The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-25

becoming PRIDE that i am able to say,
from my own knowledge and experience, that they
are all far behind American steamers in swftness and
good management; and large majority OF those
now sailing out Of the port Of New York would take
rank of those navigating the Mediterranean.
The whole Of this subject Ia no new thing with me
nor Is 1t new to our government. AS long ago as
ls4s, while still in the Consulate of Morocco,
placed my views, similar in substance to these now
laid before you, in the hands of the executive OF
the United States, and have not ceased to urge
them at every proper opportunity upon the depart
mcnt to which my papers were naturally consigned
The government, much to my regret has not yet
acted up0u my suggestions. We may invent
discover, but we do not seem destined to lead the
age in great mercantile enterprises; and most espe
ciay does our government appear determined not to
lend its aid to any great extent to these enterprises
that would surely build up its naval marine at small
cost, and place It upon footing Of such power and
effect to enable 1t to mate itself with any other in
the world. Yet, sincerely, trust that may he de-
ceiyed in the appearances Of this delay, and find
take part IN the progress Of the age and seize upon
some OF the mercantile advantages that are con-
stantly turning up, but as often turned away from
our embraces, merely because our government looks
coldy on, and stocay refuses to lend its fostering
encouragement to individual effort.
Sec. now, how precisely this statement tallies
with the anticipated occurrences of the day. No
sooner was it promulgated that American citizens
were seeking aid from the American government
establish line Of steamers to run upon the coast
of Africa than the same project Is seized upon by
feet Now, ] am not sorry for this. We have been
anticipated it is true, and the honor of being first
practically in the field is borne off by competi
tors; but ia the field entirely preoccupied by Eng
ish enterprise? By no means. There is an entire
continent Of over one hundred millions Of people
for customers and consumers, and neither the three
British steamers spoken Of, nor thirty, nor three
hundred, can exhaust the trade or satisfy the de-
ample is again set by the British government OF
giving ample pecuniary encouragement to these
ships, which we may safely predict will be more
than remunerated by the carrying of the British
mails, and more than quadrupled by the imposts
upon merchandise. IL is, therefore, not an act of
absolute generosity but triting loan upon the
curity Of undoubted returns. ! would not think Of
asking from my own government more liberal aid
the proprietors Of the English line. We
also have an advantage ~. in r the establish
ers do not, nor they by any possibility, preoc-
cupy our ground, they save us from encountering
the drawbacks usually attendant upon first expert
ment, and, in fact open way for US III surer sue
the British commerce in that quarter south of the
equator for the year 1S49 They stated to be at
seven millions of dollars for the British merchandise
alone landed upon that part of the coast of Africa
and then sold or exchanged for eight millions of dol
lars worth Of the most valuable and s0leabe produc-
tons of the country This Is exclusive of the trade
with the north and northwestern coasts, which alto
geher amount to at least thirty millions OF dollars
While the British government or its custom houses
acknowledge these enormous sums as the results of
their trade you may rest assured that double these
amounts should be given for the illicit traffic GER
tany carried in every quarter to which their ships
have access. do not guess at this matter; have
seen it with my own eyes; and with this occular
conviction am sure that the half is not told. Sue
cessful they may be, however the British cannot
compete with US in the main objects of proposed
line Of African steamers the carrying and transplant
ing of free colored population, the mail service,
and the transportation Of American produce and
manufactures. That they have had the lions share
Of the general trade is true, and it is equally true
that the fault is At the time Of the suppress
sion of the pratical ornaments Of the Barbary
powers, say in the year 1915, the mercantile marine
OF all nations had an equal chance to engage in the
trade of Africa. Our vessels were the pioneers,
but regret to say we did not follow up our advan
tages, aud England France, and other European
nations stepped in. Although they did lot supplant
us, they maintained constant and an increasing
activity, which finally resulted in the employment
Of hundred European vessels to our one, or two
three will be shown by the arrivals and depart
ures, and the general statistics of African trade.
THOMAS NJ CARR.