Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-20

for tho purpose OF reycnus--bui even light as they
were, they we're in great degree evadcd; some
ot the States had free ports, into which mcrchan-
d;zc was imported and safely Struggled into the
circumlaccnt States. Unless my memory deceive
me much, Burlington free port, from which
the wants OF the citizens of Philadelphia and of
Pennsylvania generally, largely supplied, du-
ty free. And what was the result Of this ''irce
trade, which, i'll spite of our fatal experience of its
ucictcriouS consequences we arc now ardcntly
urged TO adopt Our productions Were inadequate
to pay for the articles forced on us by the old
world. y large balance against u.s. drained
the country of its specie, and produced the most
intense distress, which, by provoking resistance
OF the laws, in various parts of New England,
threatened dissolution ofthc Union.
In thi> state of things, the Federal Convention
was called, and produced the Constitution under
which we have prospcrcd. for about forty years.
Among the earliest objects that attracted the at
ten of the first Congress- the tonnage of the
United States, which was at a very low chb-for,
our tonnage inadequate to their transportation.
"in 1882 our shipping not sufficient for the
transportation of the domestic produce OF the
United States, one third Of that ,ohich then
Pioycd f0r ihdt purpose belonging to (oreigaers'
Scyhert's Statistics. p. 292.
"in 1879, the American tonnage employed in
tho foreign trade amounted to So, 7G7 tons. The
foreign tonnage employed amounted to PSI ,05S
tons. The proportion of the American amount OF
tonnage employed in the foreign trad" of the Uni
ted States, as fl to 100" Idem u. 293
"in 1888 and 77S9, the tonnage Of The rcssciS
belonging 10 tie Inhabitants Of the British domm-
IONS, then emPloyed in the hnde Of Philadelphia
'eG, four fiks IF the tonnage IF all Tie resscis OF
the United States employed
"British---Tons, $4,000 a9,a7a 5a,37e
"A .n lean 28,o2s 1928 $3.50
$50 that the tonnage owned by the inhabitants
of Great Britain. employed in the trade of Phila-
delphia, in 1888 ard 1889, Amounted 10 ;ciAin one
ffh IF the tonnage bc;ong;pg to oil th- citizens Of
the United States so employed" Idem, 29l.
l would fam ask Mr.. Bcrricn and Mr.. Ca,nbrc-
eng and MIR. Racquet, what would be the probable
situation at present, of the tonnage of the United
States, had the government been shackcd, rs il is
now attempted to he shackled-had it left tho mcr-
chants ''o enjoy the unquestionablc right of ovcry
individual To apply his ebour and capital to pro-
mote his own interest,"" without the application OF
the salutary protecting system, to that branch OF
industry! Gould we ever have attained that hg
grade of naval standing TO which we were in Z very
few years elevated, and where VIC now stand
tho second naval power in the WORLD Our
compete with foreign tonnage. even i'll the
trade from port to port. Would not the
British tonnage hav" continued TO enjoy We.
ry large, and very undue and, oar merchants a
very pcrnicouS proportion of foreign com.
mercc, and of our coastng trade? However the
confession may interfere with their favorite theory
10 which the experience of our merchants and the
progress of our navigation, give Il complete Wa
tcrloo defeat, rely their fairness and candour
for reply to the last question decidedly in the a
iirmativc.
To escape 4 charge often made against nc, will
too much justice, Of my lucubrations being toe
long-windcd, must reluctantly postpone till my
next, statement ofthe enlightened measures pur-
sued by the first Congress- to counterfeit the disad
vantages under which merchants laboured
through the superiority Of foreigners, in point OF
capital skill and experience, together with the
| fostering care of their governments; and ia
mcTc!llntS( O aDDV ahOur
and industry in tho mode in which they conceived
best calculaated to promote their OWE interests
with the glorious results of that bcnefcent system
which reflects lasting credit the profound policy
OF The MorTesscs, the Fitzsimmonsos, the Clymcrs
the Amcses, the Wadsworths &C. by whose la.
bours it was concocted.
HAMILTON.
Philadelphia, October Ii, 1881.