The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-12
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, said:


Mr.. GRIoE, very well known for his skill a
naval constructor. says in letter TO the chairman
of the Committee on Naval Affairs of the Senate:
UNITED srATEs NAVY YAsp.
PHILADELPHIA, April Ia, 1852.
SIR In answer to yours OF the 18Th, have to
state chief naval constructor, the specifications
for building the Collins line of steamers sub
the act of Sd March, lS47
They can be converted into ,oar steamers TO carry
battery equal to largest steam rigafes IN short
time and the neeessary alterations to BE- made to
such battery ,oiH NOT erceed cost Of $4,000 each.
am. sir, with great respect, your obedient ser
want, FRANCIS GRlCE.
To the Hon. WIN M. GwIs, United States Senate,
Washington.
EFFECT OF THEIR WITHDRAWAL.
MIR. MARSHALL, of Kentucky, said:
al see consequence to flow, no effect to arise,
from withdrawal of this line, except to transfer
at once into the hands of our competitors all the
advantages which have been gained from our ex-
periments heretofore in steam as applied to ocean
navigation, and to the people OF this country
to burdens from which their energy has Just lber-
atcd them--I mean the burden Of sustaining the
steam lines Of Great Britain by gust such contribu
lions English cupdity may Mtnk 1t polite to sr'
tort.
THE QUESTION NATIONAL ONE.
Mr.. Polk, of Tennessee, said:
al consider that the question now to be decided
by this House is as between America and England.
consider that, in this matter, the American Con-
gress ia called to act upon question which, &C
cording to its determination, will anect favoraby
unfavorably the interests Of America. In its de-
cision will not the American Congress stand up
imbued with that spirit of patriotism which should
animate every American bosom. and determine
the question to the advantage Of his own country!
Will you give this contract to England! Are you
Americans, and yet not act as become Americans
when the issue ia fairly made up! Washing ION
said that none but Americans should stand guard
at our outposts: and l say to-day that none but
Americans should stand guard for this bill. Eng
lish lobbyists should be spurned from your Halls.
Will you, in the decision OF this matter, pander
to Eng and and to English pride? Will you lose
sight of your patriotism in casting vote on this
questions? am speaking facts that will tell upon
the minds of the people am telling you what
the public opinion will be when concentrated upon
this question Are you British or American? You
are Americans, the gentleman from Virginia (Nlr
MEADE) says, under restraint; and yet you are
willing, in a contest for ascendency between
America and England, to compromise and break
down American character-American interests
for the sake of few dollars from your public
treasury to pay for q service to be erformed. /
and despise that principle of economy which,
to save a few dollars, would strike down American
interests and pride in the face Of the toe ] am
willing. for the sake Of progress, to vote hundred
million of dollars to day for the protection Of the
that will land upon our coast, and we can whip
any force that the combined forces Of continental
Europe may send against US.
England, like Venice, has been the mistress OF
the seas; but America, if you prove true to her,
must, in the progress of events, take her place
among tho nations of the world. But an American
Congress, in view Of progress OF this character,
halts ind falers because dollar may be expended
You do not by your opposition, reflect the opinion
OF che people; you do not, in this Hall, exemphy
by your action the noble impulses which actua'e
the American people. America must take the rod
of Neptune She is bound to assume the command
of he Will M American IeO,slature prove
rccreant to American interests and refuse to lend
its support to the Collins line-the evidence itseli
OF the great triumph of American industry and
character? To see American fail to sustain it is
shameful in the extreme. ,
"Thc policy of England is, to cripple the Collins
line. Why? Because she desires to restore to her
self the monopoly which she had, by means OF her
steam mercantile marine, before the energetic
competition waged by the Collins line. She made
by the monopoly from lS4l to 1886, 1886, 500 in
gross, for mail matter, and 5,2S6 800 net, besides
a receipt from passage money. 10 sustain this
monopoly, England has since increased her COM
pcnsstion to the Cunard line, to enable that line to
reduce the price of freight and passage money.
The reduction has been made The Collins line,
consequently, has been running att oss OF SIT 900
per trip.
"Through the means OF the steam mercantile
marine, England expects to increase her oversha.
dowing military marine. The navy of England
consists of SGT vessels, and that OF France consists
of 32S The expense of the British navy in 1850
was S34 900 O0O''-
Here the hammer fell
On this point, in the debate this question in the
Senate, General CAss said
'The contest between the Collins and Cunard
lines is connected very much with our national
character. 1t has become trial for speed across
the ocean, of which the people of Christendom are
the witnesses, and which they regard with an IN
terest rarely felt in questions of national competi
ton. II is obvious that the feeling OF the British
government and people 10 deeply interested IN
~; No hat he q
often urged in prose and poetry, that Obi
tannia rules the waves,' is deeply rooted in the
heart of every Englishman. He would make
any sacrifice rather than suffer young, active
and adventurous rival to drive his country from
her proud pre- emnence. Now, like the honor
able Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. JAMES,
TO whose patriotic illusions listened with great
pleasure yesterday, have an invineible repug-
nance against striking the flag OF nv country
against ackno~ Lodging our inferiority, and with
drawing from this confictofskill and enterprise in
voving, 1t does, some OF those elements OF ma
tiopal character that constitute national strength
and security, and which depend, in great de
gree for their value, upon the opinion fthe world
Mr.. BADGER, of North Carolina, said:
Gas an American citizen / should deeply regret
to see that line go down. should regret it, FROM
a just and honest pride in the superiority OF my
country-regret 1t. from an eager and anxious
desire all her interests developed and to eel
her growing in wealth. and in pc yer, and in rep
utation II give this assistance, and if, having
supported this line Win all the 0VallADle means
our power, we should at last, in fair contest, b
beaten by our English rival, should regret that
deeply regret it; but should feel that We had sui
tered no disgrace; for he who docs all he can,
| ia overmastered, may be unfortunate, but he ca,
never be looked upon with contempt. But if W
voluntarily recede from the undertaking in wbic
we are cmba rked If withhold the nccessar,
| ad-if we cay to England, Take possession OF thi
great line; we retire from the contest; be you tn
mistr,s as of the Gems in the estimation Of all tn
world. and let sink into n secondary, contempt
ible positon'-if zoe should do that should fe
that uce had not only committed false step, ha
not only lost ,chat ,pc might haze maintained, b,
had covered ourselves With dishonor. From that
hope my country will ever be safe -
From the debate in the Senate VIC extract pas
cages bearing upon two points which have bee
much discussed in both Houses:
COMPARATIVE PAY OF THs COLLINS LINE AND TIL
CUNARDrRs.
Mr.. JAMES, of Rhode Island made the followin
statement on this subject:
"Thc Cunard line has seven ships, the aggr'
gate tonnage of which is IL ,252 tons. These ship
cross the Atlantic eighty five times per year,
rather what is equivalent 10 eighty. five trips IL
one ship This makes the total tonnage worke
across the Atlantic In the eighty five trips, las, ID
tons. For this service they receive from the Bri
ish government, in round numbers, 1856, 500
making S5 rs per ton. The Collins line has for