The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-28

of 3,l2e, averaging 2,425 tons for each; and the
aggregate tonnage worked by them across the
ocean iIS0Oo tons the cost TO the Government 10
$3.50 900, not exceeding, in proportion to their woI
the expense of the Cunard line. At the same time
they excel the Cunard steamers in speed The
shortest westward passage OF the Cunard steamers
was ten days and twenty two hours, and the
shortest eastward passage ten days and twelve
hours; while the quickest westward passage of
the Collins steamers was nine days and twelve
hours nd the quickest eastward passage nine
days and eight hours.
Nor 10 the expense dsproportioned to the benefits
received. The first effect of the enterprise was
postal treaty with Great Britain, and under that
treaty in lieu of receiving no steam ocean postage,
as before, we now receive hostages, amounting
IN round numbers TO 100000; and this revenue
must swell, and is actually swelling. at the rate OF
S200000 annually. Thus, in the first place, it is
clear that in two years the postal revenue
alone Will defray the expense; and secondly, there
lies very near TO us in the future what my friend
from Massachusetts, Mr.. SUMNER) SO juetly de-
dominates, and what every patriot and philanthro-
pist go earnestly seeks, the great boon OF cheap
ocean postage.
And COW, while maintain postal communica-
ugn TO every part of our country at no matter how
great expense, provided that the revenue Of the
whole system shnll equal the Of all it's parts
desire To know why VIC should depart from prin.
ciple so enlightened in foreign postal conventions,
which are ancillary to commerce, to immigra-
ton, and to political influence and power. But il
change the terms Of the question it will be more
resting the enterprise? We shall lose all the post.
gees steam malls and all the hopes of cheap
postage, and all the prots passengers and freight
transported by steam II Is not easy to estimate
these losses; but We have come knowledge OF the
profits Of Great Britain arising from the monopoly
she enjoyed before competition. The duties
received into the treasury from the Cunard steam
ers rose in six years from $73,SO9 to 81 ,O54,73l
She paid the steamers for carrying the mails Elk
years $3.50 600; and received hostages in return
amounting to $7,o36,sOO; giving her a clear
profit, on the postal revenue, of $b,2s6, 500, or
little less than million a year. We have gain
ed at least one-half of hat benefits Great Bri
tain has lost by reason Of our enterprise. Let
that monopoly be restored and re-established,
we shall then lose all that gain, and with it we
shall the hostages, and fTeights, and rates Of
passage raised to their ancient standards and con
;inually adjusted equally 10 ipjure our property
and promote the interests and crafty the caprice
If Great Britain. What shall we then look for but
decline Of trade and industry, with long train Of
commercial eInbarrassments and national humih
atons2
At most, We can save by abandoning this enter,
prise only about s 800 Geo in two years. Could
we not now easily retrench to that extent IN some
other quarter? We save as much, and more,
by laying up one of our frigates in ordinary during
the same time, and twice as much by burning il
down to the waters edge. No would advise
this and yet il would be far less disastrous than
the retrenchment now proposed
Still, sir, the argument that the expense exceeds
the estimates Is pressed. Well, there Is nothing
Now in that This is a deficiency bill. 1t makes
appropriations of some millions to supply deticien-
cics In the customs service, in the construction of
public cdihcos, in the improvement and embelIish
ment OF the Capitol in the department Of Indian
Affairs, IN the department OF the Territories, and in
the department of Foreign Relations. And Just
such deficiency bill comes up from the House Of
Representatives, at the middle Of every session of
Congress- as punctually the estimates for the year
come In at tie beginning and as the appropriation
bill based on these estimates appears at the close.
