The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-06-23

States, between them and the English colops.
well as between these colonies and Fnsls1sS
| English voyages are thus made on the three sss.
ofthe triangle, while those Of the United stats.
are confined to one side oft, that betweeplba
United States and England.
But the money value Of this great portion ofon.
navigation, claimed and hitherto enjoyed by Fne.
land, although an object that deserves the pnbIc
protection, is not the most important view in which
the same should be considered by the Senate
We must learn wisdom from past times and whi,s
the experience of he father is too often lost on the
son, this ought not to be the case in the affairs ~
nations, which living from age to age, and profit
ing by long experience should become wiseras
they grow older. The present condition ma
tons, and especially that Of the inhabitants ofou,
own continent merit our watchful attention, anu
admonish us 10 cherish our national resources
and seasonably to devise, and perseveringly to
build up, those establishments, that our present
safety demands, and which may be commensu-
rate with our future destiny.
Justice and moderation, which, we confidently
hope, may preside over and guide our public
councils, have not been found to be sufficient
armour for the defence of nations. " Wisdom,
in the ancient mythology, was represented as
armed, because experience had proved, that good
examples and noble precspts fail of their efficacy.
unaccomPanied by power to enforce them
To defend ourselves, our houses our harbors,
and our commerce, from foreign aggression and
violence, navy is acknowledged to be necessa-
ry. From the land side we are safe against dan
gers from the ocean, navy viii prove to be our
cheap, our sure, and most efficient defence.
Although subject Of doubt heretofore, this
truth is now so we'll understood, and so univer-
sally admitted that il would be to mis-spend the
time of the Senate to enter into its develope-
ment
An efficient navy never has existed and can
not exist, without commercial marine ; and the
maratime history Of Europe, which abounds with
instruction on this subject, demonstrates this po-
litical truth, that the naval power of every ma
ton is in proportion to its commercial shipping.
Money may build ships, but the navigation ofthe
great ocean only can make seamen and it is in
connexion with this view of the subject, that the
exclusion Of our shipping and seamen from the
navigation, between the United States and the
colonies of England, derives its chief impor-
lance.
The prosperity and safety Of nations are pro
noted and established, by institutions early and
wisely adapted ~ these ends. navy being
snch an Institution, and our experience having
proved its Importance, it has become the duty Of
Congress to adopt and to enforce those regula-
tons that necessary TO Its efficient establish
ment. None more eficacious can be devised,
than such encourage and increase the ship
ping and the, mariners ofthe country, and, for
this purpose, exclude those Of foreign power
from principal branch Of our own navigation
a branch that now educates and holds ready for
service IN the navy Of England, and which would
educate and hold ready for service in our owr,
navy, were the United States, instead of Eng
land, in the possession thereof, . body Of several
thousxnd seamen.
But by passing this act, shall we not cut our
selves of from those supplies, which our habits
have rendered indispensable VIII not the
English colonial markets, for supplies hitherto
purchased among us, and imported to them, be
shall increase our navigation by
adopting the law
The documents that have been communicated
to tine Senate, by the chairman ofthe committee
Of foreign relations, (Mr. Barboar) satisfactorily
prove, that are independent Of the English
colonies for supply of sugar and coffee, for our
own consumption /; our annual re-exportation Of
these articles exceeding thes quantity of them
imported from the English colonies
and in respect TO rum, the other article imported
from these colonies its exclusion will be the loss
to England, ofits best and almost only market;
and its place will be readily supplied by other
foreign rum and by brandy or, which is more
probable, by domestic spirits distilled from
grain
The exports from the United States to the En-
slish West-lndIa colonies have been estimated at
our millions of dollars annually the problem
mas been disputed ever since the independence
of the United States, and still remains TO be sol
Ted, whether these colonies could obtain from
any other quarter the supplies received from the
United states 10 make this experiment. efFec-
ualy, further restrictions and regulations NAV
become necessary, which it is not now deemed
axpedsent to propose. II the question be decided
p the negative, the supplies VIII be continued
rom the United States, and cur shipping win be
benefited.
If the articles heretofore supplied from tb;s
country can be obtained elsewhere, we must find
out other markets for our exports, or the labor
employed IN preparing them must be appl;ed 70
some other branch Of industry. We have the
power, and hereafter it may become our policy.
as it is that of other countries, to resort 70 rsg
ulatien, the effect OF which would 90 far 70 hal
ance any disadvantage arising from the loss Of
the English colonial markets. We import annu-
ally upwards of six million gallons of West-Inda
Rum, more than half of which comes from NE
English colonies |: we also import every wear
nearly seven million gallons of molasses. AZ eve
ry gallon of molasses yields, BY distillation.a
gallon Of rum; the rum imported. added 70 thai
distilled from imported molasses. j. norhaby
equal to twelve million gallons, which enormous
quantity IS chiefly consumed by the citizens 81
the U. States.
II the Importation of rum and nolasses far dis
hllation, be prohibited. II would roon;re four