New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-05
OCEAN STEAM NAVIGATION,
Rhe Importance Of Congress
siornai Action.
tlemorial of the New-York Chamber
Of Commerce.

crce Of the State OF New York under direction Of thS
Committee on Ocean Steam Navigation has been pre-
eented to both Houses Of Congress:
II tie HonoraJe he Senate and House Of Representatives. o.
the United Stofet Of Amciea IA Congress assembled
MAY it please your Honorable Bodies: This
memorial Of the Chamber Of Commerce Of the State
rNew York respectfully represents the imperative In
porance OF some legislation on the part OF Congress 70
tser and support the commerce Of the United States
Whatever view may have been hitherto entertained as
SO the wisdom OF special legislation to promote any
particular class of national interests tho period for es
yaon has surely passed The largo and growing DEBT
pf the United States arising from the cheerful and
willing loans Of the people in which the mercantile
GLASSES fully represented any other presents
considerations Of wholly new character Ia borrow
Eng such large sums from the nation the Government
haS med duties OF new ciass-the duty Of render
Ing that burden as light possible to the patriotic
te-le who have assumed it-6nd it will nOt certainly
De- claimed 10 be improper unwise exercise of the
ROVER granted 30 Congress by the Constitution, TO
s.regulate commerce" If some additional debt be in
CURED develop that branch of industry which the
r,erignce of all nations has shown to present the
Eeodiest and most equal method Of meeting the ex-
renses Of Government and interest its obligations
In other words, Congress will not hesitate 10 lend TO
commerce some pecunary aid, If be shown that
ruch aid viii develop tie resources and add 10 the
eslh OF the nation and at Che same tue increase the
revepue of the GOyeTmnet II is not proposed in this
,euoria to show the decline il the commerce Of the
United States since the breaking out OF tie Rebellion
combination Of causes has fortunately prevented That
serious decadence which looked for. In nothing,
perhaps have the immense of this nation been
shown so much in the maintenance Of its export line,
vi deduCting
cotton crop. Nor will more than distant anusion be
made TO the ravages which have been committed upon
American tunnage by the piratieal cruisers OF the
South nor the amount OF tunnage which has Deen
changed from American 10 foreign flags be examined
Into These are subjects Of great Importance IN them
peves which the forthcoming reports OF the Treasury
Department Commerce and Navigation for the years
ending June 80 1861 and 1863 win plainly elucidatei
end any statement OF their probable hgues would be
pnwise aud premature.
1t is believed that when those reports shall be pro
ouccd facts shown to exist will be SO striking and tAeir
paturc alarming that your honorable bodies wi" need
no hint or prompting from without 10 take proper
measures TO correct the serious and growing evils
Yet your honorable bodies wall hold in mind that the
potOTOus decay Of our unnage from the causes named
oakeS it OF increased importance 70 sdopt measures
which in the judgment OF your petitioners. would have
been necessary even had no rebellion. with It's eoAse
quent evils occurred. ..-
The hope is entertained that at the present time
while Rebel cruisers endauger the safety Of our vessels
md naturally divert from them the passenger trade and
he valuable eargOes which the principal support OF
oteam lines oceanic lines will be Immediately estab-
tshed with the aid which is sought from Govern
nent; but as the Rebellion wanes and the dawn o.
national prosperity sgain brghiens II is confidently
believed that the energy Of the people OF the United
States viii be aroused 10 the renewal OF the struggle Tor
commercial supremacy, which 1t has Tor 'le time
abandoned for duties OF more imperative and steTner
GLASS and such timely legislation Is asked Is Will
encourage the effort.
