Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1818-02-03
FoR THE GAZETTE,


THIS subject was presented to the consideration
of Congress the last winter by the late Gen. Cyrus
King and il is no more than justice to say, that
it was done with great correctness. we'll as very
| great ability.
Ii is subject of regret, that some Of the present
members Of Congress from this District, have not
made up their minds on this subject There is not
any section of the United States that has SO deep
interest in having this trade correctly regulated
as the people generally tf this District. This must
have no doubt been the opinion Of Mr.. Clay, the
speaker Of the House OF Representatives, as be pa-
ced on the Committee two Of our representatives
| 70 consider this subject.
That those persons who are confined to the log
| ing swamps and the saw mills, should entertain
doubts on this subject would not surprise us-~But
we cannot at present believe that any Of the repre-
sentatiyes from this District entertain any doubts
What is still more extraordinary, it is intmated
that these doubts arise presuming that the lumber
makers might possibly be nured--thus adopting
| the very measures which the eaIousies Of our our
Northern people have charged those Of the South
with: that of sacrificing the navigating interest
| TO the planting and lumber making.
| The British at this time come from their Colo.
MES to this country They select the articles which
are necessary TO the very existence Of the people
OF those colonies---and what do they pay US in
| Why 10 Rum, for they will not let US have other
articles excepting, at particular times, when they
cannot find market for them at any other place.
And this article of rum they consider 50 necessary
for the Americans, that it must be brought 10 this
country exclusively, in their own vessels; and the
return cargoes also taken out in the same vessels.
That a British representative in Parliament
| should doubt, whether there was a nation in the
world that would submit to have trade conducted
on those principles, can easily conceive but for
3 moment TO think that an American representa-
tive could doubt on this subject, would be libel
| on the American character.
| The trade between the British colonies and this
country, as at present regulated, is conducted ex.
| clusivey, in British vessels. They come here, Gull
our market for those articles the most useful they
pay in rum, the article the most useless 10 them
and the most injurious to US.
! BY accident who may be said to be mere.
| ly the representative off bag Of Cotton, a hogs
head of tobacco, or saw mill may get into Con-
| gress Those men and those only however, who
represent the general interests OF the country will
| remain there.
| The writer of this article is a lumber maker, he
has given to this subject the necessary considers
ton, he is convinced should Congress not counter
act the British colonial measures, that the persons
most to be injured tie makers Of lumber in this
| District.
This communication shall forward 70 ons Of the
printers. request those persons who doubt the
correctness of the opinions here expressed, to pre-
serve this paper, and by all means look it over on
ths first day of November next IF you Should
then find your lumber reduced to six dollars per
thausand take care not to elect for your representa-
tive 10 congress man who has not his opinion made
up. Yes gentlemen, il will be interesting for you
to keep still one year longer for should not this
trade be differently regulated before that time lun-
Der will then befrom four TO FIVE dollars per thou
sand.
Ipresume by this time you are disposed to ask
ne how know all lhis--Why gentlemen will
tell you. look over my books which represents
business of lumber dealing for more than thirty
years, End, soon after the peace of 1888, lumber
wasworth in this district and eight dollars
per thousand; as soon the British system of ex-
cusion from their colonies operated, the price fell
to three dollars and half, and from that to four
and half ii remained until the British ports
were again open'in 1892, when lumber again
worth seven and eight dollars per thousand. Du--
ring all this PERIOD lumber would have been seven
and eight dollars If it could have beea transported
in American vessels, as it is we'll known they can
carry cheaper and are therefore satisfied with
less freight than the British. That the same sys-
tenn of measures on the part of the British if not
counteracted will produce the same results in this
country, must be the opinion ofall.
The persons who will next be injured, are nu-
merous class Of people who are employed in getting
the timber and other materials for ship building
The carpenters, blacksmiths joines riggers, rope
makers and almost every other class Of persons in
the District who either directly, or indirectly
interested in building rigging, or navigating our
!