IN nd he mil lie
edifces, the seat Of Government, the army and
navy, the Indian tribes, the Territories, and all
foreign intercourse, because we can never estimate
accurately at the beginning the cost Of maintaining
them throughout the fiscal year,
But 1t is said that the enterprise is departure
from the principle of free trnde Sir, it is depar
turc from that principle but not a divergence from
the fixed and ancient policy of the country
Widely, and think unwisely, as we have differed
among ourselves about the policy of protecting
agriculture and manufactures, to the hindrancc OF
the growth OF commerce itseif; yet we have, from
first TO last, uncompromisingly and unwaverngly
adhered TO the policy of protecting navigation.
we inherited IT from England, whose navigation
act, passed by the Long Parliament, and CO ope-
rating with her encouragement Of manufactures,
lroke the monopoly of Holland, and secured TO
the British islands the commerce OF the world and
The command Of the ocean. II this MEASURE en-
hancds protection Of our navigation, it is because
British largesses enhance the protection of her
navigation. Let her revert to her old measure of
protection, and We can at safely return TO
cure.
The honorable Senator from Virginia tells us that
II is wise TO give up now because the system being
unprohtable shall be obliged TO give I'D at last
But tbs IS only temporary contest, not yet fully
decided, and growing in success. Collins's con
tract has eight years to Long before that time
Atlantic steam Navigation will prove itself to be
either seli-sustaining not cell. sustaining In
either case Great Britain will withdraw her patron
age from her line, and we can then safely discon.
tInue our contributions 10 our line.
The honorable Senator from Virginia seeks TO
divide Us on this question by presenting the claims
Of what be calls the poorer cities for share In the
benefits OF this policy, now concentrated upon New
York. learn that bill is near its third reading
IN the Legislature Of the Old Dominion, having for
ts object to establish line Of first Dc
between Norfolk and Antwerp. Sir, ! assure the
honorable Senator that when proposition sha II
como before ne for material aid 30 the trade Of
of our Atlantic cities, which shall at the same time
be bcnehcent to the whole Union-whcther that
city be Boston. or philadelphia or Baltimore or
Charleston, or New Orleons-I shall greet it with
no reluctant bearing. But in the meantime the
held OF battle lie chosen, not by ne, but by the
my IL not provincial contest for provincial OBJ
jects, but it is national one. We must meet our
adversary that field not elsewhere; and we
must meet him or surrender the whole nation
caufe wiihoCt blow.
And now pray honorable Senators TO consider
what it Is that We are invited 10 surrender II IL
no Ices than the proud commercial and political
position we have gained by two wars with Great
Britain, and by the vigorous and wcll-directed en-
terprise Of our countrymen through a period now
reaching 10 three quarters Of a century
Next, pray you 10 consider what position we
must take after that surrendcr-the position of
Mexico, # the Canadas, and oil the South Ameri-
can States. Surely there is nothing attractive in
such a change, in such descent.
coujufe you reconsider moreover that England
without waning for. and am sure without expect
ing 50 inglOrious retreat on our part 10 coinolet
ing vast web OF ocean etcam navi CATION based on
postage and commerce, that will connect all the
European porte, all our own porte, all the South
American porte, all the ports in the West Indies
all the ports Of Asia and Oceanica, with her gre At
commercial capital. Thus the world is to become
a great commercial system, ramifif by a thouss nd
nerves projecting from the ono head at London
Yet, stupcndOus as the scheme is, our own mer.
chants, conscious Of equal capacity and equal
REQUIRES, and relying on experience for succcss
ud here beseccbing us TO allow them 10 counter
act its fulhmcnt, and ask Of va facilities and
aid equal ~ those yielded by the British govern.
mcnt TO lite citizens While our commercial his
tory is full Of pressges Of successful competition
Great Britain ia sunk deep in debt We arc free
from debt. Great Britain u oppressed with ar
mice and costly aristOcratc Institutions; indus
Try among US IL Uuicticr,d and free. Bot il IL a
contest depending not on armies, nor even on
wealth, bot chiefly on invention and industry.
And how stands the national account in those re-
spoct' The cotton gin, the planning machine, steam
navigation and electrical communication These re
old achicv, ments. England only year go invited