The daily union., 1852-03-16
Mr. colllo. and his c.san steamers.
aOur country, right or ,0rong."

-
Mr. Collins aud his Cssan Steamers.
"Our country. right or Urong."
,h.,alv know when have been surprised than
=, no. nnon reading in the Union Of Sunday morning,
an article against the Collins line of steamers.
nsa be signature Of "Fair Play" The article is SO
an American so anti patriotic and 80 very English,
, should have supposed, had seen il in the London
Tmss ha, il might have emanated from the pen OF Mr..
Cunad himself; but never should have suspected that
was the offspring OF the brain OF an American, and can
even now, hardly believe that 1t is
What is the intention OF the writer OF that article To
beak down one of the most magnificent American enter
ue, that have been started for the past quarter OF
century!
Onlv few wears ago it was considered by Of
The wisest philosophical theorists that steam could never
be used successfully in crossing the Atlantic This
hsorv was exploded as many philosophical theory has
hssn by stubborn facts. The experiment OF crossing
ha Atlantic by steam was tried and succeeded and
men still calling themselves young can well remember
b ;pbilees on board the Sirius and Great Western upon
their arrival in New York habor
The feasibility OF the thing was established the Ru-
bcon was passed and England always ready to do any
thing 10 pepeuae her proud boast that she is mstress
Of the seas at set about appropating the pathway
ot the Atlantic to herself by line of mail steamers
Inown then and now as the Cunard line of royal mail
steamers The British government generously stepped
ruard and aided the project, and it successfully
inn onera,ion and Brother Jonathan stood scratching
Ms head and looking on and saying probably if he gave
u,srance 10 his thoughts, What dalned earnal
shame il that them ERE British steamers should do all
our business receive all our postage, be everlasting
bagsDg that Britannia rules the waves, and that we
c,nI buld an ocean steamer !" This iras the feeling,
and but for the enterprise of E. X. Collins, esq., it would
mobably have been now British theory that Brother
Jonathan could not build steomert
Mr.. Collins commenced his enterprise: he deter
mined 10 do the thing up in true American s,yle-n
manner that could not be beat-and he did II. He built
ocean paiacs-. and when the news that the Collins
steamers were beating ne canarders, what american
heart did moi swell with pride at the triumph, confess
Iish almost the exultation that did when was ,vld
ina, the Constitution had taken the Gunere-and the
names OF Hull and Collins ought 10 be associated, the
Two who first trumphed in and in peace, the
payies Of the most potent naval power on earth.
And now forsooth because Mr. Collins has made bet
r and more expensive and commodous steamships than
Nh Cunarl he is TO be punished for his audacity and
The patronage OF government is to be Withdrawn from
him. and his line is be broken down. and the Cunard
en- are again to have il all their own way
Mr. Collins has done exactly what he should have
dune-he has beat the British; and every true American
heart that possesses a single spark OF patriotism should
toee and do all that is possible to aid this great pioneer
Of American steam navigation in surmounting any
dcultes that he may have encountered in carrying out
bis audabls and magnificent enterprise and the general
government, who generously lent its aid in setting the
ball in motion, that il is fairly rolling should no,
withdraw its aid, and riH mott No, there is loo much
rational pride left it is hoped, 10 lead to any doubts as 10
he action OF an American Congress, when the question
presented is between American British success on the
bcean.
The writer in the Union condemns the steamers built
by Mr. Collins, not being suited TO the purpo.s ,ha,
lhey may, in certain contingencies be applied TO. lie
pays they cannot without great difficulty and expense
be converted into war steamers, and when so con-
sed they will not be suitable for such purpose
Whether he is right or wrong about this not naval
constructor architect enough to Judge but II be as
says, where lies the blame The law provided tha,
ey should be built under The supervision of regular
vacons,ructor Of the government, and they were so
ut II that officer has suffered them be built in a
anner not 10 answer the purpose intended, should the
Contingency happen is il just that the government
hould take advantage Of lis wrong, and therefore
hdraw its aid 1t is not just and government will do
unjust act in this matter.
When the steamships Mississippi and Missouri Law off
navy.yard here was on board OF them, and exam.
d them from their decks TO The very bottom OF their
ods also did the same when the Baltic lay of Alex
dna 10 regard TO her. Years, il is true passed between
Y Two visits; but thought, while on board the Baltic,
a. were she furnished with the same battery with
neh he TIVE war steamers above mentioned were fur
saed, would sooner take my chance board her
an either Of them
"hle examining the machinery OF the Baltic il hap
pea 'ha one Of the operatives the Washington navy
accompanied me. He was loud in his praises Of
machinery and hestated not to say that il beat any
Vernnen work be had ever seen
Noone who visited and examined that noble shin but
Poud that she was an American steamer, and that
was out, and owned, and navga,ed by Americans.
l noilo has always been, q foster Americ an genius
. all and any Circumstances And believe il to be
'ug Oh The government to aid all that may be neees-
@eh an enterprise as the one in which MIR Collins
Engaged
upposIng bis line should be suffered to be broken up
would become of the splendid steamers he has
lhey would probably go into foreign hands
an'key INTO The possession of foreign gopsrnments
1' Ien' u unfortunately we should get suddenly in
e1 10 20 war, we should be very likely 10 find that
shPs could be converted into war steamers and
eve could replace them we should have lesson
"a speed that the writer in the Union so strangely
INNS that would tell on our mercantile marine at
~ not on our war marine.
hno, will do 10 suffer that great enterprise
sonhi and would speak the whole American
!, y they could speak on the subject so as to be
at once
AN AMERICAN.
nulseTos, March IS, 1852
p-Ihe ships OF the Collins line have not only
viii IN accordance with the specification furnished
oeaeary OF the Navy, approved Of by his board OF
uoors and under the inspection of a naval con.
:, which specification forms part OF the contract
~ strength is uoalg increased beyond what would
~. e. inlly the specification and more than equal ia
mr. NF II