The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-27
Respectfully, yours, VI
ASA WHITNEY.
For the Union.

So much has lately been said on steamships, and on
establishing new lines and improving the old Ones that
feel certain the remarks shall now offer will not be
deemed out of place.
What object has the government in establishing lines
OF mail steamers Is il merely carry the mail, and
open roads to commerce or is il also to Increase the
power and efficiency OF straw navy' The fact that
the superintendent of these lines has been turned
from the General Post Office 10 the Navy Department in
dcates sufficiently how the executive branch of the gov
eminent Classics these steamers. They are, at least
ought TO be, fit for war purposes whenever the govern
ment shall have occasion TO thus employ them.
Much has been said of the government establishing
steam navy it's docks and by its officers but
let look TO facts How many of the steam frgates
built by the government are fit for purposes What
is their speed, their strength, and their durability
And, again, does the government build cheaper than
private individuals Is less expensive for the govern
meni make experiments in machinery and ship build
ing than for individuals make those experiments that
the government may avail itself OF them The British
government-which, il not wiser than own, has at
least experience the subect-has declared in ia
vor OF private enterprise, and is willing TO aid because
il deems that the most powerful means OF diminishing
the expenses of her naval establishment and
rendering immeasuraby efficient and respectable
Steamships are everywhere dispacing sailing ships,
especially in the navy Half dozen irgales can
very conveniently do the service OF four five, and six
times the number OF sailing ships.
II has been repeatedly observed that, but for the naves
OF other countries. our own naval establishment would
not be sufficient TO protect commerce in distant
But what becomes Of the police OF the high seas-now
to certain extent exercised by the navy OF England-n
time OF war; And will the rights OF neutrals in that
case be respected, If it be known that we, as neuals
have no competent naval force 10 protect our commerce
And would not the opportunities thus offered TO European
begerenls of punderng and harassing merchants be
the very means OF involving us in the quaels of other
naions' Have not the wars between England and
France involved us. first, in with France and then
in a war with England II the United States had had
strong naval establishment in those days, both belger.
ents would have sought friendship, and, as means
OF ayerting enmty, would have respected flag
Europe is now in singular condition, with all the old
laws treaties and even dynases in ruins and immense
standing armies guarding everywhere the peace Of the
hour with glisenng bayones and lighted matches The
number Of standing armies is now as large il was in
1912 The whole continent OF Europe IS In a state Of
siege The mere weight OF these armies is sufficient to
produce collision besides, these armies themselves
great revolutionary element unless employed in No
man has ever established and maintained discipline
among half a million Of men without furnishing them
employment.
While these things going in Europe, is It not
our duty 10 prepare for contingencies And what better
and cheaper have OF being prepared for all
contingencies than Of increasing the efficiency and power
OF our navy
Bot il is not merely the actual force expressed in
bers which gives character TO- and enforces respect for,
the naval establishment OF country; IL is also the quail
ity of the ships and the known skill OF their commanders
In this respect may well say that the reputation Of
the American navy, comparison TO that OF other mari
time naons is far in advance OF the actual number OF
ships in commission in ordinary; and as the naval
service OF all countries must necessarily be recruited
from The merchant service, the character and reputation
of the latter will also aid in unfolding The respect paid 10
the naval establishment.
The above facts being undisputed, ! would now ask
whether anything has occurred since the last with
England better calculated increase the reputation Of
our naval merchant service and thereby the disposition
OF other nations lei alone than the establishment of
our transatlantic steamships whether anything has
rested public attention in England and France than
the unparalleled nautical success which attended our
Collins line Of mail steamers And would also ask
whether the Atlantic oceanbat cradle Of gales and hur
rcanes-has ever been plougbed by vessels solid
in their construction more capable Of coniending
cessfully against the fury OF the elements, better
able 10 annhilae distances, than the steamers OF that
line
As TO sailing packets the United States had cleared the
Atlantic OF the British flag But steam navigation soon
took the place Of the sailing vesseshsi taking away
the mails, then the passengers and at last The better quail
i,y OF freighs II was plain now that the United States
must either meet England in steam navigation strike
heir flag on the Atlantic II was then that the Collins
line Of steamers was established after England had had
The experience Of many years in that service The Brit
ish government had aided in establishing the Cunard
(Brtish) line and the American government aided in the
establishment OF the Collins line each ship Of The Gu
nard line adding to the British naval force, and each ship