The southern press., 1852-03-11
The ocean NavaI-iIall steamer Question.

The Ocean Naval-Mail steamer Question.
1t is now about seven years since Congress
adopted the policy of creating steam marine
for mail and naval service. The law passed, we
believe, on the third Of March, lS45, directing
the Postmaster General to advertise for propo-
sails to construct and navigate ocean steamers
for several routes from this to foreign countries
Proposals were accordingly invited and made
and the lowest offers were those for the amounts
now paid on the New York and Bremen, New
York and Liverpool, New York, New Orleans
and Chagres and Panama, California and Ore
gon routes The amount of tLese bids, how
ever, alarmed the then Postmaster General,
CAVE JOHNSON, so he declined making the con-
tracts, and referred the bids to Congress re.
ferred all but the bid for the New York and
Bremen route, which he accepted, and thus pre-
ferred the most unproductiye and Improbable
of them all. The policy Of creating the service
was debated in Congress in the course of the
two ensuing sessions, ard the result was the ac-
ceptance of the lowest bids thus made for the
other routes. Since that time fifteen ocean
steamers have been built under these contracts,
viz; the Washington, Herman and franklin, for
the New York, Bremen and Havre line, the
Atlantic, Pacific, Baltic and Arctic, for the New
York and Liverpool line, the Ohio, Georgia and
Illinois, for the New York, New Orleans and
Chagres line, and the California, Oregon, Pana-
ma and Golden Gate, for the Pacific line. The
Isabel also has been built on subsequent con-
tract for the line between Charleston and Ha-
vana.
At the period when the last extravagant re-
duction was made on ocean-mail postage, the
receipts of the government on all the lines fer
postage amounted TO aboutthe money paid these
vessels for the mails--there was large excess
cfreceipts in favor of the New York, New Or
leans and Chagres, and the Panama and San
Francisco routes, which went to make up the
deficits on the Others.
Before these lines were established the British
naval-m mail steamer lines had monopolized the
ocean postage between the old continent and
the new. The Cunard line between Liverpool
Halifax and Boston, had the entire control Of all
the mails between the United States and Eu.
rope, and the Royal West India mail line, with
some thirteen steamers, engrossed all the mail'
between Europe and the Pacific. Our govern
ment could not send despatch to our Pacific
squadron or to Oregon, nor could an American
write letter to the shores of the Pacific withon
sending them by the British West India mai
line, which extended to Chsgres, If they wanted
them 10 90 in the quickest time. Nor coulc
American passengers and American merchan
die come or go between the termini Q
these vast routes without resorting to thes,
lines Of British naval mail steamers, and thu
paying tribute TO British monopoly of ocea'
postage, and hffordirg a support to a vas
and powerful branch Of the British navy. Nov
all is reversed. Such has been the superiority
and success Of the American naval mail steam
marine, that not only American, but British anc
other foreign mails, passengers, and mer
chandize, have been secured for the support o
the American lines, and we now have som'
sixteen ocean mail steamers established at it'll,
net expense 10 the government extending from
the western shores OF Europe TO the western
shore Of this continent and securing for us no
only our own mail, passenger and transportation
business, but large portion Of that Of foreign ma
tons, in peace-and in case Of war, have in read
ness, at the shortest possible notice, pow erfu
naval force. Nay, more than that The ocea
steamer is one ofthe latest apd most sublime pro
ductions Of modern civilization. II is only abou
fifteen yearapince the British steamer Sriu
entered the harbor Of few York, after crossin,
the Atlantic by the power Of steam alone. Thi
event was an epoch-the beginning Of a revolu
ton. II was seen at once that TIE great srug
gle for maritime supremacy between us anc
England would depend much, If not mainly. OF
our respective capability for steam navigation
The Bdtish government promptly recognized
the crisis and Immediately established the Qrea
naval mail steam lines between England anc
North America, and England and the Isthmns
And forthwith some eighteen magnificent an,
powerful steamers marked the Atlantic Sc,
and sky with pillars Of fire by NIGHT and cloud
OF smoke BY day. The effect Of these lines Of
the.intereourse Of the two countries was mapi
cal. The speed, precision, and repalaritvo of Ar
rivals and departures, gave them at once a mo
noPoly not only Of the postage, but Of The mos
costly and profitable passenger and transport.
ton business. Men and women embarked @
these steamers with confidence that the WING
and waves Of old ocean were at last conquere
and that the perils Of the stormy deep had passe
into romance and poetry The onestioo M o,o
arose whether America would relinquish III
new and controlling element of modern civil
zaticn and power to Great Britain. And Il wa
determined BY Congress and by our shippers an
steam navigators, to make the contest. WIS
has been the result Why, when the World
Fair was held in London, and all the achieve
ments Of European civilization were displaye
there, and II was seen that in the arts Of luxur
and snlendor fhev outshopa M A. o.o.t :,