The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-08-08
rFor miscellany see first page.


plscs us beyond all rivals. the FIRST
maritime power on the Globe. This
rapid advance to power is likely to be
checked. and we are in danger Of being
left in the back ground, unless new en-
ergies and new direction is given to
our enterprise. As Ocean Steamships
have increased they have been attssct-
ing the greatest portion Of the most val
u.ble goods. which constituted the best
freighp; oil Of the specie and passengers,
and latterIy they are taking al large Dor
ton Of the emigrants, thus taking from
them the best business of the old packet
lines, leaving them nothing but the heavy
and least profitable freights. 1t is man
ifest that the mode Of travel and trans
portation on the Ocean is undergoing As
great a revolution as has ibeen accom-
plished upon land; our old modern sail.
ing ships are to be cast aside like the
old stage coaches,
Englishmen, with the commercial sa-
gacity that has marked the maratime
history of their country. are preparing
to gather the advantages Of the maritime
revolution, while our countrymen are
making little effort to compete with
item. England is covering the great
highways Of commerce with her steam
ers, and an English statesman h.s re-
Gently said. that Britain wonld soon con-
vert the Atlantic into q British lake.
cover it with her steamers and subject it
to her dominion. England has already
ninety lines1 OF ocean steamers, nomi
nally mail lines. but principally self,
sustaining commercial lines. There will
be upwards Of three hun lred ocean
steamers hu;lt and launched in Great
Britain the present season. In another
year her steamships will he ten or
twelve to one Of ours. They will mo-
nopolise every passenger route in the
world, except along our own coast; and
hoying the command Of the avenues OF
travel, by such steamers as the Great
Eastern, they will soon have all that is
profitable in the carrying trade. Our
capitalists are hardly able to cope with
English concentrated wealth in building
mammoth steamers. sustained as all
their lines are by the liberal contribu-
lions Of the Government. We have the
ability to build steamships cheaper than
any other country. hut we cannot run
them cheaper, nor as cheap, as England
And unless our lines can be put upon an
equality, in the advantages Of Govern
ment support, the chances in the race o.
competition are against us. If we could
change our entire naval system. and
turn the ten or twelve millions annually
expended to support that almost useless
establishment to the encouragement O.
ships that would in peace serve the pur
poses of commerce. and in need could IN
converted into ships Of war, it would
enable us to hid defiance tn the world II
a race Of competition. We have fol
lowed too long the example Of old mon
arches, in creating and maintaining al
idle and expensive naval force. as . rep
resentative Of the power and majesty o
the country. In this Republic and il
this unitarian age. we should turn ever,
thing to positive uses and values. Their
ought to be some scheme devised to com
bine political and commercial benefit
in the expenditures and support Of tn
navy. The strength and efficiency G
the public service depend upon the ex
tent and prosperity Of our maraiim
commerce. The latter is the school an
nursery Of the former. All the revenue
of the Union could not create an
maintain a strong and efficient nav
without an extended and profitable com
mercial marine. As an indirect and i'm
portant means of supporting navy
liberal expenditures for the encourage
ment of our carrying trade would b
wise economy in the country.
The West, as q section. has . peculia
interest in the change Of the carryin
trade from sailing ships to steamers
The revolution will make our interio
ports as accessible to foreign commerc
as the present maritime cities. Tn
great emporiums of foreign commerc
may BE- transferred with all their weslt
and activity from the coast, where the
are liable to the assaults Of foreign aeet'
to the geographical centre Of the Unior
st. Louis, OF cairo, OR Memphis may b
the great importing mart Of the Grea
Valley. The West can never be greasl
benefited BY the expenditures in tn
support Of the navy. but it may have
vast interest in the great change frOI
sailing ships to a steam marine, whic
will realize Calhoun's idea that the Mis-
sissippi was great arsn # the ocean, q
much pathway OF national commerce q
any bay upon the Atlantic ocean. Tn
West should be advocates and supporter
OF steam commerce.