The daily union., 1852-03-14

ported between America and Enganu but Tue projectors
OF the American line resolved 10 eclipse the English
lime and being counenanced and Substantially and lib
orally aided by their government laid down their vessels
on much larger scale than those belonging TO the Gu
nard ne seemed TO think that expense was OIL no OBJECT
whatever lost sight OF the important condition 10 The
United States that they should be bdl IN such man
ner as be easily converted into steamers oil The
6st class looked to the interests OF the projectors OF the
scheme only, and fitted up for the accommodation oil pas
senges floating palaces at enormous an expense that
no returns from passengers freight and the liberal allow
ance from the government. could possibly pay reasona-
Bile and profitable interest upon.
The cost OF the Cunard steamers is not known but no
doubt the Atantc Baltic and Pacific cost more before they
were ready for sea than any four OF the Cunad steamers
while each othe latter will have carried in given mum
Der of passages the Atlantic as many passengers
as any one OF the former and neither OF them IN any one
voyage Of four carried many as they could accom-
m odate None OF the Collins line have (but sedom) had
all their behs taken and half their voyages have been
made with but moiety OF passengers they were designed
10 accommodate showing that large sums oil money have
been useessy squaudered in rppery and fneIy to at
tract passengers 10 them, without effect and TO the injury
of The government of the United States the other party 10
the contract in putting additional deck Tor these accom-
modalons which would have to be removed, at great
EXPENSE before they could be converted into war steam
ers II is believed by those capable OF Judging that not
one OF the United States mail steamers capable nor can
she be made so except at great expense, II at all OF
carrying such battery the Susquehanna 10 say moth
ing OF and spars Besides, it is well known that
the machinery put on board these vessels without due
consideration of its proper protection from shot; and any
one at glance, by visiting the Atlantic, Pacific,
or Baltic that when the upper deck, now on these ves-
sells is taken Off (Which must be done before large guns
can be put board OF them the shaft and other import
ant parts of the engine will be exposed to damage from
shot, without bulwark 10 protect it.
In due course OF time the Collins line fairly started,
well pulled by certain newspapers of this city, whose ed
tors led the public to believe that these vessels would run
the Cunard steamers of The track. After fair trial OF
two years or more what has the American line accom-
pshed. Nothing but defeat and failure in fair compe
titon The American lne by very nice calculation,
has succeeded in beating the Cunard steamers few hours
in two three passages in running distance OF more
than three thousand mes-a poor triumph, indeed, after
such an enormous expenditure of money and working the
public mind up pitch Of expectation little short OF
breaking up the English line. But what is the relative
condition OF the two lines at this moment9 The Ameri-
can in consequence OF reckless and useless expenditure
of money in fitting up splendid accommodations for twice
as many passengers it has been seldom found neces
sary accommodate, and by other mismanagement. is
now in of bankruptcy, and knocking at the doors
of the halls OF Congress for additional aid while the
English line under judicous management, has
gone on prosperously and instead OF crying out 10 the
British government for more means TO carry on It's opera
tons, is satisfied with matters as they now exist under
the original contract Of twelve years standing Does not
this state and condition OF the two lines prove conclu
sivey that the affairs OF the American have been un-
der the most inudicious mismanGgement, WHILE on the
contrary those of the English have been conducted by
consummae skill and unerrng judgment Why, then,
should Congress be called upon by Of the public
give money support ms.nanaged and
extravagant concerni Give hundred thousand dol
lars this session OF Congress- have guarantee
that YOU will not be called upon al the next session for
much more But what has the line accomplished, OF pub
lie utility to ente it TO such substantial privilege over
other commercial concerns not under the immediate pa
ronage of the government Will the general commerce
of the country be at all benefited by thus pamperng
particular line upon the plea that national
undertaking. What is there more national IN II than
lines of sailing p foreign ports which are left by
the government to take care OF themselves Many oil
the latter can be "easy converted into ships OF
war than the former into steamers OF the first class
i The issue attempted to be made between the Collins
and Cunard lines OF national competition is false
II is one sided affair." got up by the friends OF the Col
lns line in New York, for the purpose OF humbugging
Congress and the American people Mr. Collins has at
tempted under the most favorable circumstances, to
compete with Mr. Cunard and has been fairly beaten by
the latter in the competition. These foolish competitions
got up by interested individuals for their own benefit
should not be paid for out Of the public treasury; nor
should Congress pay any to the Collins line for
rying the United States mails (Which, after all is the prn
cpa object the government has had in view in encour
aging these seamers) than others, equally competent to
do the work
In legisalng upon this subject, il is hoped that Con-
gress, before appropatng more money for the support
Of the Collins line, will bear in mind that the most i'm
porant condition OF the law in relation to these steam
ers-expressed follows, namely, "dnd 10 be so con-
srced as 10 render them convertible al the least possible
erpense into par steamers ofhe first dass'has been en-
irely overlooked in their construction.
II is known that these packet steamers have been in
speced before they have been accepted by the govern
ment and that some OF them least have been endorsed
by the inspectors coming fully up to the mark laid
down in the words just quoted from the law in relation
10 them Notwithstanding all this, il is here fearlessly
asserted that the important conditions OF the law, as ex
pressed in the quotation above, have no, been complied
with; and this opinion will be sustained by any compe
tent and impartial investigation II will be found that in
building these everything has been sacrificed to
speed and accommodations for passengers The public
mind has been tampered with also through the public
prints by speceus arguments 10 prove that all the pur
poses OF steam navy be accomplished by the gov
eminent building large numbers of such steamers, and
on similar terms those OF the Collins line and at
tempt has been made to sacrifice the naval interests of
this country for the individual benefit Of this and kin
dred lines by recommending that the whole. nearly
The WHOLE of the navy appropriations be diverted from
their legitimate purposes and expended upon these pack
ct steamers This say the least OF it, is ungencrous
and all tina, Collins & Co ought to demand is
"FAIR PLAY"