The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-29
WASHINGTON: THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL %, 1852.


this, we must look back TO the commencement Of
the navigation of the ocean by steamships.
England commenced this system in the year
1888. 1t is true that far back 1919 an
American ship called the f" Savannah had gone
from New York to Liverpool, partly by sail and
partly by steam, in twenty six days II the Anne
rican Government at that time had taken up
this new enterprise with the energy and
force with which the English government after
wards took il up in 1888, we should have had the
honor and the glory OF being the first 10 establish
successfully the navigation of the ocean by steam
In 1888 the " Great Britain" was built She
sailed on the Sih Of April of that year from Liver
pool, with, in the language OF the history Of that
time, seven adventurous passengers and she
arrived in New York after a passage Of fifteen
days. In 1889 the Cunard line was established bya
contract made by the British government with Mr..
Cunard, Of Halifax. In Nova Scotia, for carrying
the mails twice month from Liverpool via Halifax
10 Boston, for seven years Tor Eos 900 1926 900.
Afterwards the government increased the. compen-
sation to ES5 600, or 1925 900, the service to be
performed by ships Of twelve hundred tons and
four hundred and fifty horse power. Upon the
establishment of the Collins line in lS49 SO, the
English government again increased the compen-
cation to Mr.. Cunard to 900, or $72500O,
and not 1857 900, as stated by the Senator from
Virginia yesterday.
Mr.. HUsrER Does the Senator from New Jcr-
sey refer to the statement which made to what
ia given by the British government TO the Cunard
ere?
Mr.. Miller. do.
MIR. HUNTER. Then would say to the gentle
man that that statement was obtained from the
Senator from Texas, (Mr. RusK,) the chairman OF
the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads,
from statement which was put into his hands by
the Postmaster General / received letter from
the Postmaster General requesting me to examine
the statement, but somehow it was lost. But this
memorandum was given to me by the Senator from
Texas, and it is presumed to be the most authentic
account we have of what is given by the british
government to the Cunard steamships. The &C
coun: wac made out, l believe, by the Admiralty
itself.
MIR. MILLER ! know there are different state
ments in regard to what the English government
now pay to Mr.. Cunard. l am inforned-and ]
have confidence in the information-that the com
pensation ia higher than have stated, and that 1t
Is now actually over S 100000 year. But /
have authority here for the amount which have
| stated. 1t ID Chan,berss Papers for the People-a
work of great authority, published in Edinburgh
in 1851. II contains chapter on the English
ocean maii-routes, giving full history of the RISE
progress, and present state OF the English policy
upon this Important subject II IL full OF statistics,
which must have been taken from the most au
thentic sources. | will read to the Serate what 10
stated to be the compensation received by Mr.. Gu
nard in lS49, and the reason why it was then in
creased to the sum OF El4500O:
"But with the exception of the voyage OF the Sa-
vaDnah, in 1919, the citizens Of the United State
had not hitherto taken any part in conducting the
steam navigation Of the Atlantic; and II was not
until after all but Cunard's ships had been with
drawn that American built steamers began 10 ply
between England and New York. The formation
of several companies for this purpose made Mr..
Cunard anxious TO extend his contract so as II
carry the mails once week, and thus render him
more able TO meet the expected competition. Mr.
Cunard said before a committee oi the House OF
Commons, in july lS49: Il was most anxious TO
have it the extension of the con,ractl DONE be
cause ] knew the consequences OF having these
rival lines of packets running against us. and tha
IL won d affect the government more than IT would
affect could not increase the number of pas
sengers; but the number Of lctters would be con
sid Il,,r tfpt,e
son writes, tho wbolc must wrie.' The proposal
| was agreed TO; the mails were to lie carried from
] Liverpool every Saturday, and from Boston or
! New York every Wednesday, Except during four
winter months, when il was 10 be Iortnightly,) ar
Engagements being made by which the detour To
HALIFAX was to be abandoned To effect this scr
vice, the vessels must steam altogether about
272,sOO miles every year, and for II Mr.. Cunard
was TO receive El45 900 per annum. ] his is the
contract now in force. Mr.. Cunard considered IL
not as q new arrangement, but as an extension a.
the old aud as the service vas doubled, and as the
postage revenue OF the steamers Ind hitherto been
equal 10 the contract money, he naturally supposed
that the payment would now be doubled. Bot
Mr.. GOuburn, then Chancellor of the Exchequur,
would not give more than El45 600, which Mr..
