The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-06-23
POLITICAL.
IN SENATE, APRr1 3, 1918.
Mr.. KINGS SPEECH on the
MlTTG QTIOH sNTy
MITIGATION act.

GRLCuLIURE, manufactures. and ?o-airr
IA commerce, said Mr.. KING, are the true
sources of wealth and power of nations agricul
ture is the chief and well rewarded occupation
otour people, and yields, in addition to what we
want for our use, great surplus for expectation
Manufactures are making sure and steady pro-
gress and, with the abundance of food and OF
raw materials, which the country affords, will,
at no distant day, be sufficient, in the principal
branches, for our own consumption, and furnish =
valuable addition to our exports.
But, without shipping and seamen, the sur
plusses of agriculture and of manufactures would
depreciate on our hands; the cotton, tobacco,
bread stufs, provisions and manufactures, would
turn out to be of little worth, unless we have
ships and mariners to carry them abroad, and to
distribute them in the foreign markets.
Nations nave adopted different theories, as
respects the assistance TO be derived from navi-
cation; some have been content with a passive
foreign Commerce-owning no ships themselves,
but depending on foreigners and foreign vessels
to bring to them their supplies, and to purchase
of them their surplusses while others, and al
most every modern nation that borders upon the
ocean, have preferred an active foreign trade
carried on, as far consistent with the recipro-
cal rights of others, by national ships and sea-
men.
A dependence upon foreign navig alton sub
ects those who are so dependent, to the known
disadvantages arising from foreign wars, and to
the expense and risk Of the navigation OF bellig-
erent nations-the policy of employingsa nation
al shipping IS, therefore, almost universally ap-
proved and adopted; il affords not only more
certain means OF prosecuting foreign commerce,
bat the freight, as we'll as the profits of trade,
are added to the stock Of the nation.
The value and Importance of national ship
ND horr cd
the great maritime powers, and particularly in
England, a strong desire to acquire, by restric-
tons and exclusions, disproportionate share Of
the general commerce of the world.
As ali nations have equal rights, and each may
claim equal advantages in its intercourse with
others the true theory Of international COM
merce is one of equality, and of reciprocal bene-
fits this theory gives to enterprise, 70 SKILL and
to capital, their Just and natural advantages !;
any other scheme is merely artificial; and SO far
as it aims at advantages over those who adhere
to the open SYSTEM It aims at profit at the expense
of natural justice.
The colonial system being founded in this vi
cious theory, has, therefore, proved to be the
fruitful source of dissatisfaction, insecurity and
war. According to this system the colonies were
depressed below the rank OF their fellow subjects,
and the fruits of their industry and their inter-
course with foreign countries, placed under diff
ferent regulations from those of the inhabitants
of the mother country it was the denial to Amer
leans of the rights enjoyed by Englishmen, that
produced the American revolution-and the
same cause, greatly aggravated, IS working the
same effect in South-America.
Among the navigators and discoveries Of the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the Dutch be-
came highly distinguished, and, by enterprise,
economy and perseverance, made themselves the
carriers of other nations, and their country the
entrepot of Europe-and it was not untilIthe mid
die of the fourteenth century, that England pas
sed her navigation act, which had for its object,
to cuEtail the navigation of the Dutch, and to
extend her own.
According to this act, the whole trade and in
tercourse between England, Asia, Africa and
America, Were confined to the shipping and mar
liners of England and the intercourse between
England and the rest ofEurope was placed undel
regulations which, in great measure, confined
the same to English ships and seamen.
This act was st-enuoasly opposed by the Dutch
and proved the occasion of the obstinate naval
wars that afterwards followed. England wa:
victorious, persisted in her navigation act and il
the end ,sbroke down the monopoly in trade which
| the Dutch possessed.
That in vindication of her equal right to navi.
gate the ocean, England should have resisted
| the monopoly OF the Dutch, and freely expended
her blood and treasure to obtain her just share o
the general commerce, deserved the appreciation
| Of all impartial men. But, having accomplished
this object that she should herself aim at. and !,
the end establish, the same exclusive system. and
on more extended scale, is neither consistent
with her own laudable principles nor compati-
bic with the rights Of others who, relatively &c
| her monopoly now, are in the like situation to.
wards England, in which England was toward.