The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-07
MORNING EDITION---FRIDAY, MAY I, 1862

down the government BY advertising for mall vcsscls
will be supplied with thcm equally fleet and construct
ed at far less cost but prudent would look asmuch
to the quality Of the vessel to perform the service as At
the cost The whole nation Is interested in this enter
prise If this fails the business will be abandoned for
none other will be likely to engage In It, If this DO
it. The government in its contract with Mr. Collins
qurd these vessels to be stronger and heavier than the
meremailservce required The mail service them
to be constructed with view to speed To accomplish
these objects II requires much larger expenditure OF
money in their construction; The contractors did
money to comply with their contract They acted
in coed faith; they have continued to run their
great every trip This line would not receive, at
this proposed rate greater for their ser
wee ,nan aa sne % aaa th naI seven ,r
vessels Of Mr. Collins 1t received for its trips $85G820
year, or s5 IS a ton on each trip The Collins line
this amendment agreed would receive $858 0O0a
year. ~ 50 per ton for each trip. Thus the Cunard
line received 20 cent each trip on Its tonnage more
than the Collins line would receive He argued ut lengh
to that these steamers But if they
not it fault Of Mr. Collins they built
raj proposition he believed that the screw propcers
best adapted to war purposes. The war Of 1872
which cost three hundred millions was to protect
and maintain the rights of our flag on the ocean, He
glad to say that that flag had been allowed to
be dshonored nor would he consent that the flag Of
should now be struck and leave the to
foreign rival. He would never consent to abandon
our commerce to another, and we to become second,
where for y small pecuniary outlay successfully
stand first Let this line be sustained for while and
it will then be able to support itself and its
success Is established there will spring up large
commercial steam marine which will secure to the
United States the commerce which the skill and energy
of her citizens viii command. lie compmcnted highly
the pt Of nationality which had characterized the
terprise Of Mr.. Collins and his associates.
MMr BADGER, (whg) Of N G., said that, from the in.
slant the Collins line established it became national
question. 1t regarded by any one u
question between the rival steamship companies but
one involving the most struggle that eyer
supremacy on the ocean The contest was commenced,
aud is going We not now to consider whether
shall dshonoraby retire from that contest, but
whether, with victory in grasp, will withdraw
vessels surrender, without further struggle to
rival all the benefits and advantages and hereafter
of the position which to both it is desirable attain
Shall fall below and allow Great Britain to
position above us which three quarters Of century has
shown she do by her power and skill There
is question that this line could not be sustained do
give it compensation. We must increase the al
this amendment be rejected the next step will be
application by the proprieors for Congress to relieve
1t would be cruel keep them at it. Who will be bcne
fitted by its withdrawal. English capital British power
and glory and loss would be in the ratio
1t viii not benefit sailing vessel for all the freight
and passengers which now go by the Collins line would
not go BY packets but by the Cunard line He was au-
AT ballast freights. Not single ton Of iron had
been brought out in these vessels The discontnuance
Of this line would give tho whole means OF steam COM
munication, between the United States and Europe,
into British hands He considered that with the pros
pective increase of postage this line would return
show that these vessels were emphatcay war vessels
lie was speaking Of the materials used in them, when
Mr.. HUNTER (dem.) of Va said that he informed
by Mr. Mallory that they were planked with pine
Mr. MALLORY, (deml of Pa said that all naval vessels
of panked with oak whilst these vessels of the
Collins line are plankcd with pine
MIR. BApGER.-lt is Southern pine, is it not,
Mr. MALLoRy.-Certaiuy.
Mi BADcrn-wen every one knows that Southern
pine is better than northern oak laughter
Mr.. MALLonY.-Buti it seems as if the navy depart
msnt has never thought 70. .
Mr BApcrK-That was owing to their Northern in
clinations am glad to sec they're coming round He
then renewed his argument that these vessels
adapted purposes lie then referred to ette
written by Moses Grnnel Esq Of New York to Senator
Fish in which that honorable and patriotic merchant
had said that his pride as an American citizen would
permit any supposed injury to his packet trade to pre-
vent him wishing the Collins line to be sustained Mr.
discontinued 1t will not benefit the packets for tho
passengers and kind of freight sent by the Collins line
Cunard line. He gave notice of an amendment giving
Congress in four to discontinue the contract
If it be thought proper.
Mr. SHIELDS, (dem) Of Ill., followed, earnestly advo
eating the amendment
Mr. JONES (whig) Of Tenn, said that he anxious
to sustain this line but he could not understand how it
requires $50 COO trip to sustain it. when the Cunard only
cost S14 OOO He thought S24 600 trip would all
the increased expenses Of this line over that Of the
Cunard.
Mcssrs PRATT and RISK followed in support of the Col
Mr. JAMES repeated his calculations showing that MIR.
Cunard received one-fth each voyage his ton
mage than Mr. Collins would even if allowed the S33oO0
per trip
Mr.. SEWARD. treo soiD Of n T., said that interest in
England at three per cent in New York it
per cent Wages here one-third higher than in
England Insurance here is Fix per cent In England it
is only three. The insurance the Collins steamers
$4,000 year. nearly one-half the which go
vernmcnt paid them.
Mr. JONES sad that if this placed the ground Of
prote ctcn and put in general bill for that purpose,
he would cheerfully vote for 1t.
1t being four O'Clock MIR HALE (frsesoil) of ~ H.,
moved to adjourn Lost-by yeas III nays 2s. Canal,
MIR. BELL (whig) Of Tenn then addressed the Senate
in some general remarks upon the subject.
Mr.. HALE sad he would vote for the amendment
frgae Of the navy cost annually $4,000 Of these
vessels cost but fraction lie considered the OBJ
iect. purpose and end accomplished by Of these
steamers Of tcnold greater value than that Of all the
naval vessels together
MIR. JoNEs. of Tenn. moved 10 strike out the sum oi
s33 900. and insert instead the sum Of S25 900.
Mr. Cass (dem Of Mich rose to speak when
A. WELLER. (dem Of Cal, moved TO adjourn. Lost
by ayes, II; noes %.
III now half past four. when
Mr.. CAss said he would offer amendment. making il
the duty Of the Secretary Of the Navy appoint board
officers TO examine these vessels and report upon their
ada ptation to military steam marine purposes. lie
yielded the floor and motion to adjourn prevailed
House of Representatives.