Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-03-11

various ways, and particularly IN the pc
titions which have been prelented from
different parts of the country, during the
prefent felton, of Congrefs Ii is repre-
tented in iome Of thofc petitions, that for
eigners are now our exporters and impor-
tiers that infead of being the carriers,
as heretofore, Of other nations, we are
not now the carriers even of our own
| produce. lhat while American fhips
are condemned to lay at the wharves, 4
ncasy TX to their owners, and daily 60
ling to ruin, the hag Of heir rivals rides
triumphant in our harbors, aad they arg
taking from our own merchants that
trade which once afforded The means of
their livelihood and PROPERTY 10 the
truth of the exlitencc Of fuch (cenes and
iuch futfcrings, can add the weight of
ny own teitimony from my perional 90
| iervation.
But fhould Congrefs, or any member
Of that honorable body, be diipofel, 70
lhut their eyes and aop their ears TO the
complaints and fufFtriogs Of any fe6tion
of this country, which is not to be pre-
fumed, they are called upon to regard
them from motives addreiied 70 the IN
tereits of the government-from regard
TO the revenue which fpfings principally
from foreign commerce, and which mutt
be ea1n5ially affected by the deitru6tion
Of our navigation They are reminded of
the importance Of cherlihing our naviga
ton, as the great nurfrry Of our feamen,
who are TO man our navy, which is the
furcf means of our mara.ine defence,
aud who during the late CONTEXT ihed f.
much glory an the American name.
While every one muR be convinced o.
the exhtence Of thele evils, they cannot
70 readily fefpond 70 the inquiry, what is
the remedy The committee ct foreign
relations no are charged with the fub
ie6f, have fubmitted their plan, which is
prohibition Of trade with ports and pla-
crs from which United states vefcls are
excluded for which ihull give my
vote.
But, Mr. Chairman, we are told, that
when new and important meAiure is TO
be adopted, ((uch as the Prscine0 its
friends are bound to thew that il will
produce the deGred effect. This, truit,
has been done in part at leaf, by thoie
who have proceeded me in debate, and
to others who may follow, more CONVEX
FAINT with the queition, and more compe
tent to dilcufa it, leave the talk of fin.
Thing it.
cannot however forbear, while am
up, from fuggefting few remarks, which
occur TO me, and which, if not perfect
ly satisfactory, may furniih hints which
may be ufeful in the progreis OF the pref
ent dfcuilion.
Mr. Chairman, the value of merchan-
dife, the produce and manufacture OF the
United States exported 10 the Brltiih
Wet Indies and their adjacent American
colonies in 1916 is Gated in an official
document at d. 5000 900. Now # the
comic queDce of the mcclure propoied to
be adopted, fhould be total lois of z
market FOR 70 large portion OF furplu:
produce, and the queition was diitinctly
ltated TO any honorable member of this
committee, whether, under an impreiilon
of fuch an efe4, he was in favor Of it /!
the ready anfwer of each would be, no.
But, fir, will that be the confeqaence ?
MY anlwer IS, think not.
The articles which we furniih are
principally lumber and bread tufts
II believe fome naval flores and live
itock.
Can the Britiih colonies obtain thefe
articles from any other iource on as good
terms believe no one will prstenc
they can. With all ,he fupplies, which
may be obtained from Quebec, derived
through Vermont, Newly ork and Cana
da, md The fmali fupplies Of lumber from
Nova Scotia and n Brunfwick, ltil! there
will remain a great deficiency II this
is not the cafe. how happens il that Gnoe
the peace, Brinlh vefels, in d,6a &C Of
The exiting heavy tonnage duties, have
crowded our eaaern ports tor lumber
/ concIude Therefore, if the prohibito
nv bill pafes We flall Gill find a marke'
cor cur furplus prodvce. II mutt e.
where il is needed directly or circui ouf-
lly such mealure will probably induce