to favorable consideration. It is due to the States of the confederacy to diffuse as far as practicable, without public injury, the benefits resulting from the operations of the Federal Government. The States of Pennsylvania and Virginia, at their own cost, have constructed expensive improvements, which bring to the seaboard the staples of foreign commerce in great quantity and value; and it is not unreasonable that they should desire to participate in those arrangements which secure a direct communication with foreign markets.
The acquisition of California presents facilities for trade and intercourse with China which ought not to be neglected. It is believed that steamers can regularly make the voyage from the Bay of San Francisco to China in twenty days: and by the circuitous route over the Isthmus now necessarily used, communication is maintained between the Western coast and our Atlantic cities in little more than thirty days. Thus the establishment of a line of steamers on the Pacific, would place New- York within less than sixty days of Macao. The trade with China in sailing vessels, which go around the cape, now labors under a great disadvantage in the length of time required for the voyage. It may be assumed that an average of ten months is required to make the return; and the voyage from Europe to China and back, may be considered as occupying an average of full twelve months. With the facilities now existing, and with the addition of the Pacific line proposed by the memorialists, the communication between Liverpool and China would be reduced to sixty days, and the return of an adventure from London to China might be received by the way of the United States in less than five months, less than half the time now required.
The commerce of India has always enriched the nation enjoying it. The exports of China have so much value in proportion to their bulk, that they can well afford to bear the cost of steam transportation. With all the advantages which will be possessed by a line of six steamers of enormous capability for freight, wearing the flag of the United States, commanded by officers of the navy, making their trips with regularity, and much more speedily than on other routes, it is certain that the rich stream of Eastern Commerce would flow into the United States; that new markets would be opened among the dense population of the East, for our varied productions; and that a great increase of public revenue would result from increased importations; and if goods imported be not entered, but warehoused, a vast advantage would follow to our commercial and shipping interests. Shippers of goods, to be warehoused and sent to a more favorable market, would necessarily draw on their consignees, and the additional great commercial advantage of exchange would thus be secured to our merchants.
The competitors for the China trade are the British and American merchants. The commerce of the United States with China, has been steadily increasing, and it can scarcely be doubted that the contemplated facility of communication by steam will give to our enterprising countrymen, advantages which cannot be countervailed by those of any European nation.
One of the greatest and most important effects of the concentration of
