the arguments Col
Inns though rejecting his views the subject Of its European
terminus Liverpool for two reasons-frs because the Ad
mnistraon had International political views bound up in
closer direct union with Germany and next because the
English Government objected strenuously Qhrough Mr.
PAKENHAM) project threatening destruction to its che
shed plan Of entirely controlling the by steam be-
tween the two countries Many and cogent the argu
urged upon the Post Office Department against thus
suendering England most important and fat growing
business which at least ourhs legmatev Anne
rcan in the hostages incident to it. Suffice it say,
that Mr. JOHNSON governed his action by the State views of
Mr. PoLKs administration leaving results to demonstrate
Gas they have the correctness of the theory that the New