Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-05-07
"DIsTREss DIsTREss,.

Under the above caption writer in the LIN
coin PATRIOT has attempted, in the most heart
less MANNER to ridicule the idea that suffering ex-
ISIS in the commercial community and as a proof
that such complaint is all deusion, he tells us
that vessels sell well and get good freights. But
the result to which this cautious and profound
political economist arrives, will fill the world with
wonder at the originality of his genius. Such
conclusions are not to be reached by any process
of human reasonng-nothing but intuitive
knowledge can lead the mind into a perception of
such great truths. After citing two or three ca
ses where vessels have been profitable to their
owners, this eulogzer ofpower tells u.s. that tam
pie profits are secured to the ship builder and
commercial man, by the "free trade measures" of
Martin Van Buren,. What are these ''free trade
measures 2 and how have they operated The
tariff question has not been agitated since Mr..
Van Burens elevation to the Presidential chair;
and we believe the only article of consequence,
made free under his 'ilustrious predecessor"
were French silks and wines, and this was done
to coax the French to settle the claims held a.
gainst them by American citizens. Which of
the shipment ofsuch large quantities of cotton and
-four to Europe Which sends cotton coastwise
to supply the factories of New England, and the
middle States? We can think of no "free trade
measure" in which Mr.. Van Buren, had hand
except that of giving up portion of our carry
ing trade to Great Britain without an equivalent
How far Mr.. Van Buren's short sighted and I'M
statesmanlike commercial policy had tendency
to help the carrying trade during the past winter
we leave the PATRIOT to explain.
These are indeed strange times when party
must be auded to the skies for their great kind
ness ano condescension ia the their humble sub
jects in letting one solitary interest have a short
repreve from the general ruin. Praise and fattery
are daily offered up by the fawning parasites who
bow around the footstool of the throne, not be-
cause our gracious rulers extend their encourage
ment and protection over oN branches of indus
try, but because they in their tender mercy have
suffered single branch the shipping interest, to
make partial escape from the common wreck.
But what are the causes of the two or three
recently enjoyed? Was it owing to any measure,
or good will of the party in power Certainly
not, for we all remember their savage denuncia-
tons of merchants, and how industriously they
have been at work to break them down. 1t was
a forced condition of things, and has already fall
len back to its former state.
In the first place,t difficulties between Great
Britain and China, threw the China trade into
American hands, and gave employment to many
American ships. In the second place the search
ty of bread-stuffs in Europe caused many of our
ships to be taken up for the transportation of
flour. These causes much diminished the num-
Der of ships usually in the cotton shipping ports
in the VIE. rs, and would, perhaps, be
sufgain: In the Globecause an advance on
Just, 1886, the following etder the unusually
1dQund, VIZ: ar, and the unparal-
leled en.C alhoun. vol the South, which caused
an immediate aa9 ment, the fact is easily account
ed for Owing to the low price of cotton the
planters will not realize much from their heavy
crops of last year, as they formerly did from half
the quantity. The frequent experiments OF, and
almost total destruction of the currency of the
countryside want of confidence and its atten-
dant evil, the prostration of credit, have caused
general embarrassment and frequent ruin among
the planters Of the South. If Mr. Van Buren,
and his tribe of Office holding aristocracy had
any influence in promoting the recent high
freights, here is where it was felt The selfish and
destructive measures of the dominant party have
reached every corner of the land. In consequence
of them the planter has been obliged to hurry his
crops to market, and sell at low prices, or send
them to Europe, take a small advance to relieve
immediate necessities, and wait for sale at some
future day. Thus we see that by forcing cotton
forward, a demand is created for ships, and mo-
mentary prosperity given to one branch by the
very blows which are inflicted on another
We may, in our next, turn from this branch of
the subject, and see if marks of "DIsTREss" can
not be found in other quarters
COMMERCIAL.