The southern press., 1852-03-11


opolized by England alone through her mai
contract system. Why did not this boasiec
private enterprise, which now complains, ther
4 display itself If il was prevented by Britiai
government contracts surely no hardship results
to pyiDate enterprise from decentralization Of
that system by our system. And then as to the
great favors shown by government to our ex
listing lines why, they Were all offered fol
public proposals. Why did not some of these
enterprizing and injured gentlemen, who think
such contracts such great favors, come forward
then and bid for them Why, the fact is, at that
time they would not have them, buttoned up
their breeches-pockets dryly, and laughed at
those who had the temerity to take them.
One of the parties, who is now so much in
iured and oppressed by these government con-
tracts, is Mr.. VANDERBILT, an enterprizing mill
lionaire of New York, who is large owner in
an Independent line of steamers running be-
tween that city and Ncaragua--and he claims
also, We understand, to be principal proprietor
of grant of the right TO make canal there to
connect the two oceane. He wants contract
now TO carry the mail all the way from New
York to San Francisco for half the price now paid
for that service. We understand that he was Of
fered originally large share of the present con-
tract with the government soon after it was
made, and declined. He afterwards built a
couple of steamers to runin opposition to those
of the contract: and boosted that he would
break down the contractors: said the ships they
had built were too large and expensive, and that
with cheaper vessels and less fuel and expense,
he could make more money without contract
than with one which required them of peculiar
structure He tried the experiment-reduced
the prices of passage-both lines lost money,
and now he comes for contract with vessels
whose fitness for naval service may be inferred
from the fact that the beams of the engine vi
brate above the decks. This is the gentleman
who is now here by himself, or agents, who are
distressed, at the rate of ten dollars week, at
the enormity. of the present government mo-
nopoy Why, of the whole five or six lines ex-
isting under contract, we know of two only that
have made money-the two engaged in the
California trade: and the discovery Of gold was
made there after both contracts were consum-
mated. The COLLINS liue it is admitted has
lost and is losing money, for it asks an increase
of pay on that very ground. Any part of that
monopoly can no doubt be had very cheap.
The truth is, that before this system adopted,
British naval mail companies had the monopoly
of its peculiar business across the Atlantic and
in the West Indies, and but for it, might now
have line running from British Oregon, via San
Francisco, to Panama, as they have on the South
Pacific.
And is it too much for the purpose either Of
commercial competition in peace, or of naval
defence in war, that we have the four Collins
steamers, and the three Bremen and Havre ones
opposed to the seven Cunarders-that we have
the three or four New York and Chagres
steamers opposed TO the eleven of the British
West India mail line, or that we have four in
the North Pacific against several in the South
Pacific. Why, in case Of war with any mari
time power, its first effort would be TO intercept
our communication with California, and captur,
: or cut off our supply Of gold. And certainly j
for anything, for the transportation and defence
: of that-steamers combining both speed anC
J power are important.
We should deeply regret the suspension Of
abandonment Of the Collins line Il an honor
to the country. And, although it may be Toe
costly and expensive for the trade, its service.
in peace, and its value in war, are equivalent tC
the cost Of keeping il ahoat. We think Mr.
COLLINS erred 10 the change Of the original con
tract, so as TO dispense with officers of the navy
as commanders and watch officers. And We
think that If government should increase tn,
pay, it ought to insist on reinstatng its officers
There is another class of persons who objec
to this system on the scsre of expense. W.
have shown that there was almost no expens,
before the last reduction Of postage. If ex
pense now results, il ought TO be charged no
TO the mail steamer system-but to the low
postage system. For even at the previous rat,
of twenty cents q letter for three thousand
miles, the charge was less than the penny post
Of England, distance considered.
We have seen lately, the system attacked II
a nameless pamphlet, on the ground that tn
contracts are forfeited for default or delinquency
The profound genius who made the discovery i,
too late. Ithas been well known that the con
tracts were not literally complied with The mum
Der Of vessels established in the Chagres linz
has not been completed, and in perhaps no lin,
were they completed in the time specified. Bu
on the other hand, the size Of almost all has beer
greatly augmented. The total tonnage on th'
four lines now is about thirty thousand, all &C
cepted. The tonnage stipulated for, could no
have exceeded twenty thousand. Bot Congress
has long since waived literal, in consideration
of substantial and even liberal complianc,
With The contracts and has paid the compensa
lion accordingly.
The complaint Of delay in the construction