The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-09
The Collins Line.

The Deficiency bill was under consideration
in the House of Representatives yesterday, and
among other matters the Senate amendment,
extending additional aid to the Collins steam
ers, was partially discussed.
There are two points of interest involved in
this discussion. First-is there any thing in
this idea of the pride of maritime superiority?
The second is, whether or not this superiority
may not be maintained at too great cost? This
is the whole story in nutshell.
1t is conceded by all who know any thing
about the subject, that the steamers of the Col
Inns line are as well adapted for war purposes
as any other paddle. wheel steamers afoat. 1t
is admitted that there is no force in the objec
ton of extending Government assistance to
particular line, and thereby creating monopo-
ly, because that original question is no longer
open; the contest here is between ali English
line sustained by its government, and an Anne
rcan line in the same predcament The true
commercial and national question is, whether
we shall yield to Great Britain monopoly of
the Atlantic carriage of passengers and mails,
suffering her to appropriate all the advantages
of the traffic, and apply its proceeds to the sup
port of war navy in peace, or whether the
United States shall divide these advantages
with her great maritime rival.
Now, the first question, in our judgment,
admits of but one answer. 1t is important as
question of national pride, as question which
calls out and modifes the public opinion Of
mankind, that the United States should main
tain at all hazards and under any circumstances
the confessed maritime superiority which it
now enjoys. We conceive that, as a country,
we should be disgraced, that our honor would
be furnished, our flag BUNDLED; that in adj
which affects the spirit, the dignity, and the
pride of the nation, we should stand abashed
and rebuked if, without an all sufficient and
all-controlling necessity, we should permit
Great Britain to reassume her empire Of the
seas. NE hare broken her sceptre. We haze
dvided with her the sovereignty Of the ocean.
LET US TAKE NO STEP BACKWARDS.
But, says Prudence to Pride, this is all very
WE'LL we feel as sincerely as you do this appeal
to our national spirit and position, and we ad-
NIT that the struggle is something more than
mere boat-race between nations; but is there
not something in the old idea of BEN FRANK
LIN, that we may pay "too dear for our whistler"
Does this company require all the money it
asks to maintain successfully this competition?
Could not we carry on the contest at less cost?
DON'T we pay more money than the English
government pays to the Cunard steamers for
the same or similar service! Do we obtain
any proportionate return for our outlay in i'm
mediate or prospective advantages2 Are we
doing snug and saving business? Have we
looked sharply enough after the almighty
dollar?
A liberal expenditure, said a great English
is not often the truest economy; and
q great empire and little minds 20 i'll together.
We are of opinion that it would be difficult 10
pay too much to prevent Great Britain from re
the monopoly which she enjoyed so
recently of ocean steam navi cation and its
fruits. 1t is matter not to be estimated by
pecuniary standard. The question is one of
po,cer, of position, of name and fame among
the nations Of the earth; and what true
son of the United States would barter
these for paltry considerations of pelf? There
is money enough, and more than enough, for all
national purposes, in the Treasury. The COM
pany say, and demonstrate by sworn proof. that
without the aid contemplated by the bill, they
must apply to be released from their contract,
and that they cannot carry it on without
being ruined. We have no reason to be
lieve that they could have attained their pre-
sent admitted superiority without encoun,ering
the expenses to which they have been subject
ed for their larger vessels and their improved
machinery. |; is problematical no,o, and
it would take years to solve the question,
whether, with all that we have gained in our
knowledge Of naval architecture and steam
from the experience of the Collins line, we
could build vessels that would accomplish the
same results at any less cost With the add
lional compensation prayed for, the American
Government would pay 20 per cent. less to the
Collins line than is paid to the 0unarders by
the English government This is demonstrated
in the very clever and conclusive speech of Mr.
CHANDLER in the House on the 9th instant.
We have taken the trouble to verify his re-
suits, and we find that they are substantially
accurate. Our figures do not agree exactly
with his, but the difference is unmportant.
Taking tonnage and service together, the Gu
narders receive larger compensation than the
Senate amendment gives to the Collins line.
Now, one word as to the returns. We con-
tend that if the United States should pay out
right and absolutely the sum of 1855, 900 for
the purpose of dividing the Atlantic steam
navigation and its incidents with Great Britain,
the money would be well expended. Blu,
Mr. Senator RUsK, of the Committee on
the Post Office and Post Roads, demon
strates, in his very satisfactory report, tina,
the Government has paid to the Collins
line in two years $4,000, and has received
from it $5l3, $40 so. Deducting the receipts Of
the Government from its outlay, the balanc,
against the Government (annualIy diminish
ing) is $l2S,226 60 a year. For this insig
nificant outlay, the United States keep in per
petual commission, and at all times ready fo