Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-08-16
WHOLE NO. 1924.


though it has been. said there are sail
duck factories in the country, ct neither
OF them manufacture the kind of sail clotIi
which is necessary for our vessels bound
on foreign voyages. Mr.. Speaker, my
anxiety to retain this section, is not So.
much from any regard | may have for,
the sbip-owhers, as for another class oe
men found in our large cities, Baltimore,
Philadelphia, Newly ork, and Boston;
and one Of them now at the head ofgov-
ernment Of the city last named; and,
aheresoever found, are acknowledged ~
be the most industrious and valuable por-
ton Of our oitiZens-l need not say that
] refer TO our mechanics. In the build
ing of n single ship, from the time her
keel is laid 10. the time she is ready for
sea, perhaps thirty Of these men Of dif-
ferent professions are employed. Lean
not make correct enumeration of them,
but from my recollection can state some
of them: the shipwright, the joiner, the
blacksmith, the rope-maker, the saI-ma-
ker, the painter, the spar-maker, block.
maker, the rigger, the cauiker, the boat;
builder, the cooper, all men who live by,
their labor;& ;& have not named those who
are employed in cutting the timber, shap-
ing, and transporting it to the ship yard,
or those who are employed in saving and
preparing the timber necessary for ship.
The best argument in favor Of the pro-
tective policy is founded upon the EN-.
ployment it gives to labor; the destruc-..
tion of our manufactures, it has been.
said, and said truly, wonld throw out oil
employ thousands whose labor is now,
productive, and adding to the wealth of
the nation; even cur sallantry was apr.
pealed to by the Chairman Of the Com
mittee on Manufactures, in favor Of pafnr-,
leaf hats, a manufacture that employs
many of the females of our country, and
whose labor is rendered highly producs,s
tive. The appeal was not made in vain,
and let us not be unmindiul of the en-
ploy and labor Of that highly useful. and
respectable portion Of our fellow-citizens
! have referred the House. to. Let not
! their rights as citizens of this country be
overlooked, nor their services under-ra-
ted by any act Of ours. Hewlfar 1 have.
sustained the protective policy, and the
interests of our manufactures, my votes
will show; but / would not, by encour-
aging one great interest, destroy another.
One would suppose, from remarks fre-
quently made on this floor, that in Rhode
Island there is but one interest; it is true
that there is a greater interest in manu-
| features in that State than in any other,
proportion to its population or extent Of
territory; but, there are some counties in
that State in whc h there is not one man
ufacturing establishment, counties which.
are devoted exclusively to agricultural
and commercial pursuits, and Rhode Is
land is deeply interested in the promotion
of all the leading interests of the country
/ 1t was not my intention to have enter,
. ed at all into this debate, protracted as it
| has been, and tedious as il has now be-
, come; my colleague has fully and ably
sustained one of the interest of the State
which we represent, and in favor Of that,
! have been content to record my vote:
and now, with one or two suggestions,
/ must leave the subject i would say to-
gentlemen who complain Of the heavy
charges upon goods imported, that by
striking out this section ofthe bill, they
must necessarily increase those charges,
because the more you tax the navigation
Of the country, the greater must these
charges be; the ship that can be equip
ped and put in readiness for sea, fer tiC+l
teen thousand dollars, can well afford to
4 freight the goods Of a foreign country az
less sum than the ship which costs
twenty-four thousand dollars; the addi-.
tional freight must operate as on addi-
tional charge upon the goods; and Con-
Sc que ntly, according to the ARGUMENT Of
the day, rs an additional tax upon dc
consumer. To those gentlemen who arc.
anxious to guard the revenue, would
! sny that these heavy burdens upon the
ship owner will necessarily, and perhaps
: have done SO, drive him to foreign
country 10 complete the furniture and g.
quipments of his ship. mighs, Mr..
!, Speaker, if time was not so precious, and
! our session near its close, dwel}upon tho
!, inheritance of our navigation interest,
!, and the necessity for its proper oncour-
> agement, as the only means oy which
can be reared the arms Of our maritime
!, power, the .esmer Of our country. Bat
word more, and am done. have
been told by experienced and practicat
men, that the ordinary wear and deteri-
|, oration Of a ship is such, that at the end
Of seven years from her first voyage, the
!, costs Of repairs are in the aggregate e.
quail to the FIRST cost. Then, sir, tho
, whole investment, the whole capital IS
sunk in that time; and would ask, what
, other investment, what other interest,
shares similnr fate-compnre the inter-
est in ship with that IN houses, lands,