ng our steam navy--some are in favor of the Government's
building its own steam-ships, and others advocate the
encouragement of lines of steam-packets, to be established by
private enterprise under the auspices of Government....

"The considerations, however, which in our opinion should commend
this measure to the favorable attention of Congress are so
obvious, and have been so clearly and strongly presented in the
report of the committee, that we need not here repeat them. If
the voice of the press, of all sections and of all parties, be
any indication of popular opinion, we are free to say, that it
would be difficult for Congress to pass a measure which would be
received with more _general_ satisfaction by the people of the
United States."[22]

"AFRICAN STEAM-LINES.--The entertainment by the Government of
Great Britain of a project for the establishment of a powerful
line of steam-vessels between that country and the African coast,
ostensibly for the conveyance of a monthly mail, and the more
effectual checking of the slave-traffic, is strong proof, we
think, of the value that the commerce between the two countries
is capable of becoming. It may, in addition, be regarded as
corroborative of the justness of the position taken by the
advocates of a mail-steamer line between this country and Africa.
We are by no means disposed to look invidiously on the
enterprising spirit exhibited abroad for securing a closer
connection with a country, the great mercantile wealth of which
is yet, comparatively speaking, untouched. This spirit should
have on us no other than a stimulating effect. Besides, for
years, if not ages, to come, the trade with Africa can admit of
no very close competition. The promised vastness of this trade,
whilst excluding all idea of monopoly, must continue to excite
the new enterprise by its unlimited rewards. It is unnecessary
that we should exhibit statistics to show her how largely England
has been benefited by persevering though frequently interrupted
communication with the interior parts of that great continent;
nor to make plain how, with better knowledge and more ready means
of access, mercantile risks will be lessened and mercantile
profits enlarged. It will be remembered that the Congressional
committee to whom th