The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-30

would not prevail II was eKpedient proper and
say for the interest Of the country that these contracts
be abalished.
Mr. WAsRp6r, (dem.) of n. Y, said the British 60
vernment, through the Cunard line had the uninter
ruped carrying Of the mails from 1887 70 l84e-a period
o. twelve years-and paid into the exchequer Of Grea,
Britain six millions of dollars and received for their own
services two millions additional. Great Britain refused
TO enter into postal treaty with this country for the
whole termtwelye years-unt the keel Of the Atlantic
one OF the Collins line, was Laid when postal treaty
made upon the following basis First That either ns.
ton has the power to abrogate the treaty upon giving
six months notice Second, That the withdrawal Of
either line annus the treaty Third That the United
States mail shall receive Ave twenty fourhs Of tho post.
age On letters brought by the Cunard steamer Fourth
That Great Britain should receive eight twenty
OF the postage accruing in the Collins line-the sd
vantage being with u.s. since the Cnnard line performs
double the number Of trips Of the Collins line.
The postage Of 1852 1851 increased twenty per
cent in the Collins line and 1853 over 1862 hy and
onesx'h per cent At this rate or increase after this
year. the postage would pay the full amount Of the year
ly appropriation The postage BY the Cunard line ha
Increased twenty nine por cent The withdrawal Of the
Collins line viii throw the whole amount of postage,
both ways into the Golfers of Great Britain The clause
in the deficiency bill Of 1852 in the form of contract
not be given at this time That expressly declares
follows: Crowded that it shall be in the power
OF Congress, after the 3ist day of December
1854, to rescnd this extra compensation giving
six months notice" The Postmaster General
was authorized at the last session of Congress adver
tse for proposals for carrying all the mails all the
routes now in existence and to Lay such bids before Con-
In compliance with such instructions the Postmas
ter General did advertise and receive bids all lines and
routes except for carrying mails between New York and
Liverpool that by increasing the compensa ton the Collins
line have averaged each way days increased speed
in order to make this speed the expenses have necessarily
increased In the same ratio The running expenses of
eighteen ftytwo, fftythree, and atty -four, have in
creased the taxes ten thousand dollars voyage while
the increased pay under extra compensation is
but thirteen thousand dollars per voyage out and
back, or in twenty.six voyages hundred and
thirty thousand dollars per annum The original invest
ment to perform this service and maintain successful
competition, may be estimated at three millions of dol
lars. The insurance. at six per cent, is hundred
thousand dollars the interest the capital at the
per cent, hundred and eighty thousand dollars
The deterioration in value ID not less than seven per
cent-two hundred and ten thousand doArs-making
aggregate Of Eve hundred and seventy thousand DOL
lars without single dollar for the expense Of running
The struggle between the Collins and Cunard hines has
goyernmsnts-of Great Britain and the United ststes
for the maritime ascendancy of the world The ocean
has been the theatre greatest t1umphs One
of her favorte bards had said " Her march is DER the
mountain wave her home is the Deep" It is true
navy had galant indicated their ability to copse with
Great Britain during the Of 1872 but had
begun for peace hath her victories less renowned
than those Of war; and the arena, the highway
of commerce. was to be the future which com
mercal nations should struggle for the supremacy Of
the globe American individual enterprise boldly entered
the contest with Great Britain and the greatest mari
time triumph record reserved for the immortal
genius Of Fulton backed by the ndomitabe energy Of
Collins. That contest is not Thus far have
been victorious, and the gallant Atlantic, having
outrode the storms Of her namesake, has brought
the two countries togcther than they have
ever been brought before This contest between
these rival lines loses its individuality, and becomes
national therefore believe the American people will
sanction the Aid of the federal government in struggle
that has advanced their honor and contributed to their
in every quarter of the globe ask ii not for
the city of New York; ask 1t for the homer and the
glory of the whole republic.
Mr.. MACE (dem.) Of Ind moved to strike out the sp
preparation. Notion disgreed to.
Mr.. CrISGxAS (dem.), of N. c., offered amendment
that the President shall endeavor by treaty other
wise, TO induce the British government TO abandon in
similar manner, the subsidy raid to the CunArd ne in
which the Postmaster General is nstru to take
the necessary steps to get rid Of all existing contracts
for the transportation Of the mails in steamers
He believed the British government could be induced
with ourselves to abandon the system The vessels of
both the Cunard and the Collins line had been asceraned
to be unfit for war purposes
Mr. Auks (dem.), Of H., opposed this amendment,
au1 In favn of
tracts, alleging they have been violated.
Mr. McQuuU (dem), OF 8. c., likewise condemned Civ
ing bounty to Collins taking ground similar to that Of
Nr. Allen.
MrEWHKMM, (dem.) Of N. Y, expressed his astonish
ment ct the attacks made this line and replied at
some length y them BY array Of facts and figures.
The honor Of the country, he insisted is involved in
maintaining this Collins line the proprf OF which has
done to give scla to supremacy the seas,
to swift voyages than any other man living The con.
tract has not been violated The vessels suitable for
any emergency and are strong as any that can be
built they not in all respects equal to what the
law required, 1t certainly singular they we're accept
ed BY the proper department.
A long debate then ensued as to the merits Of the
steamers and continuance Of the contracts, during
which Mr. Stanton of Tennessee said he had been in
formed by Commodore Perry that better and stronger
vessels do not Aoat.
Mr.. JoSW (dem. Of Tenn, said this was very in.
teresting debate, but Ike al other things 1t must
. termination. Therefore he moved the committee rise
with the view Of dispensing with the Eve minutes DE-
bate. Disagreed to.
Mr. MACE moved an amendment (which rejected, to
strike from the service every one OF the mail steamers
Mr.. OIps was opposed to all amendments except his
The bill makes the appropriation for the year end
ing June 3oh 1856 they therefore would have time to
give the six months notice the 2o OF December next
Mr.. Gocps (dem), Of Va, regarded this mail steamer
sytem wrong and rotten and he opposed to rails
ing million and half dollars annually from the people,
TO divide among the favorites Of government TO support
splendid mall vessels, not steamers.
Mr.. DsNr (dem), Of Ohio, said this mail steam ques
ton has been here for years. and tho arguments sub
mitted to-day he had heard he was going to say almost
thousand times BY the old members No new light has
been she'd the subject therefore, he appealed TO gen
N c4e hal