Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-06

Wait his mind tn TIC points 70 which these enter
prising, these Adventurous navigators, have 1T
tanned. Instead of stopping at tho Falkland
Islands, orthe polar ices of the South, the ai-crc-
ating imagination of Burke could scarcely hayc
followed them along the long track of waters
which they now encompass. The range of
their enterprise Is limited only by the limits of
world. They now pursue their '.gigautic
game" all round an ocean which, in IVA, they
had not entered, or scarcely approached. Those
lonely Isles IN the South sea, on oceans
bound" are as familiar as the city of WASH
ington. Sometimes hey may be found at the
dcsolatc Massaiuero. Sometimes on the coast
of California. Sometimes off the secluded har-
bors. of Japan. Sometimes at Niada6Ascar.
Sometimes ut New Hoand-and sometimes at
that horrible region, lately discovered, called
New Shetland, the cline ofetcrnal winter.
The fishery began very carly, in the vicinity
of Nantucket, IN open boats. In 1874, it was
what Burke described it to be. With its pre-
sent condition, the committee arc acquainted.
1t has grown To its present greatness without
patronage, without bounty, without protection,
almost without notice.
For protection, the walemcn have never
askcd.-Nhile subsistence was to be derived
from their employment, they never obtrude,i
themselves upon the Government. Contentetl
with the gains of their "hard iullustry,'' they
persisted in this course until, to use the Ian
morialists, they found themselves "half-ruined,n
and, to prevent total ruin, they have presented
their grievances TO the nation.
Much complaint has been made by the tai
low-chandlers, that they have selected three
particular years to show the excessive. i,nporta-
ton of foreign tallow. The reduction of oil to
its present ruinous prices happened precisely at
the time when that importation was made.
When they felt the evil, they complaincd-and
not till then.
So important has this branch of navigation
been deemed by the maritime nations of Europe,
Slat Americans are sometimes tempted to leave
their homes. and to avail themselves of the great
advantages arising from the system of bounties
with which 1T Is protected there.
Many OF the English whaling ships are COM
mandcd by Americans. The south sea whale
fisery was, Il believe, established at Milford
Haven, IN England, byan American. Previous
to the commencement ofthe French Revolution,
the Government of France, tcrseeing the great
advantage which would result from the csta-
bhshment of this fishery in that kingdom, held
out such great inducements in bounties, that a
colony OF whalcmcn emigrated from Nantucket
and New Bedford, and established themselves al
Duniirla, where the fishery was prosecuted sue
ccssfuly, until in the Progressed the Revolution
property became Insecure, and the French ma
rine was threatened with annil,iilton. They
then abandoned the pursuit, and rctu,acd t.
America.
Europe strives to alter the course OF nature.
by calling back the dcsccn,l;,n OF those whom
she had forced from her bosom. Europe strives
to lure to her shores, by fayors and facilities
protection and bounty, a race of men whose
value is well known there. Could we witness
their departure without nqueuidc' Could VIC
witness the decay and ruin OF this fishery. which
long ago, the iiustriols liurkc declared to b.
uncqualled in this world, without regret, without
deep regret? This is their first application to
their own Government. The application en-
braces not = solitary interest; not the interest,"
OF the ship-owners and seamen only-but the in
tcrest OF the farmer, the mechanic, and the man
uiactarer.
| trust the protection which this bill propose;
will DC granted. 1t is small it is small indeat
but 1t is something; something which Wi
carry 10 the wiacmcn an assurance that Thu
Government, protecting, as ii does, all other
SIS, VIII not be entirely regardless O
theirs.