The daily union., 1852-05-07

want o tnat Wnicn De acquired only
means oil experience and practice.
Mr.. President, suppose manufacturers had finally
adopted the conclusion arrived at by the honorable
ator from Virginia and because their business had hiher
70 been osag one gwen u up entirely into The hands
OF The foreign manufacturer with the view OF working
his speedy rum what would have been the result ?
The foreign manufacturer Would have retained the mo-
nosoly; he would have ruled our markets, and he
would have exsced and extoHed from US prices at least
nfy per cent, and IN many cases hundred above what
we are now required TO pay To the hxed discrimination
and ndoml,able perseverance, OF mechanics opera
lives, and manufacturers 10 compete with foreign skill
aided by protective duties, due the invaluable im-
proyements that have been made ia all branches OF man
uacures and the great reduction in prices that has taken
place This view OF the subject in most OF its bearings
is equally applicable to The question now before the SEN
ate, frs ~. ..s ~ t r-cst 9tt.t. ..sE 81 gH
In the enterprise OF steam navigation on the ocean,
Great Britain was many years ahead OF Her nrst
experiments were partial and some oil them ota failures
SO have some OF ours BEEN not excepting even some made
by government, But by The time we had commenced
IN the same line OF business, il had called 10 its aid in
Great Britain the best scientific skill and knowledge in
the world and their powerful energies have been concen
traed on The mighty work before them. After years OF
trial and toll they succeeded and 1t was not I'LL the
popretors OF the Collins line had projected their gigantic
enterprise that any attempt at all 10 be compared with thai
OF the British company had been made in America We
had, 10 be sure, muludes OF steam engines, and fleets oil
steamboats, apd iew very few, steamships but among
the whole there was no one to serve as model or guide
tor the construction and equipment oil steamship such
as the object required or the nature OF the contract with
the government demanded. Suppose the ships already
built there We're no facilities adequate to the construction
an enormous expense OF time, skill, and money-a was
created BY long and determined perseverance, the
mechanical skill and ingenuity were found equal to the
emergency Practically the experiment has proved emf
nenty successful But great has been it's cost. and
powerful the rivalry, that hitherto has not rewarded its
projectors and poprieors as such noble enterprise
should. In this dilemma, the honorable senator from Vr
gina advises those proprietors o reinqush the bus-
ness to their rivals the speedies means OF bringing
ruin on those rivals. We will examine this proposition.
Mr. IN rail- tha atnak ha
precisely what the Cunard line particularly desires To
compel the Collins line to Withdraw from its route is
precisely what the Canard line i attempting TO do Such
monopoly in the hands OF the propretors OF that line
They can then have their way, reg ulate prices to
suit themselves and not only sustain their line by means
OF their business, but enrich their company To this
end, together with pride OF feeling, they have formed
the determination that American line to rival theirs
sh the route s this
sustain them they have adopted that petty species of
competition which has long been praclsed to extent
injurious 70 all parties and runous to some, between n
val steamboats, and stage coaches ia this country. La
other words the British line has determined, cost what it
may, to drive the Coins line from the The Col
Inns line, or It's propneos though strong IN wealth. can
not compete with the Lords of the Admiralty, with the
British treasury al their command aud The question s
our neIghbors the other side OF the Atlantic
willing that we should runa line Of steamers to one OF
their ports, whether will will not do il at rate
To do If, some further aid must be grant
ed for the present Without such aid the enterprise must
Oe must be reduced 10 an absolute
dependence Great Britain for all the facilities required
by the government and the people OF thus country by
means OF steam navigation between own ports and
those OF Great Britain But sir, the honorable gentleman
does not believe requires the aid asked for to enable
the Collins line TO go | need take up more time
in reply TO this point than TO say and which is the fact
that The stock OF The company can now be purchased in
the market, 10 any quantity, al discount OF nifty per
oen from par. This simple TACT will be, TO every man
AT all acquainted with business full and sufficient
ply all argument based on calculation which may be
ia line "a IN
without the aid which this amendment is intended to at
ford In order 10 show SIR, that the propne,ors oil this
line and the cltzens OF New York wish for monopoly,
am authorized 10 say tha, million OF dollars OF the
stock OF the company will be sold al par II wanted, 10
the citizens OF any State in the Union should this amend
ment prevail #.EEH. er.H .H
Mr. President. the honorable senator from Virginia has
characterized this competition trial of speed
the ocean. Sir. have shown that it embraces much
more than this But doubt this has had much to
do with 1t and, in my own opinion the qualification OF
high and honorable feeling OF national prlde is worth
something 10 government and country. Up 10 the Pc
Rod OF the OF 1919 the American people had almost
unanimously yielded their assent 10 the oit.reeraied
boast that " Britannia rules the waves" That war
afforded some practical data that doubts the
clipper ships have increased those doubls and the supe
rior speed OF the little yacht America and Collins
steamers over any vessels oil their descriptions con-
struc,ed in Great Britain has set the matter
And can be matter OF surprise that the American people,
who have been long, constantly and bitterly iauned
by the English Tor their supposed interiouy in every
mng, should manlest some degree of nauonat prde al
these demonstrations Is it not amable, patriotic
feeling Is not wonderful hen that they, the people,
should expect. and sir they will expect, that aid
should be rendered TO this line OF steamers which,
such heavy COST and al much loss has achieved the
greatest victory, whether OF or peace, that was
achieved the victory not OF brute force, but
OF science and skill.
Mr.. President, ask il the government and The country
gain nothing by this enterprise The vast Improvements
introduced by this company into steam machinery Tor
going purposes and also into The vessels themselves are
Invaluable, and worth more, vastly 10 the country
than all the aid the company has heretofore received from
the government and that now solicited by them Ger
any such enterprise does, the OF the public
good, demand reward for all the sacrifices II has
cost
Sir whether this line OF steamers will or will not
question which time only definitely answer. For my
own part, should think i would. The proprleors are
good business men and they, together with those
gagged in managing and navigating these ships, will, OF
course, be learning every day, by means OF practice,
where Improvements can be made and expenditures re.
dueed and, by truly busnesske and economical line
ol conduct believe the experiment will finally be found
to speed and safety Az an American citizen and an
American mechanic, feel in common with my fellow
citizens, proud OF the Collins lne and hope 1t may be
sustained Sir, necessity for The apprehension
expressed by The honorable gentleman from Virginia, that
aid rendered shall become precedent Tor the future
action OF Congress Congress will hereafter, as now,
should such question come mp, act on the necess,
the justice or the expedency OF The case, without regard
TO precedent These ships are partially in the employ
ment OF the governmen-on them the government has a
len-and, whenever the exigences OF the case may
qure they will be converted exclusively to the govern
mept service Shall we then, under such circumsace
withhold the aid required. and thus second the efforts OF