s, in no instance, been charged that the
companies referred to have, in any way, misapplied the aid
extended to them, or given to it an improper direction. The
products of their expenditures, even admitting them to have been
greater than they might have been, show for themselves, in placing
the American steam mail service, as far as it has gone, at the
head of all others, in point of accommodation, elegance, strength,
and swiftness. Nor is this all. The establishment of these lines
is not to be regarded merely with reference to the immediate
profits arising from the system, in connection with the
transportation of the mails. Millions of money have been saved to
American citizens, which, in the absence of these ocean steam
lines, would have gone to fill foreign coffers. The Committee will
refer to one fact in illustration of the truth of this
proposition. Before the Collins line was established, the Cunard
line was receiving L7 10_s_ sterling per ton for freights; at
present (1852) the rate is about L4 sterling. By whom were these
L7 10_s_ sterling paid? By the _American consumer_, in most
instances, upon articles of _British manufacture brought to this
country by a British line_. At present the American consumer pays
but L4 sterling per ton; and, presuming that the American merchant
makes his importations in the American line, this freight is paid
to our own people and goes to swell the sum of our national
wealth. Thus, it will be seen that, formerly, the American
consumer paid _very nearly twice as much for the service_, and
enriched the British capitalist; whereas, at present, he not only
saves _one half of the former cost of freight to himself_ but, in
paying the remaining half, benefits his fellow citizen, who in
return aids in consuming perhaps the very merchandise which he has
imported.

"Under these circumstances, can any reasonable man doubt the
propriety, even in a pecuniary point of view, of sustaining the
present system, which, at its very commencement, has given such
ample proofs of its usefulness? Your Committee think not, and do
not hesitate to give it as their opinion that, _merely as a matter
of dollars and cents_, the service in question should be liberally
sustained by Congress, and will in the end make ample returns.

"But your Committee regard this prop