The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-29

moment we put our service upon an equality with
hers, shall be entitled to divide the whole post
age. and put half of it into treasury.
But the advantage to be derived from maintain
ing this line s not to be con- fined to mere calcu
laton Of the amount of postage that may be put
into the treasury. There are other considerations
OF much higher importance. The great route now
from England, and from Western Europe, to the
East Indies, is from Southampton. by way Of Glib
raltar and Alexandria. But who does not perceive
that the time coming, that il is not far distant.
when the great mail route to the East Indies, not
only from New York, but from London and from
Paris, will be over the Atlantic and by either of the
Cunard line of the Collins line. under the con-
troll either Of the English Government or OF the
Amer lean Government That presents this i'm
portant question TO the Senate and 10 the country
whether we shall not at all hazards sustain this
ne in order to preserve Tor our people, and tor our
Government, the control OF that great worlds
route which to pass along the shores oil this c0un
try, and across the lsthmus of Panama, and thence
to the East Indies.
The honorable Senator from Virginia said that
II this line could not sustain ITSELF let it go down
West India mail steam route of England will not
go down. But if our line alone goes down, what
happens? All the communication-the passen-
gers the letters. and the commerce, passing over
the Atlantic, crossing the Isthmus OF Panama to
The Pacific ocean, and there spreading out TO the
great East-is under the complete control OF the
English government But il you sustain an Anne
rcan line of stea if that route turns out,
London, and from Western Europe, TO China
our line, having the superiority in speed and OF
certainty, will be the grand carrier of letters and
Of passengers from Europe, through America, to
the East Indies.
1t ID stated, in the book from which have already
quoted that last year letter written in the city
Of New York, passing in the Cunard line to Eng
land. and then put on board the steamer at South
ampton, thence by way OF Alexandria to Suez,
reached Hong Kong in fifty five days.
Now, sir it il reduced " almost certainty, that
letter written in London, passing with the speed
of the Collins line over the Atlantic, and by
Panama to the Pacific, will reach the same place
in forty days This route is ours The great
commerce OF the world by steam is thus under our
control Yet the honorable Senator says: Let this
line go down; or let 1t fight its way ns bestit can
under the protection OF individual enterprise.
As said before, our pecEle can contend single
handed with any people on the face of the earth;
but they cannot contend with the capitalists OF
Great Britain backed by the protection Of the Eng
lish government. They may contend with them
for short time, but the stubborn endurance OF
John Bull will break down the enterprise Of a
Yankee, unless he alec is supported by his own
Government. Therefore, say, throwing aside the
matter pf dollars and cents-wh neither II costs us
thousand dollars more or les5-here national
considerations which should induce us TO sustain
his line. There are other considerations BY the
contract these ships are to be made war steamers;
and intend to show they are war -steamers-the
best Of the kind in the world for certain purposes
Of war, and that they can, at small expense, be
used as such in any emergency. ! have here
letter OF Commodore Perry on this subject. dated
February Is, 1852, and addressed To the Secretary
OF the Navy, Speaking of these ships-the Collins
line-he says:
According to my calculations, the cost Of the
conversion Of either the before mentioned vessels
exclusive OF armaments, repair OF machinery. &c,
would not, or certainly ought not, to cost for each
steamer over $40 0oO and 1t could readily be done
for this at any OF our navy yards. Win respect
TO the description and weight OF their respective
lTl, Al fhn ntytnn thaf he
first class steamers already named could easily
carry. four 10 inch Paixban guns on pivots-t~o
forward and two sft-oi the weight OF thosc in the
Mississippi. and ten s inch Paixhan guns on the
sides: and this armament would not tncommode the
vessels, and the weight lees than the ice, which is
usually forty tons, and slowed away in one mess "
Commodore Perry continues, that
'In the general operations of maritime war,
they could render good service, and especially
would they be uscful from their great speed as de
spatch vessels and for the transportation of troops
always capable Of attack and defence, and Of over
hauling ore escaping from an enemy
The Atlantic, Pacific, Baltic, and Arctic have
oil been built inspected and received by .he Navy
Department"
Commodore Perry adds TO this letter a note and
snys "thst ocean steamer of 5000 tons Is OF the
maximum dimension for safety and efficiency,
whether for rar or commercial purposes
At the time OF the construction OF these ships
every attention given TO their form, strength,
and models by the contractors, under the spcciul
dircction Of tho Navy Department. To show that
will merely refer 10 the communications upon the
subject. They are ss follows:
h. Collius's letter TO the Secretary OF the Navy,
ia relation 10 the sideierr sngine, with the secre
tary Of the Navy's approval.
T.. X. Coins's letter TO the Secretary OF the
Navy, asking for consent TO modify specifications,
With answer Of the Secretary Of the Navy, that
Commodore skinner. Of the Bureau Of Coustr6c-
tion, bad approved OF the alteration.
T. X Collins's letter 10 the Secretary ofthe Navy,
es for the of n naval instructor
and superintendent, with Secretary Of the Navy
answer, appointing Captain 5. skiddy naval con.
structor.
Secretary Of the Navy answer TOE X Collins,
accepting the Arctic, with report Of Commodore
Perry aud Commander Bell 10 Secretary of the
Navy, in reference TO the capacity and uscfulness
Of the Arctic for war purposes:
"USIryD STATES NAVY YaHD,
"PmLADsLPHft, April Ia, 1852.
"SIR: In answer TO yours Of the 18Th. have to
state, chief naval constructor the specifications
for building the Collins line Of steamers sub
mttcd 10 me, and approved, as in accordance with
the act Of 81 Of March, lst7.
"Thcy can be converted into var steamers 10
carry battery equal 10 largest steam frigatcs,
in short time and the necessary alterations to be
made TO receive such battery will not exceed
coat OF 20,OOO each.
81 nm, cir, with great respect your obedient ser
want, FRANCIS GRlER
"To The Hon. wM. NJ. Gwrs, United States Sen
ate, Washington"
Il appears by these letters, which arc on flc in
the Navy Department, that the vessels have been
constructed With special reference ior war service;
that naval officers OF high character aud great cS
percnce were not only consulted in their cOnstruc-
tion, but supcrntcndcd their building, who all say
that they arc capable OF being used in OF war,
at the small expense Of about S2O,OOO each.
submit 10 the Senate whether this is not con
sideration which should induce 10 sustain thesc
chips and TO keep them under the control OF the
Government, to be uscd in the case Of war; No
man who has scen these ships--no man who has
heard thcse evidences--can doubt for moment but
that they would be, this very hour, II should
break out, tho most effective steamships now under
our control They may not be "a strong as war.
steamers especially constructed for the purpose
They may not bc ne powerful as many ships con
structcd by tho English government; but their
great utility would be their speed and their power
of action II we can, by an expenditure OF $40 OOO
pot these splendid ships into the service, that
OF itsc s n sufficient consideration for 0s TO sp
prcpriate THE money, in order to keep them atoat
We cannot maintain or Keep up ~sr steamers Of
equal power at any thing like ne cheap rate az We
can these steamers.
With regard to the capacity Of these ships, and
their usefulness in war, my honorable colleague,
has had great experience upon this subject
will, have no doubt, sustain me in the opinion
have expressed, that these ships will be of great
service % the country in time Of war. These
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