The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-19

ln the second place. The assumed availability Of tr
vessels for purposes would matter OF colss i0
voye their wi,hdswaI from their packet duties, IN he
event OF war the yey lime when ever their services a.
packets would be OF real value.
In thr third place. vessels aher being snbsi.
aIed s remain the property o. the companies aud lhs
pubic required them. the pubic would slil have 10 pay
for them Even after the payment Of the subsidy going nn
Tor years the vesels such they e, would have 70 be
paid for second dmeby the public, II The public service
| required them /"
To which will add this inquiry Supposing the con.
tract Gas with the Collins lne) TO cognue ten gears at
the end OF which time that war should ese and, 10 The
mean tne as we must infer, that great improvements
should be made in steam navigation and naval archlec
lure would our government be so cuipaby stupid os 10
take these old ships al any price war vessels TO
tend WIN The improved ships OF an enemy To answer
this inquiry in the affirmative would be absurd To an
swer il 10 the negative is prove this idea OF substu
ting these mail boats Tor oiwar TO be worse than
absurd.
/ Then this writer again asks
is honestly and seriously supposed by any per.on in
matey acquainted with the subject that aaY subsidy
fare between New Yoh and Liverpool The idea i per
| iecty preposerous!' II
/ And again, be remarks:
sells plying between New York aud Liverpool the
Infinitely better than il at present. than ever
| become under the present unsound system"
aaS no %f 5s at S' 9 eS a
duce results that would be astounding!"
In speaking specially Of the Collins line, be says
In this, their almost ncipent effort Ia saltwater
navsaon they have been content to copy IN essential
features, those dscredabe specimens Of British marine
engineering which, under British monopoly, have beer
nDDiil'ng Di themselves IN me American ports;
These Bfttshendowed steamers are all behind the age
in every respect" NC.
And yet, sir, this is the system have copied, and
these the results which it is sought 10 bind
abide Tor eight years 10 comeand that too at almost
double The enormous cost we are already budened with
Can such system be necessary TO enable US 10 COM
pete with Great Britain Tor the mastery OF the seas by
means OF steam navigation We told so; and yet it
cannot he true II so, why or how II cannot tend TO
improve the art OF steam navigation but the contrary,
II throws the hardest obstacle self interest, barrier
IN the way OF that Improvement, and ties down the art 10
lis present tacpient stle by the certainty oil pecuniary
gain on the part Of the favored monopoes, and Of fear
OF loss on the part ot prescribed private enterprise. II
makes contract with single company during certain
long term OF years, Tor certain large amount OF COM
pensalon for the performance of certain service in ves
sells OF prescribed kind-and that kind conessedy
structed and fitted in the infancy OF the art. Now TO
the company thus favored and employed what induce
men is there 10 change or improve It's vessels, or the
means OF their propulsion. when, by such change
or Improvement, they will certainly incur great addi-
tiona expense, but receive no additional compensation
And yet, are we TO expect no Improvement in this
great and progressing art during the long period OF this
conac-en ycarswith the Collins line But who will
make il Not this company, wnich is favored with a
government bounty that protects u against the com
petition even OF Improvements, and on condition that
itself may make Will not say that private enter
Prise w make none Tor think taohishy OF the genius
and sp OF my counlfymen TO believe that they can be
wholly deferred debarred from making improvements
IN any art or science or entirely stopped on the path ol
any enterprise even by ihe hindefins hand OF govern
ment monopoly But | do believe that, as far as the
power OF government hinder repsss discourage, and
reiard private enterprise and improvement, IN the drec
uon have indicated, just such system we have
adopted, and propose 10 continue and strengthen Tor
this line OF steamers, has already inflicted injury
which will grow with its growth and strengthen with lis
strength Is II not Encouragement and an insult TO
American genius and enterprise or this government 10
say that, advance they mag, they shall either stand
ASIDE Tor an old monopoly which comes limping behind
the spirit OF the age, pay tribute its impoency for
10
Ii were right and wse to remand the limbs OF lusty
manhood TO the swa3dles OF infancy, condemn the
bounding TO keep pace with the creeping soh Shall
we adhere 10 such system or, worse still, shall We
extend MS operations when thereby We shall augment lis
! evils! God forbid!
We have been told that we must keep this Collins line
10 their present conditions and under the proposed
tract, for eight years to come in order 70 maintain an
equal footing, as maritime power, with the other ma
lions oil the world especially in view oi the changes
which steam navigation is making in the art Of In
view. OF the facts and arguments have already pre-
sented, the very OF this proposition seems TO 10
be true Tor, while the enterprise OF other nations is Left
free, or otherwise wisely encouraged, 10 develop i'm
proyements and hasten their consummaiion in steam
navigation, and their adaptation 10 purposes OF commerce
and OF war, we are tied down BY this contract to the
models and machinery OF the inspent stage Of The Grf-
the swaddles OF its nlancy-and under bonds which
seem 10 be regarded binding only upon 10 pay what
ever exorbant demands an unpnncped and renorseess
monopoly OF oar own creation, and whose slave we
have become may prefer, not iora any national advantage
bat Tor The disadvantage OF remaining stationary while al
other nations are free 10 advance.
The honorable senator from Texas IND RUsKl tod
Us yesterday, as ! understood him, that must adj
here TO this contract not only for purposes but 10
secure the advantages OF low postage. Did understand
the senator correctly
Nj. RUSK, Yes, sir
Mr. B0RLAND. 10 my apprehension, il contrayenes
the whole policy OF low postage II binds VS. by con.
tract, TO long term OF years. nj high rate oil compen-
saton TO certain mode and OF transporting our
transatlantic mails anl, II adhere 10 IT, cuts OF
from the advantage OF those improvements in steam nay
gallon which, unobstrucied, must 80 certainly and rap
Idly facilitate transportation, and thereby reduce the
necessary rates OF postage Besides the senator does not
seem 10 me entirely consistent with himself uron this
contract, in The several stages of its progress through
the Senate In the beginning, he told us, II my memory
IS not al FAULT that this contract would be source OF
revenue TO the government The result has dispfoved
that for, instead Ol being a OF revenue, II has
not yet even al the 900 Trip returned quite one ds
Jar Tor The ree we have paid out; and yei, $4,000
trip Is now de handed Tor the service We were
next told by him, that although has not yet repaid our
outlay, It will do the course OF hme-some lime in
the future; precisely h the senator does Ho seem TO
foreknow though not during the term Of the present
contract, must infer, since, friend Of the COM
pany, he was unwilling that the services should
be continued for the whole amount oi poslages,
added TO the $4,000 already received. That propose.
ton made by the senator from Mississippi, lMr,
BRooEE,l aud rejected by the friends OF this company
And now he tells that, the reduction OF ocean
postage much 10 be desired shall be unable 70 avail
ouselves Of il VI abandon this line. How Why
Docs he mean (as understand him) that the abandon
meni of this contract will require rs TO pay more money
for this mail transportation and therefore, needing more
revenue, cannot reduce the OF postage without
also reducing The rate OF revenuel II his Argument
means anything IL means that And yet, ii that be his