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

momen ut we put our service upon equality with
hers, we shall be entitled to divide the whole post
age, and put half Of it into our treasury.
But the advantage to be derived from maintain
ing this line 10 not to be confined to a mere calcu
latioD Of the amount Of postage that may be put
into the treasury. There are other considerable
from England, and from Western Europe, to the
East ladies'. is from Southampton. by wny Of Glib
raltar and Alexandria. But who does not perceive
that the time ID 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 md by either OF the
Cunard line Of the Collins line, under the con-
troll either OF the English Government or OF the
Anne, lean Government. That presents this i'm
portant question TO the Senate and TO the country
whether we shall not at all hazards sustain this
line in order to preserve for our people, and for our
Government, the control oil thnt great WORLDS
route which il to pass along the shores Of this coun
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
The Cunsrd hne will not go down The great
West India mail steam route Of England will not
go down But if our line alone goes down, what
happens? All the commandments passen-
gers, the letters, and the commerce, passing over
the Atlantic, crossing the Isthmus OF Panama to
he Pacific ocean, and there spreading out TO the
great East-is under the complete control OF the
English government. But if you sustain an Anne
rican line of stca and if that route turns out,
as believe it will, to be the most direct route from
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
lett vritt in Lon will he ppd
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
line go down; let it fight its way best II can
under the protection OF individual enterprise.
As said before, our peerIe 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
lisb 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 also is supported by his own
Government. Therefore, say, throwing aside the
matter Of dollars and cents-~hether IT costs us a
thousand dollars, more or less--here are national
considerations which should induce us to sustain
this line. There are other considerations. By the
contract these sbips to be made war steamers;
and intend to show they war-steamers-the
beet 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 n
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
lne-bc says
According to my calculations, the cost Of the
conversion Of either the before men uoned vessels,
exclusive of ornaments, repair Of machinery, &c,
would not, or certainly ought not to cost for each
steamer over 20 900; and 1t could readily be done
for this at any OF our navy yards. With respect
to the description and weight of their respective
ornaments, am clearly OF the opinion that the
hrst-class steamers already named could easily
carry. Jour 10 inch Paixban guns on pivots-two
forward and two eft-of the weight OF those in the
Mississippi, and ten inch Paixhan guns on the
sides: and this armament would notincommode the
vessels, and the weight lees than the ice which IL
usually forty tons and slowed away IN one mess
Commodore Perry continues, that
''In the general operations of a maritime war,
they could render good service, and especially
would they be usefu from their great speed as de
spach vessels, and for the transportation Of troops,
always capable Of attack and defence, and Of over
hauling or escaping from an enemy.
the Atlantic, Pacific. Baltic, and Arctic have
oil been built inspected. and received by The Navy
Depa rtinent"
Commodore Perry adds to this letter a note. and
says ihat an ocean steamer of 900 tons is Of the
maximum dimension for safety aud efficiency,
whether for commercial purposes "
At the time Of the construction OF these chips
every attention wac given TO their form, strength,
and models by the contractors, under the spccinl
direction OF tho Navy Department. To show that,
| will merely refer 10 the communications upon the
subject. They as follows;
X Collius's letter TO the Secretary OF the Navy,
in relation 10 the SIDE ierer fngine, with the secre
tary OF the Navy's approval.
r.. X Collinss letter 60 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 CoustruC.
ton, bad approved Of the alteration.
r. X Collins's letter to the Secretary ofth Navy,
asking for the appointment of n naval 6 instructor
"A nd SUI W q the
auswcr, appointing Captain 5 skiddy naval con.
structor.
Secretary OF the Nsvy's answer to f X Collins,
accepting the Arctic. with report OF Commodore
Perry and Commander Bell to Secretary of the
Navy, in reference to the capacity and usefulness
Of the Arctic for war purposes:
"USITrD STATES Navy YaHp,
"PmLADsLPHi., April Ia, 1852.
"SiR: In answer to yours Of the 18th. have to
state, chief aval constructor, the specifications
for building the Collins line Of steamers were Sub
mittcd TO me, and approved, in accordance with
the act Of 81 Of March, lsi7.
"Thcy can be converted into war steamers 90
carry battery equal to largest steam friga,cs,
in short time, and the necessary alterations Co nc
made 20 receive such battery will not exceed
cost Of $4,000 each
81 am, sir, with great respect your obedient ser
want, FRANCIS GEiER
'To the Hon. WIN NJ. Gwrs. United States Sen.
ate. Washington"
IL appears by these letters, which arc on file in
the Navy Department. that the vessels have been
constructed with special reference TOR war sorvicc;
that naval officers of high character and great cx
pcricnce not only consulted in their construc-
tion, hut superiutcndcd their building, who all say
that they capable OF being used in case OF war,
at the small expense Of about $4,000 each.
submit to the Senate whether this is not a con
sideration which should induce to sustain these
ships, and to keep them under the control OF the
Government, to be usod in the case of war? No
man who has these ships--po man who has
heard thcso eyidcnces--can doubt for moment but
that they would be, at this very hour, If should
break out tho most effective steamships now under
our control They may not be ma strong as war
steamers especially constructed for the purpose.
They may not be os powerful os many ships con
structcd by the English government; bot their
great utility would be their speed and their power
of action. II can, by expenditure OF 20 900,
put thcse splendid ships into the war service that
OF itsci a sufficient consideration for 0s to hp
prcpriatc THE money, in order to keep them atioa
We cannot maintain or Keep up wsr steamers Of
equal power 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,
who has had great experience upon this subject
will, have no doubt, sustain me in the opinion
have espresscd, that these ships will be OF great
service 90 the country in time Of war. These
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