The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-07

Of protection from the Government, in producing
manufactures at greatly reduced prices
Great Britain had great start in the enterprisc
! OF ocean navigation. She had had time and prac
Teal experience 10 perfect her machinery, &c
Collins commenced his gigantic undertaking, and
triumphing over difficulties Of every kind, has
successfully rivalled his competitors Let this line
be Withdrawn, and the object of Cunard, to drive
all American vessels from the ocean, will be &C.
] complished He will have the monopoly in his
own hands, and will be in position 10 demand
| whatever prices for freight and passage he may
think proper. He denied that this was a monopo-
| ~ He was authorized to say that one million oil
OF its stock will be sold at par to any State indi-
vidual who may desire IT,
| Up to the war of 1912 the boast was generally
admitted q that Britannia rules the wave - the
events Of that war and the SUCCESS of clipper
ships, had thrown some doubt upon it, aud the e.
cent victory OF the last sailing yacht America, and
the achievements of the Collins steamers, had com.
pletely contradicted it, The American people feel
just pride in these results, and they will insist
that this line be not abandoned for the want Of pro
lection and support The victory they had gained
was as great as any ever obtained in war. II was
the victory OF American genius and enterprise.
He thought it notimprobable that, il this line be
adequately sustained for awhile, it would become
| seli-sustaining.
| As an American citizen and an American me.
chanc, he felt proud of what had been done by tho
Collins line. The Senator from Virginia said that
II this line went down, and the Government should
advertise for .:aail-seaIners, would get others as
fleet ms these, and coating less money in their con
struction. This might be true; but prudent man
would lock as much to the quality Of the article
offered him to the cost of II. All persons
interested in the success of this experiment If this
fail, the business will be abandoned; for none
others will venture where these vessels could not
succced. Shouiu il succeed, others will embark in
| the bnsness, and hss secure 10 the United States
a marine capable Of retaining for this country the
commerce il now possesses.
| He said that by the contract the Government re
CURED the construction Of vessels stronger and OF
\ heavier burden than was necessary for passenger
or mail service, and required them for mail ser
| vice, 10 which speed wac necessary auxiliary.
! TO make these vessels, then, suitable for per
posesi and to combine with tha. the speed proper
ot mail eerrice, required an expenditure in their
construction greatly beyond that necessary, were
these requirements not imposed by the contract.
] But Mr. Collins had not failed in any respect to
comply with his contract. He carried it out in
| good faith; and notwithstanding the great loss he
has sustained on every trip he has continued TO
his vessels regularly in the service of the Govern
1 ment
/ lie contrastcd the compensation paid the Cunard
| line and that paid to the Collins line. The Iorncf
received SS56,S20 per annum; the latter would
receive, II this amendment were agreed to, $685.
| 900 per annum The tonnage of the four Collins
steamers, in the aggregate, exceeded that OF the
seven Cunard steamers; the latter periurm near
| y double the number Of voyages performed by the
Collins line. Estimating the whole number OF
/
vessel Of each line, and computing the compensa-
ton by the amount Of tonnage which respectively
crossed the ocean, the Cunard line received fos
dollars and SERENITY iUe cents TSr ton each voyage;
and the Collins line. at the proposed increased
rates, would receive but four dollars and ghty- FOO
! cents per ton each voyage. The Cunard line
ccved, therefore, one fifth more each voyage than
would the Collins line, even OF the proposed in
creased rates.
He contcnded that these vessels were adapted 10
war purposes and could be used as war-steamers
But if they were not, il was from no fault OF Mr.
Collins; they we're built under the cxptess direc.
lion of the Navy Department
He said the war OF 1912, which cost three hun
dred millions Of dollars, was one TO protect and
| maintain invioRte our rights and flag upon the
ocean That Object was accomplished. He
rejoiccd 10 know that since had the honor
the flag Of the country been disbonored. He would
never consent TO strike Our flag Of commerce. aud
abandon the ocean TO foreign rival; he would
never consent 10 abandon our commercial position
and become second TO another nation, when by
small pccuniary outlay We can retain our present
position as first.
He thought that, If this line be sustained for
while, il will then become ecll-supporting, and
would lead 10 the establishment of n large
mercial steam marine capable Of competing with
that Of the world
lie complimen;cd the nationality and enterprise
which had characterized the conduct and actions
Of Mr.. Collins and his associates, and hoped they
would be supported and sustained.
MIR. BADGER said that the Senator from Yir
ginia (Mr. HUsTER) said he stood alone in this
debate in opposition 10 this amendment Though
that Senator but one, he should remember
that in himself be a host. Like Achilles upon
the plains OF Troy. when he apps AIRED upon Size
held lie drives whole. armies before him; and
whenever he takcs position ia debate, although
be IL but one, IL reqGiTes number Of the opponents
10 stand up to oppose him.
This was a national question. From the mo-
ment when the Collins line was instituted, il be
came, here and in England, a national question
II wa nv ip nj off hta
try ne n mere question of rivalry between two
steamship Companies, but one involving the most
important contest between the United States and
Great Britain which 10 was possible for the two "a
tons TO be engaged in. And that contest was for
The mastery OF the ocean. The question now pre-
sentcd was not only whether VIC shall retire dis
honornbly from the contest, but whether, with vic
tory already in our grasp, we shall withdraw our
vessels, aud surrender 10 our rival alt the benefits
which will follow, and Let her take position above
which the history OF three iourths Of century
has shown she can never do by her own power and
skill.
The immediate question was, can this line lie
sustained and kept BflOat IL more compensation I've
not given iH IL is an ubdenable fact, fully prov.
en-, that they losc now Sl7, OO0.a trip. This ruin
Gus loss cannot he doubted. We must then either
advance the computation allowed them suffer
them 10 stop. They canno, 90 without this adj
ditonal aid. So sure as this amendment be reject
cd, and Congress refuse them further aid, the
step viii be- an application by these gentlemen TO
be relieved from the contract; and their applica.
ton cannot be refused Ii would be cruelty unjust
10 insist on tie execution.
And who will be b neftcd by the withdrawal %
THE line! English capitalists and British glory
and repOwn; and THE gain will be at n CORE
spending lOss side IN these respects IL viii
not benefit sailing marine; for the passengers
and the chaTactrr 81 freight which now 20 by the
Collins line - not 90 by the sailing vessels,
bot by the Cunafd hnc.
lie said the Senator from Virginia must have
been misniofmcd when he stated that these vessels
brought iron freight OF rates but little above
what would be considered as ballast These vcs-
scls, nc Was informed had not brought out sin
gle ton Of iron. IL was spccios Of freight not dc
sirRbc for steamcrs.
The discontinUancc Of this line would give tho
whole means OF steam communication between the
United States and Europe into the hands Of the
Briiish
lie considered the postal returns, and the large
increase VI hostages during the last year; and
thought il not improbable that in the cnd IL would
be found int this line will pay into the treasury
than will have been Withdrawn FOR lis benefit.
lie argued al length that these steamers were
steamers.
He said he would, IL this anne ndment were agreed
20, propose an amondmt MT transferring this matter
over 20 the charge Of the Poet Office Department,
and providing that in four yetrs Congress mig ht,
If IL thought proper discontinue The service alto.