The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-08

there was little or no competition in this peculiar
branch of maritime service, as by those VINO
were easily TO be found in country in which the
density OF population and consequent comPeu;ion
for employment caused the wages to be small.
An attempt seems TO have been made, in certain
quarters to create an impression that the AID mere
tofore extended by the Government to the indiyi-
duals engaged under contracts to carry the ocean
mail, has been induced by feelings Of personal
friendship en- the part OF members Of Congress.
Such is not the case. The triends Of the system
of ocean mail steam navi gaton have, go iar as
your committee Dire advised, considered this I'm
portant subject matter OF great national
Concern and independently OF the very seconda.
ry motive 81 individual interest The question
presented to their minds has not been whether
A, b, or c should have n privilege extended 10
him, but whether the commerce, manufactures,
and agriculture of the country would be bene
fitted by the performance Of public sefticc
through the instrumentaiity OF individual enter
prise, under proper conditions and restrictions.
As matters stood the period when the system was
adopted, Great Britain was exersing herself, sue
ccssfully, to make the United States, in common
with the rest OF The world, tributary to her mari.
time supremacy. She possessed the monopoly oi
steam connection between the United States and
Europe, the West Indies and South America,
There was not letter sent by ocean steam con
veyance, in these quarters, which did not pay lls
tribute 10 the British crown, and not passenger
nor parcel Of merchandise transported by the agen'
cy of steam upon the ocean, which did not furnish
profit to the British capitalist, Grea: Britain as,
serted her right to be the "queen Of the ocean5"
and, as such she levied her imposs upon the in
dustry and intelligence of all the nations that fire
quented that highway OF the world.
In this condition OF affairs, the law instlutlng
the system of American ocean mail steam trans
portation in it's present form enacted, Che
best, if not the only means OF correcting great
evil, and, at the saine time, building up naval
force which should be available for national de-
fence In the event Of war. The system 30 inst-
tuted was deemed 10 be not only calculated to draw
fort nd rd n American
zens. but it avoided The difficulty OF keeping upon
hand, in time Of peace, large, and for the mo-
ment at least useless, military marine, which cotsld
only be preserved in condition Tor elective GER
vice by a vast annual outlay of the public money.
This system, moreover, seemed, as 1t ID In truth,
analogous in its nature to the militia establish
ment OF the country which, while it leaves every
citizen of the Republic, between the ages of eigh-
teen and forty five years, at liberty to pursue his
particular vocation in civil life in time Of peace,
holds him liable to be called into service as sol
der in time of war. A large military establish
ment whether on land sea, has always been justly
regarded inconsistent with the genius OF free
institutions, inasmuch it places at the disposal
of the Government the means of trampling under
foot the liberty of the citizen, and gives rise to
heavy taxation, with all the corrupting influences
of lavish public expenditures. The system referred
to, while it avoids the expense Of large maritime
force and its attendant evils places at the disposal
of the country the most ample means OF naval de.
fence, in case of collision with foreign nations and
in time of peace
1t was right and proper, then, in the opinion oil
your committee, that these ocean steam facilities
should exist through the Intervention Of the Gov
more especially as they were, in all pro-
liability, beyond the reach of private means.
The transportation Of the ocean mails. with the
greatest possible advantage to the important inter
cote Of the country at large, ID an object or para
mount impor lance; but which, however desirable,
ca only be effected at great expense 1t ia mat
ter of cumpar atively small moment at what precise
time this expense ID to be paid provided that the
end in view be attained with certainty. The
temporary loan of part OF the means required,
under proper securities for reimbursement, appears
to be the readcst mode by which the purpose can
be effected. How is this security to be acquired!
Simply by taking due care that the funds advanced
shall be faithfully and honestly applied to the
object for which they are intended, and then
holding lien upon the ships, for the consruc-
ton OF which they are appropriated, in such
manner as to insure the reimbursement OF the
sums advanced in the form Of mail service or mo-
ncy; OF, should circumstances require, of ships
suitable for national purposes, as war steamers.
This has been done. In all cases the contractors
for the transportation of the ocean malls have been
required to their ships to be built and equip
ped under the immediate supcrintendence of expe
rienced naval officers, and under the direction OF
naval constructors, appointed by the Government,
in such manner TO be convertible at The smallest
possible expense, into war stea mars OF the first class.
: After the contracts entered into, Congress
authorized the payment OF years compensation
in advance, which s, however, TO be returned in an
uaI instruments Of ten per cent. out Of the sum sttpu-
lated mail SERVICE to secure tchtc lien tcGs tdEe'
upon the ships This course seemed to be advisable
because while il secures to the Government the re-
payment of the money advanced, as above stated,
within reasonable time, it does not disable the
contractors from performing the proposed service.
The arrangement is a liberal one, and, at the same
time, safe one, and holds out to the contractors
ample inducements to comply with their agree
ments.
Nor has experience caused any regret, on the
part of the friends of the system, further than that
in some cases, owing to the increase In the tom
mage and power of the ships and other circum'
stances, the expenses incurred by the contractors
have outrun the receipts, and they have incurred
heavy losses, which might even prove ruinous, il
they were forced to sell the property acquired IN
this form. 1t should always be borne in mind,
however, that in these cases the increase OF e1-
pendiure thus incurred hal been caused by laud
able ambition the part of the proprieors of these
lines to do even more than they were required 10
do under their contracts, with view to secure the
confidence of the Government and the public. 1t
should also be remembered that in thus increasing
the cost and consequent value of their ships these
companies have enlarged the security Of the Govern
ment for the money loaned and promote the safety
and comfort of passengers 1t has, in no instance,
been charged that the companies referred TO have
in any way insa pplied the aid extended to them
or given to it improper direction. The products
of their expenditures, even admitting them to ha We
been greater than they might have been, show 1or
themselves, In Placing tOG hIItTICdu Steaih
service, far it has gone, Mt the head OF all ohnrs
in point of accommodation, elegance, strength
and swiftness. Nor is this all. The establishment
OF these lines is not to be regarded merely with re-
ference TO the immediate protits arising from the
system, in connection with the transportation o
the mails. Millions of money have been saved tt
American citizens, which, in the absence of these
ocean steam lines, would have gone to fill foreign
Golfer 8. The committee will refer to one fact ir
illustration of the truth Of this proposition. Before
the Collins line established, the Cunard bnt
receiving ct 0s. sterling per ton for freigEts
at present the rate is about ga sterling. By whom
we're these ct los. sterling paid? BY the America,
consumer, in most instances, upon articles oil B1ti|
mun,f brought TO thus country by British line
At present the American consumer pays but IL
sterling per ton; and presuming that the American
merchant makes his importations in tho American
line this freight is paid to our own people and goe
to swell the sum of our national wealth. Thus
will be seen that formerly the American consumes
paid pery nearly t,cice much for the serrice, ans
enriched the British capitalist; whereas. at present
he not only saves onc-haV Of the former cost O
freight to himself but In paying the remaining ha II
benefits his fellow citizen who in return aids il
consuming perhaps the very merchandise which
he has imported.
Under these circumstances, can any REASONABLY
man doubt the propricty, even in pecuninr,
point of view, of sustaining the present system
which, at it's very commencement, has given sucl
ample proofs Of its usefulness? Your Commute