Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-28
From the Alexandra Age.

From the Alexandria Age
Shall the Collins Steam Line be Sustained?
This IS question of great importance. 1t is
not the amount of money asked from the Govern
ment, on the gain OF losses of any individual or
company thatma it so. A few hundred thou
sand dollars, or even millions, to this great coun-
try, or the making wreck of fortunes by few
individuals are insignificant considerations in de-
Gliding the question before us. We deem it up-
necessary to say much of the matter ia this res
pect, for no statesman, none but men of the most
limited capacity, whose minds are unable to
grasp great subjects will care whether the receipts
will meet exactly the expenditure, or Mr. Col
Inns gains or loses by the enterprise.
To persons of enlarged views and patriotic
hearts, the question presents itself in nation
al and in a constitutional point of view. There
are those, occupying the high position of leeiela
tors, who assume miserable and mistaken econo
my In matters of great national character. as If
they were appropriating few dollars to the re-
pair of u Court House in a country town. Let us
not limit our views much, for true economy
consists in the success of great enterprises Let
us reach this subject both in its national and in its
constitutional character. But for the satisfaction
of those who look at the matter only as to the i'm
m ediate calculation of dollars and cents, we can
state that the United States Government has re-
ceived more actual revenue by the establishment
of the Collins Mail Steamers than the aogreoate
amount of compensation afforded. A table eyhib-
iting this fact has been published in the n York
Journal Of Commerce, and copied in this and other
papers. Those who want to be Informed uoon
the sub ect obtain the information very readi-
ly, but for ourselves we prefer to examine it upon
other grounds.
1t is not an extravagant assertion to say that
no circumstance in the history Of our country
has so much decreased our national importance
excited the admiration of the world, or SO
alarmed our commercial rival Great Britain, as
these magnificent and Incompatible steamships
The English journals avowed that the suprema-
cy OF the seas was no longer to be contested by
line of-batte ships naval squadrons, but by Gu
nard ard Collins. The genius of commerce now
bears the trident and she sits the prows Of the
Baltic, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Artc and the
Artartc, bearing his emblem of sovereignty on the
sw1ftest and noblest vessels that ever ceayed the
ocean waves. The people in the interior of the
country or IN the tar West may not appreciate
this contest do those in our commercial cities or
III the Atlantic States but what American breast
will not swell with pride at victory, which
England, heretofore proud mistress of the seas
regards as determining the question of maritime
superiority? What American, though he may
never see the ocean in his life, feel any direct
interest in commercial pursuits but will say, from
the bottom of his heart, let the government do all
1t can to foster enterprise that has identified
itself SO largely with the nations honor and the
nations greatness We have not valued this
contest, this victory enough. Hear what Mr..
Cunard said before committee of the House of
Commons in England, in July, I849, when he
sought to extend his contract with the government
IN order to be able to meet the expected COMPETE
ton:
IL was most anxious to have it 1.-THE extension of the
cohtfactl DONE because knew the consequences OF
having these ivanes of packets running against u.s. that
1T would affect the government than it would effect
u.s. could not increase the nufber of passengers but
the number of letters would be considerable increased
or doubled because if one person writes the whole must
write"
He says, sit would affect the government more
than it would u.s. Mark that declaration. 1t
would affect the government in its revenue,-it
would affect it in its maritime character,-it
would lose the prestige of superiority, and there
fore lose its trade. Mr.. Cunard was right as has
been proved. The British governments knowing
that the welfare of the nation, all its great nte-
rests, agricultural, manufacturing and CONNER
clal, would be affected, well as the revenue,
wisely renewed the contract and appropriated q
large sum of money to defeat the Americans-
England approprates nearly four million dollars
annually to Ocean Mail steam lines, and we have
no doubt would appropriate double that amount if
1t could have the effect of obtaining maritime SUI
periority. Were to take up the newspapers
OF Great Britain, to notice the speeches in Para-
ment, and the action of the British government
IN reference to steam communication, and espe-
cislly IN reference to the Atlantic Steam Line,
with which we have successfully competed we
should then learn with what degree of impor-
lance this matter is regarded on the other side
OF the Atlantic. And shall not we be wise enough
to avail ourselves of the advantages we enjoy-of
the triumph we have gained Shall we suffer
defeat by inaction, and lose the prize when we
have won it! 1t is hardly possible to imagine so
much folly.
But 1t is said, ours is limited government :;
limited by the constitution, and it cannot with
out violating the constitution. aid those private
companies. We too would have that sacred in
strument, the constitution, preserved above every
other consideration. We belong to that school
of democrats who adhere to the strict construc-
ton OF the constitution, and who oppose all doubt
full applications of it, but does the appropriation
of money to vessels actually employed ia the pub.
lie S ryice, and built with the express purpose
OF being used as vessels if needed violate the
strict terms of the constitution! Nor does it mat
ter whether the money is paid in advance or af-
ter the service is performed. We may advance
money where we have guarantee that the SER
vice will be performed, just as we have suspen-
ded for n time the collection of duties on railway
iron in certain cases to facilitate great public
works. The government must pay for the mail
service, and it is not bound to take the lowest
terms offered, because the public interest requires
expedition. Collins Steamers are the best
for the mail service They do it more expeditions
" than any others, and by Of that, they in
crease the public revenue, and there is no consti
tutional reason, why the government should not
pay them literally, and thus foster IN enterprise
which has made us the first maritime power of
the world. We would not violate the oonstitu-
ton to make oucountfy mistress of tho seas to