The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-12

facts which were, from time to time, submitted TO
our Consideration, not it has been said, with the
view 70 Brighten them, but only and solely 10
awaken them to their real position.
"a people, born a. Il vere yesterday, has, from ts
own origin and ntuitive powers, already succeeded
In sezinga large share in the trads of the world,
and, If left TO itself, would in short time have
nopolized the whole commercial transatlantic ship
ping connexions between the old and new CONT
nents. Our warnings have been heard at the
eleventh hour. We are glad and rejoice sincerely
that il is 30; it is not too late yet. It will de-
pend on the measures to be adopted if England
will maintain that preponderance she has 80 long
enjoyed, If she will sink from the first rank in
naval nations to play secondary part.
CHOW that the spirit Of the British race seems 10
arouse from its slumbers-now that security has
proved 10 be snare covered with fine appearances,
but deceitful and deusive to the highest degree
now that we have seen what could be done by
energetic perseverance, what other nations do,
we awake TO tho sense Of the danger that sur
rounds US, and wonder that have been 30
long before perceving our true situation. The
whole commercial transactions of the States
could not by any stretch provide for more than
half the present tonnage afoat, actually build
ing. The manifest intention il to trade abroad
and to supersede other nations in the carriage Of
goods, to giUe employment to ssome, and to create
BY that means mUcantile many, Shich, in case of
par, might immediately produce q po,osJiA manned
naUy, for agsressiue purposes the foreign and
l0nidl posssssions qf European States.
"But If, a. We anticipate, the English nation,
now awakening from her dreams Of security, sees
her former supremacy perilled by her long undis-
turbed indolence--if Englishmen, now seeing their
true position and the encroachments made on their
trade, resolving to shake off the trammels of old
traditions or prejudices set fairly and heartily to
work; not only we do not despair Of successful
issue, but, ON the contrary, we predict to them
complete restoration of those high privileges which
they were once wont to consider their rights
Here, then, is glimpse at the mighty rival
ry which has been excited, and is now openly
avowed on the other side of the Atlantic. 1t is
perhaps as keenly felt here, though not so
vauntingly expressed. 1t is pushed by British
writers quite beyond commercial competition to
the question of armed supremacy upon the sea !;
and the traditional jealously and hereditary
pride of the English are excited by intimations
that the Americans cherish the audacious
scheme of usurping their birthright as Legitimate
queen of the ocean!
1t is Of competition thus national, and thus
existing between the two great maritime
powers of the earth, that the American steam
ers have come to be considered, in some sense,
the pivot or the hinge. 1t was in the track of
this line that England supposed she possessed
high advantages, being more accustomed to the
turbulent waters of the north Atlantic; more
trained to battle with its tempestuous seasons;
and especially more familiar with the rocky
and foggy coasts at the eastern extremity Of the
line 1t was here, also, that the British gov
eminent had bestowed its largest and most ef-
fective pecuniary aid.
1t was well reasoned that, if the Americans
could beat here, they could beat anywhere or
everywhere Hence the intense interest with
which the rival lines on this route are regarded.
The American steamers, upon their arrival in
England, have been the subjects of the most
careful and critical examination. Every trip
they have made has been registered, timed,
scrutinized, and compared, with anxious exacti-
tude The decision is still pending, and the
issue of the conflict is likely to depend upon the
course adopted by our Government In relation
to the memorial already alluded to-
If the American line shall be forced to aban-
don their enterprise, the rich commerce wrested
from our packets by the CUNARD line will be
continued in British hands. Nor will this be the
end. Most of what remains on this route will
also be taken away, and English merchants will
reap, at our expense, the benefits of the bust
ness naturally developed under the auspices Of
an improved navigation. Our mails, our Gov
eminent dispatches, and the best means of in
tercourse, will be in their hands, under circum-
stances at all times humiliating, and, in case
of national excitement or collision, Of serious in
convenience or mischief
This American Atlantic line has been viewed
in this country as destined to be the beginning
link in grand chain of communication, ex-
tending through this country to California, and
thence to Asia. The importance of such
line, in national point Of view, cannot be
overrated But if the Atlantic portion shall fail,
the basis of this entire. enterprise is annihi-
lated. What has happened upon the Atlantic is
likely to take place on the Pacific; and we
shall doubtless see the richest commerce, be-
tween California and the eastern coast of Asia,
engrossed by some British Cunard-triumph-
ing by aid of government patronage over
the best efforts of American enterprise. Nor
are the effects likely to stop here; it is
quite evident that the far-sghted British mer-
chants and politicians do not intend it shall stop
here. If the American line is crushed, the
British are the victors before the world. What
a moral effect must this have to discourage our
and to stimulate that of the British
Must it not drive capital, courage, and enter
prise from one to that of the other2 And let
it be remembered, this is not common case Of
mere private competition. The government
purse of Great Britain is pledged to its support;
and with this mighty power added to their tri-
umph, will not an ascendancy be gained by
them which years cannot recoverl II is quite
evident that these things are profoundly pom