Cunard said was "a very unjust thing, and quaint
ly added beg TO cay the not with any de
respect 10 Mr.. GUuburn, be did IL Go Fsve the mo
ncy to the country; but he took L25,OCO year
from me for the good OF the country"
This 10 the last contract that ] have any certain
information Of although ain informed that the
compensation has been increased, in order to pay
for the additional trips in winter. Mr.. Cunard's
"qualup' reply 10 the Chancellor of the Exchequer
ought 10 be noticed. IL might, with prOprioty, be
uscd by Mr. Collins ia answer 20 the Senator from
Virginia, (Mr. HUSTER) Mr.. Goulburn, tie
Chancellor Of the EKchcqucr acting IN pretty much
the eamc capacity in which my friend fom var
ginia acts, cut down the compensation to 4 lao 90
on which Mr.. Cunard said, che did j, t. save The
money to the country, bat be took E25, 900 year
from inc for the good Of the country" have
hat Dc cd
thority, that the Cunsrd line is now receiving
$ I25,OOD year, instead of 900; or $1,000
a trip, instead Of $4,000, az stated yesterday by
my friend from Virginia.
Mr.. RoRLATD. ] wish TO undorstand fully the
authority upon which the Senator from New Jcr.
sey rcli,s IN this case. would ask hun " all the
Information on this subject, as far as u relates 10
the action of the British government, Is not 20 be
found in the official records Of the proceedings OF
that government and whether they are not 60 be
bad in this cityl Understand that W. interchange
official records with the Brtish government, ana
npprohend that all their official action IN regard TO
this matter is 10 be found in these records, which
must necessarily be more reliable than a popular
publication, made, DO not know whether in this
country or in Eogland, and thrown into general
circulation--a sOrt Of newspapCr publication.
think in n mattcc Of this importance, involving
hcts which lie at the bottom Of this question, We
should have ne authority official information
which ! approhcnd our Post Office Department
has and which s probably in the Library Of Con.
gree or in come OF the del artmcuts Of the Govern
mcnt. ! would prefer, fUr that reason, 10 rely On
official authority rather than on this popular pub
LEGATION.
MIR HUNTER. The statement Of 600 600 year.
which derived from the chairman 81 the Com
mttec on the Post Office and Post Roads, used
be ausc | supposed he had the most authentic in
formation lie derived il from that document, To-
which my attention directed by the POstmastcr
General iconcss that had supposed before that the
amount given the Cunafd line was about Gl4O ODO
sterling per anuum. Ii would not, however, vary
il much VI you were TO take that auount; for the
difference between S725,00J and S696,00O ia not
very great,
Mr.. MILLER. | will answer the question Of The
honorable Senator from Arkansas I have no
knowledge at all OF their being any official inior
Ination in the Departments here such as be spCaks
Of. Think there Is none. The author Ihayc quoted
may be relied upon; his statements appear to be
taken from the official documents IN Great Britain;
and IL the gentleman will take the trouble of read
ing the article, think be will be satisfied of lie
thenticity.
Mir B0RLAND. The Senator misunderstood me
if hc supposed gu, STONED at all the authority.
simply called attention TO the character 81 the
work, said that would prefer, IN the formation
of my opinions, TO have ohcial information. The
Senator says would find that itcontancd n good
deal of authentic Information. might lind great
L. f,.s. tall