New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-05

We call tho attention of our readers to the
memorial Of the Chamber of Commerce OF New
York to Congress on the subject OF ocean
Steam Navigation which we print to day. from
a digest prepared for our columns by Its compl-
or. the Secretary of the Chamber.
We see By Tie Washington Globe of the I'd
inst. that this important paper was submitted
to the House of Representatives on the l?th
ult. BY the Hon. Henry G. Stebbhs, and re-
ferred to the Committee of Commerce under the
rules.
The subject of which this memorial treats il
one Of the most important that can occupy the
attention of our Legislators or OF our people.
II involves the grave question of our maritime
supremacy-pcghaps Of our existence as a mari
time nation. Steam is gradually taking the
,i.o. Of all other motors, and will ultimately
assume to itself the carrying trade of tho ocean
as entirely as it has already mopopolIed the
carriage of freight and passengers between dis
tant points on land. The question il, there
fore, simply whether We shall abandon the
ocean TO our commercial rivals and pay trib-
ute to their prosperity by the employment OF
their tunnage, or whether we shall seriously
undertake the extension Of our steam tunnage.
Its melancholy fact, which should cause
the cheek Of every New-YOrk merchant TO blush
with shame, that the United States has not even
a single steamer on the Atlantic Ocean, while
"a frst-class steamers, Of o tunnage ranging
from | 500 to 4 900 tuns EACH and Of q total
tunnage Of over 100, 900 tuns, enjoy the profits
of the freight and passenger trade of the Atlantic
Last year 40 arrivals of steamers landed at this
port 63,93l passengers from European ports.
Even the famous Adriatic, the marvel of naval
architecture and the boast Of American mechan-
ical art, has been sold to foreign owner, and
crosses the ocean under a foreign flag.
These reflections are not agreeable, and the
inquiry at once arises as to the cause. II is to
be found in the fact that the foreign lines have
grown up under eagacious policy of govern
ment subsidies, by which theyhave been created
and steadily sustained.
The advantages to the United States Of main
tanning its flag in every port and on every sea
are not to be measured by dollars and cents
alone. Our steamers should carry to every ma
ton the glad tidings Of our institutions and Of
our prosperity, and bear their own witness to
our commercial grandeur.
Great national interests are also involved
in the establishment Of rapid and con-
slant steam communication with our
American neighbors. The European Gov
erDments are all seeking to establish their inhu-
ence and their policy on this continent. The fall
of Mexico to-day may be that of Brazil to-mor
row. PreteIts will not be wanting to the
INSCRIPTIONS ambition of European rulers. The
great struggle of the world is in the future, and
will be continental in character.
To prepare for this possible contest and to
SECURE its favorable result, we must increase our
influence with future allies. Natives Of Amer
lea must not be found with O divided front.
We need constant steam communication with
them all. We must establish that propinquity
which the efforts of European policy have de-
Stroyed. We must not permit the foreigner by
the exclusive use Of steam to neutralizc our id
vantage,
A line to Point Isabel will restore our COM
mercial relations with Mexico, and when peace
is restored, prove the initial movement in &C.
rieS of enterprises which will connect tho Allan
tic cities with the west coast of Mexico.
A line to Rio with branches to other important
points will develop the influence of the United
States in that important section. Markets now
closed will be reopened TO our commerce. Our
manufacturers now almost unknown will DO
sought after with avidty, and more crcditable
balance Of tsado DO established. The anomaly