Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-06-11
From the Richmond South.
Ocean Mail Steamer Subsidies.

The Bill introduced by Senator Clingman few days
SINCE if passed. is calculated to produce salutary
form in mail carrying Its aim is to terminate
not only in this but in other countries, far their
intercourse with is concerned the system of govern
mental subsidies to steamers 1t provides that Amer
vessels shall be entitled to all the pOstages which
they may earn according to established rates. and
half of the United States inland postages the closed
mails, which they may convey, destined for foreign
tries. 1t further provides that after the 30h day Of
june 1861 discriminating rate of postage of one hun
dred per cent shall be exacted upon all mail matter
red to this country by foreign vessels which in the
enjoyment of mail subsidies. This provision has been
fercely attacked by several of the Northern journals
upon the ground that it would provoke retaliation
Such apprehension is entirely groundless. There is
deep socitude in Great Britain to the Government
of that realm relieved of the amount which it
is paying, in the way of subsidies to steamers In an
editorial published as far back September, 1886 in
the London Times, it was remarked " AS soon as our
present contracts expire we must have no more of foster
ing and nursing line for the benefit of anybody, of
any company or nation.
If the Government of this country acts in accordance
with the wishes of the great bulk Of the mercantile
mulity, we shall have of subsidized lines be-
tween England and America when we have once salts
fed engagements with the Cunard Company in ev-
cry particular 1t is enormous that the British
public annually pays for these postal contracts 1t is
not as generally known it should be that pay
something like 98OOOOO ($4,OOO,OOO) to the various
that very considerable portion of this is rttered away
for the service of the West Indies.
1t will be far preferable if hereafter the PostOce
thores dismiss from their system idea which belongs
to the days when bountes given fisheries, on
exports, and we know not what.
It is high time that there should be eade in carry
ing letters as in all else"
In the cause which he has so judiciously espoused
Senator Clingman will find powerfuEay in the Times,
as is shown in the preceding quotation The liberal
sentiment of England is doubtless with him, the lib
eral sentiment of this country assuredy is The steam
ship bounes, the fishery bountes, the monopoly in the
shpbuildng and coastwse navigation, all work in the
same team their utter abandonment by this Govern
ment cannot be too speedily effected We believe that
Senator Clingman has sounded the death-kne to the
former as Senator Clay has to the fisheries while the
able report Of Mr. Boyce shows concusvey that Incl
dental protection has been mistake from the beginning
Let be done with the whole protective system Our
example will not be lost the rest of the world The
old homey adage that competition is the life of busi
ness" has never been nor be- ruthuy contro-
verted.
Perhaps no greater abuses have ever grown out of
any public system than that of subsidies to mail steam
ers 1t has been nationally demoraizng, from the day
that the first bill was introduced for appropriation to
the Collins lne and to extent which cannot be prop
ery calculated. Pending fat subsidies have been too
auring for elastic conscences and the South has had
to submit to the consequent taxation But there must
be no new contracts entered into. All existing ones
will expire in year or So