The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-29
TIL Il II EP u BLIC.
SPEECH OF HON. j. w. MILLER,


TO the Collins Line Of Steamers.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the bill
TO supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the
service Of the fscal year ending June 30, 1852.
MIR. MILLER Mr.. President, WAS one Of the
majority OF the Committee on Finance which
agreed TO report this amendment. The subject
had been recommended to Congress by the head of
one OF the Departments, and a general estimate
made, which was produced before the committee
by the honorable Senator from California, (Mr.
GwiN) The question presented by the amend
ment consider TO be one of very high Importance
to the country; in which not only the partes to this
contract, but many Of the great interests of the
country, arc concerned. In the year lS49 con-
tract was entered into by this Government, through
the Navy Department, with Mr. Collins, to build a
certain number OF mail ocean steamers, giving "a
description Of their general power and capati ty,
and specifying the purposes for which they were
to be used. BY that contract the steamers were to
perform twenty trips "a that ls, monthly
trips during four months OF the year, and aem-
monthly trips during eight months OF the year;
and for which service he was to receive the sum OF
1885,, 900
The objects that the Government and Congress
had in view in entering into this contract were Of
national character. They were, in the first place,
to secure the speedy and cheap transportation Of
letters to and from this country to Europe. In the
second place, the Government desired TO have built
ocean steamers of sufficient power and capacity
that might, in case OF an emergency, be employed
by the Government in war. Other collateral and
public objects were taken into consideration such
the transpor of passengers, of light ari-
cles OF freight, and specie-which at that time
were under the control Of English steamers These
the objects which induced Congress TO pass
the law authorizing the contract.
Now, Mr.. President. ] intend to show, in the re-
marks which shall make on this OCCASION that all
these national objects have been accomplished;
that Collins & Co. have built four ocean steamers
Of great power and superior speed; that they are
transporting the foreign mails in less time than
accomplished before; that the Govern
Incnt may AT any time, in case OF any emergency
splendid
steamers that were ever tuilt surprising in speed.
in power, and in tonnage, any ships of the kind
now aioat that by means of the establishment OF
the American line we now successfully compete
with and even surpass in speed its great English
rival, the Cunard line; that the American people
now enjoy all those great advantages which were
contemplated by Congress at the time the contract
was made, and that every obligation the part
of the contractors has been faithfully performed by
them. But, cir, in performing this great enter
prise, 80 advantageous TO the country, the contrac
tors have sustained great losses They state their
loss during the last year to be S 33S ,57i-n other
words, that in every trip which they performed
during the Last year they lost $l6.92s ~.
Some time during, the last autumn, the Cunard
line of steamers having been ordered up to weekly
service the year round, the Postmaster General
deemed il his duty to direct Mr. Collins to
the trips of his line from twenty to twentysix per
year, and to commence on the first Of January lsst,
with assurances of additional compensation 10 be
made by Congress.
This arrangement appears by the letters Of the
v,
which will read:
"Poer OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
November Is, 1851.
"SlR BY their contract the proprietors of The Col
Inns line OF stebmers between New York and Liv.
erpoo. as you aware, required to- pcrroyul
only twenty voyages per annum-that is, monthly
trips during Tour months, and semi monthly trips
eight months of each year. In alternating as at
present, with the steamers of the Cunard line, we
are informed by Mr.. Collins that, by the first OF
January neAt, bis steamers will have made seven
teen trips--leaving only three voyagss TO DC per
formed from The lst January to tho 9Th April the
end of the contract year.
The Cunsrd line has now been ordered up to
weekly service the year round; and deemipg il
highly important there ore, that the trips on the
Collins line should be increased from twenty 10
twenty Elk year, ! have already given Mr.. Col
Inns the assurance that II he sba fit TO the
necessary additional trips. TO alternate, at pre-
sent, With the british lines through the year, and
will look to Congress for compensation, will re.
commend TO Congress the allowance Of pro rata or
such additional pay therefor os shall be considered
fair and proper under the circumstances
cit cannot be doubted that il ia for the interest of
the United States TO afford such aid TO the Collins
line as will enable IL 20 compete successfully with
the British lines running in conneSon thcrewith;
and beg leave 10 call your attention 10 the sub
lcct, in the hope that you will unite with in
such recommendation to Congress will secure
The increase of the service of the Collins line from
twenty to twenty six trips year as permanent
arrangement.
81 have the honor 10 be, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, N X. HALL
"Postmastcr General
"Hon. w. A GRAHAM, Secretary of the Navy.
"NAvy DEPARTMENT, Nov %, 1851
"SIR: Your letter OF the 25th instant, in relation
To rther mail service for your steamers between
New York and Liverpool, has been received.
"You are informed, In reply, that this Depart
mcnt concurs with the Postmaster General in his
requirements Of additional service by the mail
steamers from New York 10 Liverpool, as expressed
by him in his letter 90 THE Department, OF which
you have been furnshed with a copy
You will therefore be pleased 10 furnish sche-
dule of the days OF sailing Of the Liverpool mail.
steamers OF your line at as carly day as practi
cable
srhe subject relating to compensation will be re.
ferrcd by the Postmaster General for the consider
alton of Congress.
8" am very respectfully yGST oSed GRs ss,y
"EpwAnD X. CoLtrvs, esq, and associates, New
York"
The Postmaster General, in bis annual report,
nlso expressly refers to this subject, and recon.
mcnds that an appropriation be made Will read
part OF what he says:
"The contract with the Collins line of mail
steamers between New York and Liverpool requires
the performance Of but twenty trips out and back
during the year. For the purpose, however, Of
arranging ,reekiy trips in American steamers, al
tcrnating with thoso Of the Cunard steamers,
which depart weekly from this country and Eng
land, these steamers have made departures each
alternate week, and bave thus completed weekly
line of American steamers from New York. III
these trips continued heretofore, there will
have been performed in the present year three more
trips than provided for in the contract, and 10
continue the weekly trips thereafter will require
additional trips per year.
''As The Euglish government had made new ar
rsngemonis,- by which the weekly trips OF the
Cunard steamers were 10 be continued through
the year IL wac deemed highly important to con-
tinuc the weekly trips of tho American steamers
alec. Under these circumstances, Nj. Collins was
requested TO continue bis trips every other week,
and was assured that the payment by Congress Of
pro rata compensation would be recommended
IL claimed by the contractors, and IT is believed
justly, that pro rata compensation Tor these extra
trips in the winter scason will not fully indemnify
them; and II the extra trips performed, II ls
earnestly recommended that yoo rata compensa-
ton, with such addition, IL any, may be ncccs.
sary to give the contractors fair aud liberal COM
pensaton for the extra scrvicc be authorized by
Congress. The unrivacd qualities aud speed OF
the ships OF this line, and the very satisfactory
manner in which the service has been performed,
estab shing the superiority Of American skill and
enterprise in the construction of ocean steamer.
and in ocean steam navigation, cptitc the proprio
tore of this line to the most favorable consideration
4 ypflI he A. he