The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-23 00:00:00

STATISTICS OF AMERICAN COMMERCE
AND NAVIGATION.

From the report .;itheiTureau of Statistics at Washing-
ton, just published, we learn that for the 11 months end-
ing May 31, 1870, the exports to foreign countries
amounted in value to 385,940,711 dols., and the foreign
imports to 421,935,617 dole. Of the imports there were
exported again 27,769,377 dols. In the exports there is in-
cluded specie to the amount of 38,194,999 dols. This is not
a very satisfactory exhibit. The balance of imports
over exports, including the export of specie and
bullion, was largely against us, even after reckoning
the 27,769,377 dols. of exports of foreign goods. Still this
was an improvement over the corresponding period of
1869, the year before. The imports for that period in
1869 amounted to 397,660,918 dols., and the exports to
290,348,991. So we see that not only has the
foreign trade increased in 1870, but our domestic
exports were much larger, and approached nearer
to the imports. This is healthy progress,
though the balance is still against us. This balance has
been paid by our national securities exported to Europe.
Among the commodities exported raw cotton swells up to
an enormous figure. The value for the eleven months
ending May 31, 1870, in specie, was 215,498,206 dols.
This amounted to nearly three-fifths of our entire
exports. Breadstuffs come next, which amounted to
66,071,136 dole ; provisions to 26,971,595 dols ; petroleum
oil to 28,099,939 dols ; and gold and silver to
38,194,999 dols. A large proportion of the balance of
trade against us arises from the carrying trade being
in the hands of foreigners. Out of 8,270,689 tons of
, shipping that were entered, 5,156,861 were foreign and
only 3,113,828 were American. The foreign and American
tonnage cleared was nearly in the same proportion.
The largest item of imports was that of sugar and mo-
lasses. The amount was 60,087,100 dols. This ought to
convince our Government of the importance of acquiring
the rich sugar producing countries of the West Indies on
our border. IVe could not only become independent of
the rest of the world for sugar, but could have a mono-
poly of this commodity for export as we now have of
cotton. .
Not less important, or more important just
now, is it to increase our shipping and to get a larger
share of the profits of the carrying trade. No more
favourable opportunity could have occurred to do this
than that afforded by the war in Europe. There is a large
fleet of splendid steamships besides sailing vessels ready
to be transferred to American ownership and under the
American flag if our absurd and runious registry and
navigation laws were abolished or suspended.
It is hardly possible to calculate the amount
of tonnage that would be added to our mer-
cantile marine, especially if the war should
spread or continue long in Europe. There would be,
undoubtedly, a rapid and large increase of tonnage. The
President saw this when the news came from Europe, and
wisely urged Congress to suspend the registry and naviga-
tion laws. But that body had not the sense or patriotism
to act upon his recommendation. Though some time has
been lost, it is not too late now to seize the advantage
offered to build up our depressed shipping interests, and
to largely increase our tonnage. We advise the President,
therefore, to call without delay an extra session of Congress
for the purpose of considering our shipping and mercantile
interests in this crisis.—New York Herald.