The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-24
For The Southern Press.
ROLES Of Scraps and Musings.
No. lO2.

For the Southern Press.
Relies OF Scraps and Musings.
No. lO2
NATIONAL RlvALRY-THE COLLINS LINE.
The principal argument adduced in support
OF the grant Of four millions additional compen-
sation to the Collins line of steamers, is founded
on the idea that it il absolutely necessary for
the United States to enter the lists as the rival
Of England, and that consequently our policy,
both foreign and domestic, must be regulated
by that of the British government. Without
entering into an examination of that policy, or
looking at it's consequences as they exhibit
themselves in the present condition and future
prospects of that country, | will merely ex
press the opinion, that it is exceedingly unwise
and impolitic for any one government to sci
itself up in direct opposition to another, and
thus in great measure regulate its conduct by
that Of its rival, which thus becomes in fact the
arbiter of its whole policy and governs it by its
examples.
Should this idea Of national rivalry be made
the basis of legislation, and it thus be necessary
| to counteract any movement of the government
of England in regard to it's internal policy, by
entering the lists and attempting to 60 beyond
her, it must be evident that the government of
the United States will become still more than
ever the mere echo of that of England, and be
led into every species Of extravaganza under
pretence of counteractng her rivals. She will
in effect become the director Of the policy of
our government, and lead us where she pleases
by first setting the example. 1t may be laid
down as maxim. without any exception whate
! yer, that the nation whose policy is solely d.
:, rected by spirit of rivalry to another, must
t necessarily be ill governed, because it substi-
tutes false principle in place of proper re-
gard to its own interests and happiness. 1t
also generates bad feelings between two rival
nations, and almost always ends in war and
boodshed, as may be seen in the history of
Carthage and Rome, France and England, Venice
and Genoa. The maxim, Delenda est Carthage,
becomes the ruling principle, and the downfall
of one or other of the rivals the ulimaium.
But after all, this idea of the rivalry of the
two nations-which it seems now in a great
measure consists in contest between the Gun
ard and Collins line Of steamers, the result of
which we are told is to decide their future CON-
mercial preponderancy-s in the highest degree
visionary and preposterous. Nothing that tends
towards monopoly of commerce can be gen.
orally beneficial to the nation; and nothing is
more certain than that any direct interference
of the patronage of the government in behalf of
any individuals engaged in it, necessarily gives
them advantages over all others. That this
will be the case with the line of Collins steam
ers cannot be doubted. Their expenses will in
great measure be borne by the government,
and their owners can afford to take freight and
passengers at lower rate than those who are
obliged to build and navigate their vessels at
their own cost. Every line of steamers EN-.
, ployed in conveying the mails, will probably be
n encouraged to ask similar advantages, and be
i equally entitled to receive them, and thus steam
.. ton of the commerce of the country.
e. 1t seems to me that among all the waste Of
- public lands and public money, for which the
le present session of Congress has been 30 emf
n exceptionable, 80 devoid of any bass Of Justice
,f or expediency az this enormous donation to a
t, company of specuIators, a great portion of
whom, it is stated, are foreigners trading on
&. foreign capital. The reasons urged in its be.
h half, by its Jealous advocates in both Houses of
y Congress, are so utterly insufficient to justify
II the measure, that l have right to conclude
er they were influenced by other considerations to
at which proceed to advert with frankness
If trust not entirely unbecoming in citizen of the
at United States, feeling deep interest in the
70 welfare of his countrymen, and the purity OF
d legislation.
n 1t cannot but have struck all those who have
If attentvely watched the progress of legislation
70 in Congress, and in most of our State legisls-
o lures. that all bills for grants of public land,
!. and public money. or in any way involving pecu-
p mary considerations. have uniformly had pre-
cedeuce over those Of more general interest