The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-28
sNIaiI Steamers.

| IN committee, when debate enSued, lnV0lv-
! ing the merits Of the Compromise measures
! SMaiI Steamers.
The question of concurring in the proposed
increase Of compensation to the Collins steam
ers came up in the Senate on Wednesday, when
! Mr.. CHASE introduced an amendment providing
that the contract may be terminated at the eX-
piration of two years. In support of this view
! he argued that
"This system Of contracts with particular indi-
viduals for long periods, has nothing in it to re-
commend it TO Legislative favor. 1t might be JUST
fled as an experiment, at the outset Of ocean mail
transportation, when no ontract could be made
cept upon these terms. But. since the experiment
has been tried and has proved successful, surely we
ought to avail ourselves Of the earliest possible OPP
portunty of bringing these contracts into our gen
eral mail system. This amendment simply effects
that object. AS the matter now stands, according
to the friends Of the Collins line, its proprietors
! about to abandon their existing contract. They
say, however, that they can go on, and that they
will go on, il we grant them this additional COM
pensation. We are urged to grant il by appeals to
national pride and public policy; appeals, am free
10 confess, which have great influence upon me.
But, while am thus disposed am unwilling to
depart, any further than is absolutely necessary,
from general system, which is applicable not
merely to foreign transportation, but to our
domestic postal system"
| Mr.. CHASE is willing to grant governmental
aid 10 the Collins line SO long as it wears the
aspect Of an experiment; but no longer. In
other words, he is ready to offer inducements to
enterprising citizens to enter into competition
with line sustained by the British govern
ment; and having tempted them to make a
heavy expenditure, is now prepared TO leave
them in the lurch, 10 escape as best they can.
A bounty was held out TO them in the first
instance TO effect an object intimately associ-
ated with the honor and interests of the United
States it is admitted that they have accom-
plished all that was ever desired, and certainly
more than was anticipated in so brief space
Of time and because their exeriions have
resulted in success, Mr.. CHASE conceives
that Congress may, with perfec propriety,
withhold further help-leave the proprietors TO
repne over the folly of calculating upon ma
tional assistance for carrying into effect the
national willard trust TO the ordinary
contract system to fill the void that will be
created by the withdrawal Of the existing
steamers. The proposal would be less ohec
tionable il it were associated with the purchase
Of the steamers afloat when the contract may
expire; but Mr.. CHASE contemplates no such
proceeding. lie leaves out Of the account the
fact that the steamers were built for the pur-
poses Of the country, and are in many respects
| "A 81. 81 III G.
use Of the proprletors-that they were built
with a special adaptation to the emergencies OF
war, and now actually serve as substitutes for
yet more costly vessels. To terminate the
contract would be to impose ruinous loss upon
the proprietors as penalty for their enter
prise, and at the same time to deprive the
country of branch of service obtanable in no
other way without an expenditure much greater
than that proposed as an auxiliary to the Col
| Inns line.
! Even Mr.. CHASE disclaims any intention OF
! leaving the business Of letter carrying across
the Atlantic in the hands of Bdtain. He
would throw the American contract open to
competition But il is obvious that by this
course the country could gain nothing. If a
lower contract than now exists be entered into
it can only be with steamers Of inferior capacity
wholly unequal to the race that would be re
newed by the Cunard Company. In such a
case we should have the two-told modification
Of being anticipated by our rivals every week
or fortnight, and Of paying for steamers that
rendered little efficient service. On the other
hand, If the triumph achieved by the Collins
line be sustained by any American steamers
4 that may succeed them under Mr.. CHAsE's
amendment the steamers must be al least equal
To those We have, and will involve an equal
expenditure. They will cost as much for
building and for navigation, and the increased
compensation now sought will be indispensable
to enable their owners to keep them in the ser.
vice. What advantage will the country ac-
qulre by the changed What will it not lose by
the sacrifice Of The original enterprise, under
taken at great risk and cost, and conducted with
acknowledged ability and SUGGEST
We inadvertently omitted yesterday TO give
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