The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-26
From he Ner York Courier aud Enquire.

eihCo. :" nc country 10 now Wdglng lne fnlghtleSt
OF all its combats, and | watch il with intenser
interest and anxiety than ever felt in Mexican
battle" And the language was worthy ola Anne
rican warrior. Such a conflic: is now going on-a
conflict transcending oil others in Importance for
its prize is the mastery of the seas, and its tr
umphal distinction, precedence among the nations.
II Is contest that is none the less momentous be
cause attended with no tramp of squadrons or roar
OF artillery. Ii is noiseless and almost viewless and
yet the whole intelligent world is watching it with
eager interest. Its ammunition is far more potent
than gunpowder. its art far more than mill.
tary tactics. Neither accident, nor stratagem, nor
advantage OF position, affect its results. Brute
strength has no part in it; impetuous passion has
no influence it. 1t a contest in which science
is ptted against science and skill against skill and
which is carried on with entire and constant
reference to the great principle that knowledge is
power. Its results, though bloodess in themselves,
to have controlling influence over the bloody
battles that we may fight with our one rival here
after; for they will furnish her with woapons
for such a conflict that will prove irresistible. The
strife is in fact for the present conquest peace. of
future victories in war.
Great Britain, with that same charac teristic n
gacity and energy which gave, and for centuries
has maintained, her commence among the ma
tons, was the first to appreciate and take advan.
service, and tho first to make the means OF defence
in the instruments Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in
peace. The year 1887, when the charge of con
veying the ocean mails was transferred to the ad
miraty, is epoch in her national history II
has done than all other combined to
maintain her tremendous power and influence in
the affairs Of the world II introduced system
which combined in most complete manner all
the means and appliances that give efficiency to
mercantile and military marine. Every successive
year since the establishment by England OF her
mail team-packet service has served to demon
strate more clearly to her the wisdom of the
plan, and to stimulate her TO efforts to
enlarge and perfect its basis. The steam navi-
cation companies within her admiralty jurisdiction
now number seven, and the amount paid for their
maintenance ia more than three and a half million
dollars annually. These companies, consisting Of
the Cunard, the Cape of Good Hope, the West In
dia, the Pacific, the Brazil, the Peninsula and ORR
entail, and the Suez and Bombay, navigate every
sea, and directly or indirectly draw tribute from
every port on the earth Thcse lines employ, al
together, about one hundred steamers, all capable
of being Immediately converted into ships of war
of the fret class, and OF carrying ordnance of the
heaviest description. The naval annals Of the
world have nothing that can bear a moments com
parison with such an armament. controlled by such
an agency.
How stands it with England's only rival our
own glorious Republic! 1t ID mixed tale OF pride
and shame For ten live-long years we looked
ignoby on, and cav England achieve triumph after
triumph in her new field Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. We
admired her, cnved her, but we made
nest honorable effort to vie with her. Ii such
attempt was now and th0n hazarded, it was sure to
prove such failure "a covered US with yet deeper
reproach. Vaunt as we might Of our navigating
capacities and our maritime greatness, our &C
tions practically convicted US OF sense Of infer-
ority; and England in the sight Of the world, was
more than ever the mistress OF the seas. But,
fortunately, men OF energy showed themselves
among US, whose spirits revolted against the oc-
cupancy Of such position; and, through their
resolution and indomtabc enterprise, line Of
American steamships, OF size, and power till
then unknown, was formed be ween this port
and Liverpool, and came into direct competition
with steam vessels that had received the especial
of the British admiralty, and were uniyer-
sally regarded as the finest adoat The whole civ
iliEsd world knows the result. The entire history
of the Collins line has thus far bscn but series OF
victories. The spell Of British invincibility is
broken, and it is the star gled banner that is
now the 'meteor flag Of the waves. The success
has at last been achieved, and in a why that hns
challenged the admiration of tho world. The
great practical question for the decision of the
American people-or rather its representative
is, whether this glorious success shall be sus
tanned. Shall our Government extend to this en-
terprise the assistance that il actually requires for
its efficient maintenance This question lie now
before Congrcss and must soon be determined de-
cisvely, one way or the other.
The Collins line now consists OF four steamers,
built by contract expressly for the Government
service, at an expense Of 600, 900 each, and I'M
equslied by any other steam vessels in the world
for strength, speed, and comfort. The largest Of
the Cunard line Ia $50 feet in length, ana 2, 200
toms and 500 horse power. Each of the Collins line
10 $50 feet in length, and of 900 tone, aud 900
horse power. The average superiority Of speed Of
the vessels Of the latter limo over those OF the for
mer on the western passage, for the trips OF the
year ending last October was full day and half
The annual amount originally received by the Gu
nard limo from the British government for car.
rying the mail was ES5,o00, or about $3.50
The number of ships and frequency of passages
being increased in lS46, the annual amount
thereafter resolved one hundred and forty five
thousand pounds, or about 3725 900 annually.
stipulation, We understand, was made on the lst
of the present month, by the admiralty. TO sti fur
Their increase this compensation. The number Of
trips this line ia bound to perform is one every
week, or hhy-two annually. The Collins line ID
paid by our Government 355 900 annually for car
rying the mail, for which they obligated per-
form twenty trips. They actually perform, how
ever, trip every fortnight. or twenty SIX annual
ly and for this increased duty, which has proved
such an accommodation TO the mercantile interests
of our country, by alternating with the Cunard
line through the year. the contractors are soliciting
from Con gress such increased compensation az ma
be Judged reasonable and the Postmaster General
and the Secretary Of the Navy united in recon-
mcnding such an allowance, and also enactment
making this increaso in the service permanent
arrangement.
This additional aid, we trust, will DO granted
promptly and freely; it is absolutely necessary to
tho successful continuance Of the enterprise. II
can be shown TO Congress by the most unquestion
able exhibits that the income Of the line by pa..en-
GERS freight. and present allowance for mail ser
vice. is much less than its actual necessary cIpen-
ditures; and that the company must suffer heavy
losses unloss thoy receive from Government com
pcnsson better proportoned to the service they
rendering. The seven hundred and twenty five
thousand dollars allowed by the admiralty, have
been found insutbcien to sustain the Cunerd line
with total tonnage Of only IA 600 how then can
it be supposed that three hundred and eighty five
thousand dollars can sustain the Collins line with
a total tonnage of II 200? The superiority Of tho
American ships, which has conferred so much
honor upon the country, has not. been gained
/ by happy accident. II has been achieved by
larger and more oIquisitcly finished models,
| by better machinery, aud 10y other similar means
| which involve a correspondingly larger out
/ lay of money. The determination to beat the
! Cunsrders has governed every movement o.
| the company from the very outset. They have
spared no expense, and have shrunk before diff
| Guilty. The fruits Of this heroic energy have
crued TO the nation. Shall the company be left tc
sustain the concomitant burdens and losses About
half the present allowance by Government lie used
/ up in the payment Of the high rates Of insurance.
consequent upon the great size and value Of tn,
ships and in the effccting Of improvemonts, which
experience shows to be practicable and desirable