Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-26
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1858.
IN SENATE.

The PRESIDENT Of the Senate laid before the body
communication from the Secretary of the Navy made in
compliance with resolution of the 10th instant calling
on the Secretary lay before the Senate all the nforma
ton in relation to the establishment of line Of mail and
war steamers between the western coast of the United
States and the free ports of China which may be in his
possession; which referred to the Committee on
Naval Affairs.
TTh0 Secretary says policy, successfully directed
10 the establishment of railroad connexon between the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts would Immediately to
rs in great part both the intercourse and the trade be-
tween Europe and Asia That trade is noted for its
boundes resources and STILL for centuries past offers
the means Of the largest wealth to the nations which
cure it, In thirty years only from lI92 to 1922 the
annual average trade between Great Britain and China
alone has been estimated at $685. 449 and yielded for
thirty years the aggregate Of $40 233 422 In
the thirty following years. from 1922 to 1862 the
contributed to the of England from the trade in
the teas Of China alone has averaged yearly the
of 1888, 270-makng the enormous aggregate Of
$3.50 3ll GA
The trade Of the United States with China amounts
from sixteen to eighteen millions annually, and must
necessarily increase and the same which produce
this increase must augment trade with the continent
Of Asia and the islands Of the Pacific These consequences
are 50 apparent and inevitable that it is deemed
cessary repeat what has so often been said In relation
TO the trade here referred to.
The position Of the United States is such
ouire the active to such commercial
connection with China shall bring about interchange of
the commodities Of the two countries. In this respect
reat Britain is very far ahead of For the and
other productions Of China that country exchanges i'm
mense quantities Of opium every year, while the amount
paid by us annually China is in the precious metals
il very evident that unless productions intro
ducei that country export Of these metals must
increase at rate corresponding with increased i'm
portaon The effect of this will readily be perceived
Since the beginning Of trade with China imports
have exceeded exports than $3.50 O0 which
has been paid principally in silver
The Of opium in China has been the great cause Of
preventing the extension of commerce into that country,
while at the time many believe it has almost entirely
shut out the lights and advantages Of Christianity IT.
b. any means that Government shall employ trade
between and the Chinese shall be opened, there is
to believe that tobacco will be generally re-
ceived there substitute for this poisonous drug This
article, now abundany produced in tobaccogrow-
ing States viii then become the pioneer Of our trade and
open the way for manufactures Of cotton weoi and
particularly Of cutlery and other manufactures Of iron
in which latter articles the trade between Great britain
and China is now very large.
The numerous lines Of English mail steamers place in
the hands of Great Britain almost entire monopoly OF
the wealth Of the East and there is to suppose
that this wealth would be shared largely by US our Gov
eminent were to adopt similar policy. On the other
hand quite certain that il Pacific coast we're con-
nected with China by line Of mail steamers, we should
in very short while be repaid for any expenditure to
which should be subjected by its establishment IN the
increased intercourse and wealth would secure 70 us
The Secretary goes on TO say that the subject has
already been referred to in communications from he De-
partment and that he for withholding his
approval from much that has been said by his predeces
far from IT, the present condition Of country
and trade prove strikingy the wisdom Of their sugges
TONS and he urges and recommends the establishment Of
such line without delay.