The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-12

points that are involved in the discussion that our
readers may have a connected and ineligible
statement of the whole matter.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE POLICY. .....
Mr.. ROBINSON Observed
.'To have listened to the gentlemen who have
INDUCED in terms Of such round denunciation OF
those who support this measure, and denounce il
in such unmeasured terms as anti Democratic, one
would have supposed that it first got into the egis-
ation OF the country by virtue OF the action Of a
Federal Congress, approved by Federal Presl-
dent. have had the curiosity to look back into
this matter. find that 1t tpas recommended some
three four times By President Polk, tcho Is aeknoW
lodged TO haze been the model Democratic President.
find that the Colns line and the Sloo line both
were authorized by the Twenty ninth Congress
a Congress with about sixty Democratic majority
in this House. and proportionate majority in The
other.
"NIr. McMULLIN. How did the Democrats vote
" Mr.. RoDISsos. They voted for them unani-
That Twenty ninth Congress, composed Of as good
Democrats as ever made tracks in Washington
city, passed law authorizing these lines, and IL is
absolute act that there little opposition to
the MEASURES in the Senate the House that IL passed
ntm con. There were not enough of these orthodox
Democrats here, then, even to call the yeas and
nays. find that afterwards, at the beginning of
the Thirtieth Congress, MIR. Polk came forward
and In his message congratulated the country on
the enactment OF the law authorizing them.
president Polk in his annual message, at the
commencement ofthe Thirteth Congress, says:
while other maritime powers are adding to
their navies, large numbers of war steamers, it
was a wise policy part to make similar adj
diitions to our navy. y
SO Whilst these steamships will be employed in
transporting the mails of the United States coast.
wise, and to foreign countries, upon an annual
compensation to be paid to the owners, they will
to be converted into war steamers; and the right
reserved to take them for public use will add
greatly to the efficiency and strength of this de.
scription Of our naval force. To the steamers thus
authorized under contracts made by the Secretary
of the Navy, should be added five other steamers,
authorized under contracts made in pursuance OF
law by the Postmaster General, making an add.
ton, in the whole, OF eighteen war steamers, sub
ject to be taken for public As further con
tracts for the transportation of the mail to foreign
countries may be authorized by Congress. this
number may be enlarged indefinitely.
"'1he enlightened policy by ,chich rapid co,nmuni
Lshsd by means Of american built steamers,
would find an ample reward in the increase Of our
commerce, and in making our country and its re.
sources moro favorably known abroad; but the
national advantage is aill greater, of having our
naval officers made familiar with steam naviga-
ton, and of having the privilege of taking the
ships already equipped for immediate service at a
moments notice; and ,ciH be cheap'y purchased by
the compensation to be paid for the sportaton Of
the mai in them and aboue the postagts reesived
"'A just national pride, noless than commercial
interests tpod seem to aror the policy Of augment
ing the number of this description IF uessets. They
can be built in CountT cheaper and in greater
numbers than in any other in the world."'
THE POLICY susTAINEp BY THE DOCTRINES OF Mr..
JEFFERSON.
Mr.. BAYLY, Of Virginia, quoted from the report
of Mr.. JErFERsos, Secretary of State, on the
privileges and restrictions the commerce of
the United States in foreign countries, made
to the House of Representatives. December l6.
1893:
sour NAVIGATION inuoIues still higher c0nsidera-
lions. As bra nch of industry, it is valuable; BUT
Az A REsouRCE OF DEFENCE, ESSENTIAL. But 1t Is
resource of defence that our navigation will
admit neither neglect nor lorbearance. The posi-
ton and circumstances of the United States leave
them nothing to fear on their land board, and no
thing to desire beyond their present rights. But
on the seabodrd they are open 10 injury; and they have
there too, commerce which must be protected.
This can only be done by possessing respectable
body Of citizens, seamen, and of artists, and es
Establishments in readiness for ship building.
"Were the ocean, which is the common property
of ALL open to the industry of all, that every per-
son and vessel should be free to take employ ment
wherever it could be found, the United States would
certainly not Get the example of appropr ating to
themselves, exclusively' any portion of the com
mon stock of occupation. They would rely on the
enterprise and activity of their citizens for due
participation of the benefits of the faring bus
ness, and for keeping the marine class OF citizens
equal to their objects. But if particular nations
grasp at undue shores, and, more especially II
they seize on the means Of the United States" TO
carry our mails, for instance, and mcnopolize the
postage) TO conuert them for aliment Of their otan
streng and tcithdr them entireyfrom the support
of those to iphom they belong and protective
measures become necessary the part Of the nation
,nhoss marine thus inuaded it will be
dsarmed Of its defence; it's productions will lie at
the mercy of the nation which has possessed itself
exclusively of the means of carrying them; and
ia polifics NAV he influenced nv those who
mand it's commerce.
"The carriage of our commodities, if once c.
tnbishcd in another channel, cannot be resumed
in the moment desire. II we lose the seaincn
and artisans whom it now occupies, we lose the
present means OF marine defence, and time will
be requisite to raise up others, when disgrace or
losses shall BRING to our feelings the error oil nav
ing abandoned them. The material of maintain
ing our due share of navigation answers in album
dance; and as to the mode of using them WE HAVE
ONLY TO ADOPT THE PRINCIPLEs OF THOSE WHO PUT
Us ON THE DEFENSIVE, on OTHERS EQUIVALENT OR
BETTER FITTED TO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES"
When this policy frat entered upon, Great
Britain ntersecting all our waters with her mail
steamers, and deriving from our hostages half a
million of dollars and upwards every year, to
maintain an efficient commercial marine converti-
bic at pleasure into war navy. Thus she was,
literally, in the expressive language of Mr.. JET.
PERSON, converting our resources "FoR ALIMENT
OF HER OWN BTRENGTH -Tenucflng ''DEFESSiVE
AND pRorEcTIvE MEASURES on our part indispcn
sable.
ECONOMY THIS NAVAL DEFENCE.
The economy of this system fully vindicates the
action of the Democratic Congress by which it was
adopted, and the recommendation of Mr.. PoLK
On this point quote from the remarks of Mr.
MEADE, of Virginia
al have a statement cir, prepared at the Navy
Department, which shows that steamers OF the frs,
class in commission cost the Government, in Ger
tain articles, $l3l 1874 "a. To that sum might be
added the interest on the cost of q steam frgate
say 5 36 900, which should have to lose in case
we constr uctcd vessel upon our own account. II
is estimated that the depreciation in avessel Of that
sort ranges from twelve to fifteen per cent. per
mum, which would swell the annual expense
$4,000 more This would make the cost of q
steam-frigate of the first class S257 1874 33 pei
annum. The difference between the cost per an
nun of a steam frigate owned by the United States
and the amount that we should pay TO the Collin
line for of their ships, Mt S26, 900 per trip,
will show TO be about 1925, 0C0 in round numbers
Twenty six trips, at $4,000, would amount t.
S676, 900, which, divided by five, the number o
vessels in the line, will give Sl35, 200 per annuu
for each vessel, which, subtracted from the nnnua
cost Oft Government stehner, to wit, S257 1874 SO
would leave $l22, 694 SO in favor Of the former.
Mr. STANTON, Of Tennessee. The gentleman
forgets to add the mail pay.
"Mr MEADE. am coming TO that. Now, sir
nan a.