The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-05
PEOPLES PRESS.
Tuesday Morning, April 5, 1912
OUR COMMERCE.

e HuNe VIZ eu iouiIu INC press III ' eTInOnI
congraluaing the people upon the gaheful ill.,
dependence and unabaling prosperity which
sreadily yields its fruits amidst the fluctuations
Of the lines ami the mislortuncs Of other de-
partnenis of industry. But after all we shall
ind The old riaxim Of political economy true,
cternay true, that the interest Of agriculture,
commerce and manufactures are knit together
as by an indissolubIe bond; and singular as it
may appcar.ihat a wound given TO the laborcrs
upon The high seas, Which nine ienihs of our
population have never behrld, diffiIses a sensa.
ton as prompt and powerful although perhaps
unseen. among the valleys and mountains OF
Vermont as in The hear, of our most populou>
cities. Our novigaiors while roaming over
the ocean. and ranging the coasts of distani
iectuailv lending aid 10 the labors Of the Grn.
crs OF Addison County, as if they PERSONAL,
planktd their yellow boys upon the counters Of
the merchants of MiddIeblry, in exchange for
the products of our soil. 1t is unnecessary to
dwell uPoL the importance Of encouragin.
co mmerce as the means of Strengthening tn
right ann of our national defence, or 10 SPEAK
of the immense profits 10 be derived from thi,
species of industry. W hich IN certain period
of our history raised us from dependence anc
penury 10 d egree of opulence and strength
which no nation has ever so suddenly altained
The people of Vermont have more jirec.
interest in commerce. derived from the fact
that more than one hundred thousand senme
whiten the ocean with American sails. and il
their voyages, consume the surplus fruits
our cult walton. Upon the increase or d,min
utlon of our navigation therefore intimatel,
depends the increase or dlminuiinn in IN,
price of our beet and pork. and all those az.
rculural products which feed our mariners
all the ports of the globe. and which the soil o.
Vermont is so well calculated 10 supply.
Unfortunately our navigating interest sine.
1880 has experienced a fatal drcinc. in com.
parison with that of the country with which
we mos, come in competition, and is now
waning mere rapidly than ever. under the ru
nous policy which was then adopted. Tn
administrator If Gen. Jackson took 10 itself
fill modicum of praise for the speedy settle.
ment then made. through the diplomatic skill
of Martin Van Buren,, while ambassador TO
the court of 81. james, Of The question abour
the carrying trade between this country and
the British colonies. which for years had been
discussed by previous administrations with
very little prospect of fiual adjustment. /,
now turns out however thai nothing was wan
ting TO accomplish the object. but submission
TO British demands, which were speedily &C.
ceded TO by this trucking representative of
Inundated country! The practical result of
this crineing diplomacy of Martin Van Buren,.
which was foresecn and deprecated at the time
by every statesman, The least acquainted with
our foreign relations, has greatly aggravated
the disastrous condition of our commercial in.
teresis. The consequences of this. with other
tAiSuDS arrangements mas Deen an increase oil
British tonnage in nur ports, ten timas greater
than our own, from 1890 when the new treaty
took effect. and The rapid extinction of our
carrying traie TO the British colonies. The
Boston Chamber of Comm. rec have recently
had their attention drawn 20 the operation of
The commercinl arrangement with Great Brit.
ain and have compiled the following table.
Table OF American and British tonnage clear
Ell from hhS s'reral ports Of HE United States,
for foreign ports: rom lS24 10 1889, inclusive.
Year American tonnage British tonnage.