REPORT
OF THE
NAVAL COMMITTEE
TO THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
August, 1850,
IN FAVOR OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LINE OF
MAIL STEAMSHIPS
TO
THE WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA,
AND THENCE VIA THE
MEDITERRANEAN TO LONDON;
DESIGNED
TO PROMOTE THE EMIGRATION OF FREE PERSONS OF COLOR
FROM THE UNITED STATES TO LIBERIA:
ALSO
TO INCREASE THE STEAM NAVY,
AND
TO EXTEND THE COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES.
WITH
AN APPENDIX
ADDED BY THE
AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY.
WASHINGTON:
PRINTED BY GIDEON AND CO.
1850.
The memorial of Judge Bryan was referredto the Committee on Naval Affairs, composedof Representatives from the following States:
The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom wasreferred the memorial of Joseph Bryan, of Alabama,for himself and his associates, GeorgeNicholas Sanders and others, praying the establishmentof a line of steamers from the UnitedStates to the coast of Africa, designed to promotethe colonization of free persons of color, to suppressthe African slave trade, to carry the mails,and to extend the commerce of the United States,beg leave to submit the following Report:
The proposition of the memorial involves an extensionof that system, recently commenced byCongress, which has for its object the creation of apowerful steam navy, to be used in time of peacein carrying the mails, and in effecting great publicobjects, not to be attained by private enterprisewithout the aid of Congress. How far it may bedesirable to extend this system will depend uponthe double consideration of the present condition ofour naval force, and the importance and feasibilityof the ends to be accomplished by the measure.As to the first of these, the committee will presenta brief statement of the facts material to a correctunderstanding of the comparative extent of our presentsteam navy.
In the report of Mr. Secretary Bancroft, madeto the Senate on the 2d March, 1846, the totaleffective steam navy of Great Britain was stated, atthat time, to consist of one hundred and ninety-ninevessels, of all classes; that of France numberedfifty-four; that of Russia, without the Caspian fleet,thirty-two; while the steam navy of the UnitedStates could boast of but six small vessels, and onein process of building; and of these one was forharbor defence, and another a steam-tug.
Since that time, however, Congress has providedfor the building of four war