IN is proposed 10 show the eject Of ocean steam
snuncation upon the commerce Of the United states
md Great Brainher chief commercial rlyal the de-
selopment Of markets FOR domestic produce by The IN
raus increase in the commerce OF Great Britain over
our own even with the nations which are our nearest
p.ighbors and natural allies, and to point our me
methods by which lost influence may be regained
A full series Of tables accompanies the meInoIh, 10
which reference is asked and only such partial com
rsons as are necessary To throw light on TIC sutJech
o. Included in tie body Of the memorial ITSELF ,
The examination OF this subject viii necessarily en-
Brace account Of the rise and progress oil ocean
uteam navigation, and will show that the power ana
Of nafons are in this century subjected 70 new
yeasure the measure Of steam, and that the commerce
OF nations has increased or dwinded as tLey nave
pYed Of or neglected this great agent OF cYlulloA
TIE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF STEAM NAVIGATION.
CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION.
The American system of ocean steam navigation dates
For some time prior to this period efforts had been
fnlde to establish lines OF steamers with tho ala Of
ia lSiI Mr.. T. Butler King Of Georgia, at the extra
o. on made report iron. the Committee on Naval
4 iar urging the passage OF bill for the establishment
@; home squadron, which was passed. ana appended
r. WAS a resolution directing the Secretary OF the Navy
e. 4dyerse for proposals for the establishment oil lines
OF ua steamers similar Y the British INES 10 run 10
noe European ports and also for line from some OF
IL Northern Of the Southern ports OF the Cheu
Btatcs. -, ~, ,s,s che
~ cv was naugurated OF contracting for the trans
BosttiOn Of mails to foreign countries under TIE IL
Eeoon ofthe Postmaster Generals all such contracts
gce required 70 be made WIZ cltHeDs OF IAe OAt1u
stte, and the service TO DO performed by American
vessels In pursuance OF this authority the Postmaster
General advertised for proposals to carry INC a0 vi
A contract was made with Mr.. Edward Mills Of New
Fork TO run line Of steamers hom Newly OK 70
Bremen twice month, touching al Co"es' WIN TIC
privilege Of going alternately 70 Hayre the coupeAsa
bon DO s4OOOOO pei snnulni and IL to HAVE 80"
About the same period, Mr.. L. X Collins made his
crst proposition TO Il line " Liverpool twice
onth for eight months. and once for the other iou
TO- S385 900
in May, 1876, the subject again brought forward
ey Mr.. King in report from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, and In June Of the same year contract was
made for the conveyance Of the mails from New-fcrk
10 Bremen in four hrst-cass ste1MeIs q,
In june. 1886 Mr. Niles Of Connecticut introduced
INTO the Senate the following resolution; -
"Ihe Postmaster. General is hereby authorized to apply
twenty-five thousand dollars Of the money sppropIisted ior
s0 transportation for line Of mai steamers iiom We lil'eg
Date bremen, and further OF twenty i've thousand
dollars line of mail steamers from the United states
% liverpool IN England but further shall be divert
I'd to sny other objects thau the transportation o; the mail
within the United States"
1t was at this time that IL was proposed in England
10 duplicate the GUARD line, and IL thought that
the Establishment Of au American line would perhaps
arrest the project 80 little the fixed policy Of tho
Srtjsh Government understood at that period
In March, 1916 act was passed. requiring the Sec
car ~ of the Navy 70 enter into three contracts:
Frat For i've ships 10 carry mans nom Ne"f OK 10
liverpool vi. =.
New. Orleans 10 touch at Charleston, Sa'auDdA ana
Havana with branch line from HayGna 10 Chagres.
7Aird. To contract for the Transmission Of tie man
tfom Panama TO Oregon touching al the H'erhediaIe
Oins in California. GA this line three large bscAiheFs
5sere 20 be employed
This was called at the time The American System,
end the first practical and intelligent eIOrt W ala
American commerce TO hold Its own IN the rapld race
Boz tie mastery Of the and the sharp struggle Tor
HE carving trade of the world, which tho United
Btaies had undertaken with Great britain The Amer
Ioan system therefore, dates from 1876
En the enterprise OF our people was not measured by
Ehis legislation In the ali Of lo4b, the hIst Of our
soeen stesmers--the SOuthener-was launched. SIZE
vas the pioneer in series OF suecessi sna pIotaOe