The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-30

Claims, would euoctually defeat any attempt at
O remedy through the instrumentality of Con-
gress
Th< Collins ss<amships-Jsstace Where jus
l. sscs n Due.
Three Of our best steamships-three ships of
which Captain McKinnon. of the British navy,
wrote, "they are, beyond any competition, the
hnest, the fastest and the best sea boats In the
werld"-are now lying tied up at our docks,
useless 10 ourselves and TO the world.
IL Is not pleasing task to examine into the
causes which have led to this Notifying result,
and much lees Is II 10 to confess the truth in re-
lation to them when they are discovered. But
the only way to find q remedy for evil is to
probe il to the bottom, aud then tell the whole
truth. We must, therefore, state that the real
causes Of this apparent failure on our part To
carry the palm in ocean steam navigation, leav-
ing IL without competition to British ships, are
to be found in the supineness, the battling delay
and the want Of cooperation that exist In the
several branches Of our federal government at
Washington. IL q measure Of undoubted public
benefit happens to pass the ordeal Of Congress
sioDal action, some technical objection is found
in the departments. or trammels exist TO pre-.
vent the executive action, or some sectional or
rival interest brings political influence to bear
against its completion by the officers whose duty
II Il to carry IL out: opposition and delay be-
fore IL becomes law-delay and doubt after
wards In its execution.
This has been the case In an eminent degree
In regard TO the public support extended to
these magnificent steamships The sanction by
Congress Of the bill granting the Post Office
subsidy was opposed by every little Squsm,
Patchogue and Egg Harbor interest In the coun-
try, because there was not q Collins line Of
steamers running to each of their fats. After
the great interests Of the country recognized
the fact that somebody must do the work re-
quired for the good Of all, and Congress had
sanctioned the appropriation, the pettifogging
administration Of poor Pierce found pretence for
Withholding large portion Of the money earn
preparation was retained in the plethoric money
vaults Of the government Upon q subsequent
examination by Attorney General Black, of the
reasons assigned for this course, they were found
TO be groundless, and he recommended the pay
ment Of the money. The President, however,
with punctilious courtesy for the acts Of his
predecessor, 10 which we do not think the latter
entitled, believes II incumbent on him not to
pass SO severe . censure upon the late admins
tration ~ total ignoring Of their sense Of right
In this matter by the payment Of the claim
would imply, and the result In that the Collins
line is still kept out Of what Ia justly due IL; and
this In added 10 the other reasons fonnd In the
course pursued at Washington for tying those
steamers up In idleness at their docks
We are glad TO see that some of these are In
fair way Of removal The House has passed
the Appropriation bill for the ocean mail ser
vice, and we trust II IL In no danger from the
Senate. II In addition TO the certainty Of future
assistance afforded by this bill, further act Of
justice were done 10 this noble line. by the pay.
ment Of their past dues, VIC have reason TO be-
lieve that we should soon see them again upon
the ocean doing good service 10 the commerce
Of the country and to our national fame a.
builders Of swim messengers upon the sca
Whatever may be urged against the Collins line
Of steamships, II should never be forgotten that
II has shortened the passage between Europe
and America from thirteen 10 ten days; that II
has revolutionized the old system Of modelling
vessels; and that above all, II has broken In
upon the old bureaucratic pokish system Of our
naval constructors, and given 10 the navy the
finest shipnths NiagMa-hat ever hoated-
If these acts Of justice are done 10 the Col.
Inns line, It viii probably soon be Aaosi again.
and these dne ships at once placed on the
route from New York 10 Southampton.
This, and not Liverpool, Ii the true
point Of Eastern departure for line Of pas~en-
ger and mail ships between this country and
Europe. Why the traffic Of the Continent
should be forced TO 20 10 London and then 10
Liverpool on it, way 10 this country We could
never see, except II be that II should pay ri-
butte 10 England. Southampton IL the true port
for our intercourse with Europe, being much
better located in relation 10 the several capitals
Of the Old World, aud 10 the requirements Of
safe ocean navigation than any other. Should
II unfortunately happen that our hopes OF Just
action at Washington are defeated the owners
Of these ships will find themselves compelled.
however much against their inclination, TO &C
cept the offer made to them by France for the pur
chase Of them We hope that both Congress and
the executive branches Of the government will
see this subject in its true light, and do justice
where justice Is due
VRruoUs ISDroSArIoS-The Chevalier Webb |