Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-26
THE COLLINS LINE.


THE COLLINS LINE.
X. Collins & Co. have peti,ioned Congress. to
reease them from their contract aud to take their
ships off their hands. The osteusbe cnu.e of this
surprising application, is the ncutciency Of the com.
pansation allowed by government 10 support the un.
deraking. Here ha Inquiry presents Itself, whether
Congress should appropriate ,hs peoples money to
.usain commercial enterprise OF individuals, or is
bound only TO pay fair remuneration for the public
service tho private Company But this allegation OF
inadequate compensation is only prete1t' and this
memorial 10 Congress Is simply ru,e OF the Lobby
Agency in Collins interest II is said by psreons
familiar with such affairs, ths: the present pay Of tho
Collins Compsnyis not only ten fold more than their
services TO the government, but is ample allow
ance for their support. The object Of Collins and his
agents about the Capitol in Washington, is to affect
to bc doirg ruipous business; aud this petition for
resase from his engagements Is intended to attest
the sincerity Of bis professions. We take it that as
taere men in Congress who can not be corrupted
by Collins gold, there others who can not be
deceived BY the artifce Of bic agents in the Lobby.
This il emphatically measure for the people 10
who have venured their private capital in CONNER
oal enterprise They propose to curry the mail, and
for the service claim compensation of the govern
mrnt So tar good but this is not ALL They go
farther, and demand grauity to sufficient amount
to thom against the possible losses Of accident
mad mismaIagement. Cpou wLat ground can the
Collins Steamship Company bass any such i'm
pudent request Is it The policy OF government,
it righ; and lawful in itself, TO subsidize
HI association Of spectators out Of the public treas.
ury! TO grant TO any single private corporation
monopoly Of government patronage 10 the exclusion
of every other citizen. and to the encouragement Vi
individual enterprise md wholesome competition ?
What have E. K. Collins Il Co. done TO enti!le them
to so invdious mark o, Federal favor They
carry the L. s. mail but for this service they receive
ALI ample compensation. By contract With the gov.
ernment, Mr.. Joseph K. Anderson, of this city, has
supplied certain machinery for two of the new fri
gates. And he has done his work well; but that
gives him no claim to special bounty from the trea'
sury. He is paid for the service. and government has
no right to sl!ow him All cnrua stipend which viii!
enable him 10 underseli every other person in the
same business, and to moaopolizs the market. This
ita bonus particular steamship company, govern
men, corrap;ly uauders the peoples money, gives
its favoriie monopoly in that SORT Of business ard
prevents other equally ,nerorous oitizeus from eni
barking ia 4 legitimate enterprise OF commerce.
The talk about the Collins line being TN honor 10
the country is ali ganrhon II is disgrace rather,
bccause o: the dep!orshle loss Of life which hos been
caused by its acknowledgement. In respect Of spierdor
of appearance construction and appointment, no snip
in the Collins line approaches the Persia; and in the
matter Of speed i, il cxcel!ed by the Cunarders.-
Since the establishment Of the Collins line it has lost
two ships win many precious Nvea. IN the same
time the Cunarder. have attained equal speed with
out the loss of single steamer OF single life. We
should lairT bB 6.b6n:,. Vi itia pS.:te nti"d amer
can" enterprise and abate it ns nuisance iustead
! layishng the public !reasnre in iis support.
! But, il the Collins Lin- were successful, i
would not he entitled To- rs !nrgc.s which ANNUALLY
draws from the Gioverluenf and ultimately FROM the
pockets OF the people. a. Wei: might Mr. Andstsei
claim pension and support cut Of the public funds
because he made couple ot 6rs rcte engines apiece
for the Roanoke and Colorado asd because his estso
| shnsnt is an honor 70 American enterprise. The
priucip!s ia wrong and vicious, and no sriu! apology
csn commend Il to the people.
| The Collins Line does nothing for the nation e1
cept occasorsIy co-c7 i: with mcrru:us, for the !c.
uf some OF ts beet and brgh;es. spirits II does muc.
however for the city OF New York, in consolidating il
commercial supremacy, III operating to secure to 1t
monopoly OF steam communication With Europe, an'
in rrpressing the energies Of Southern enterprise.
does more Tor the individuh! stockholders in The com
pany in filling hOir purses with ahaudsome grasuit!
out Of the Golfers Of Government.
II ia impudent to the ast degree in E. K. Collins
& Co. to come before Congress with this petition
They have complied with none Of the material con
di,ons Of their contract They were TO build ship
suitable for war purposes; yet it il notorious tina
any ladys boudoir Ia ut for fortress, as tho "Bal
tic" or "Atlantio i. for the servce Of chip Of war
A.ain: L. h. Collins (; Co. engaged to put five
s,eancrs on the lnei bnt they have never run more
t! an three al once and they un~ have bat two II
service. How dare they complain Of unfair treat
ment on the part Of the government, when they are
themselves 30 false to their ob!isations'
AZ for the allegation that it's presen; pay Is not suf
dcieu; 10 support the Collin. line, (which, as we have
said, il no business Of The Soyernment two notorious
facts coucusiv"y expose its absurdy. F!st-
other steamship .ines for example, that from
Philadelphia to Great Britain, contriye 10 support
themselves by the profile of Legitimate trade and
without any stipend from overnment. Serondly-s
gentleman Of perfectly responsible character, MIR.
Vanderbilt, not only willing but anxious to run
line OF steamers from New York TO Liverpool merely
for reasonable compensation for carrying the mail
After this, eau T.. *. Collins & Co. still claim their
exclusive aud exorbtant sraaty from government
We entrsat Congress 10 grant the prayer of MIR. E.
X Coins petition so tar at least 10 annul hs con-
tract with the government. To pay him fabulous
price for his slips, for which government has no use
is quite another thing.