Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-03-05


temen spread the renewal over m,re years. the pro-
portion is only varied Almost half of this falls
on the tonnage engaged in foreign trade, and the
on that in the fisheries and domestic navigation There
no difference thus far in favor fbe latter while the
former, to REPAIRS times gain little adyan
tage over the latter by being able supply sails and
cables abroad not SO h ghIy taxed.
To show the force Of this burden more strong
Iy by an illustration smaller scale, readily com
pretended, and coming nearer home to the business
and bosoms OF my consttuents-take the tonnage Of
New Hampshire, which is mostly confined TO the one
small port of Portsmouth, whose population is between
seven and eight thousand. Its foreign tonnage alone,
is about 10000 which five dollars increased duties
amounts to S73 OO0 and which, spread five years,
for such repairs and renewals equal to pre-
sent value would be yearly about dollars per head
Tor The whole population of that town. This s as
much as all their other taxes united. But in the
stage of It's evil operation, it falls heavier on the TO-
reign than the domestic trade for the tonnage in that
costing than II otherwise would cannot afford to
carry reights low it otherwise might and must
charge higher to the Of the produce mer-
chandze, and thus devove part, all the increased
tax on them, submit as it does most cases. under
the competition of vessels from abroad, not so highly
taxed, to carry freghts at the DID, still lower price
The raiser of the produce might be pleased to End
transportation cheaper, if effected fairly, and in free
and equal competitions but must regret TO it al the
expense oil the navigator and under system of vicious
legislation, which makes it lower virtually by discrim
mating duties against citizens and n favor OF
foreigners
Let our own citizens, in honest and useful pursuits
have, at least, an equal chance with others No one
rons burdenS-an open sea, flowing sail, and fair
fight IN industry and enterprise, and novel kind
of navigation act, made by ourselves, favorable to TO-
reigners and hostile TO Americans The day. for great
exclusive privileges to navigation, had long gone by
as unnecessary both in this country and England and
Cromwells famous navigation uct, however exolled by
the Senator from Maine, had IN the time of it, and
REGARDED rs had
virtually been abandoned in England the last twenty
years. in several important respects. Dutch pride had
been BUNDLED by Blake, before il passed, and Dutch
prosperity had been sapped by her wars and high taxes
rather than by British legislation. 1t would be idle for
England, or this country, any other power, to
expect duraby great prosperity by legislation however
full of bounties restrictions, unless their people
islanders fishermen, have natural facilities in
naval stores, and harbors, for extensive commerce
Our tonnage has seldom been more furnishing, eX-
cept during the cGlamtous of Europe than under
our low duties. most Of the time, from 1880 1870
1t increased 9o per cent, while the English, in that
period, great rivals increased but 40 per cent and
the French only So while, during the last year. il has
declined in quantity, besides being much less profit
able. BY the operation of high restrictions, the
ports, too, expected to be lessened through in
creased home market. The system has naturally that
tendency, in conformity with It's design, as we have
seen the official returns, by the exports proving
nearly double much, under ten years of falling du
lies, as ten Of high But the boast by some, that
if it cuts off agricultural exports, it makes and sub
sttues many manufactured ones, has been verified
very badly while the former, i'll ten years, has added
twenty mlllions the latter has added but two three,
and the cotton manufacture only half million. Tho
foreign imports and exports are intended TO be d.
minshed by the very essence OF the system. Espe-
cally it aimed at The imports, intending to substi
their stead domes products of like character
Such, too has been the effect of it here When it got
into full operation after 1918, the imports began TO fall
off, and they rose, during the full continuance
Of the system to 1888, high again in that year,
though swollen much, from time TO time by the TO-
reign loans 10 the States brought home in merchandise
Again-under its operation, the past year, the i'm
ports have fallen, in the aggregate, eleven mil
lions, and Of the consumable commodities, and such
as pay much ght, over thirty millions; there being,
understand, near twenty millions Of the free goods
this year in specie, and above the quantity in
Sl2 and, indeed what has been ported this
year Do the navigating interest lose nothing by this
reduced quantity and value Of the imports be freghted
Considering, nls) the time, that the whole
ports l543 have become less by four to five millions,
than in 1912
But, while the tonnage engaged in the foreign trade
is undergoing this loss Of values, be carried both
ways across the ocean, beside the still greater loss in
reduced prices for reights, the Chairman says the in
ward reights have been better If he means by that,
our ships have brought home larger portion Of oil
i'm ports than usual, do not anything in that TO
indicate improvements because, they being cut off, by
high Tariff, from bringing home iron, hemp, &C.,
usual, have been glad rather than come home
IN ballast, to take anything at little profit
[Mr. Evans said he meant that the price Of ghts
was higher.]
By no means, generally. For, where thirty or forty
shngs ION has been got formerly for some freghls
from Liverpool it has, understand in certain cases,
in 1S43 been brought for eight shllings; and where
penny per pound has been got for carrying
cotton Europe, half penny only has of late been
obtained in many cases, and hundred vessels
probably waiting in New Orleans for freights
But how fares the trade, which to be
greatly promoted by such Tariff The of the
tonnage in that whether On the seaboard, or our in.
land seas and mighty rivers, s to be sure, protected
from foreign competition But he must suffer TO the
whole extent OF the increased cost Of his vessel and
carry the price for freight before; or, if he
raises the freight to indemnify himself, will only
shift large burden from his shoulders, TO those Of
the producer consumer, already oppressed and
instead of anybody being benefited by the high duty
except lii. manufacturer, additional tax falls
most If all others. The tax, too reacts sometimes
on the hardy ship builder If his materials cost more,
and he can sell no higher, il equals from million to
three four.hs year. on the tonnage butt IN io42 and
the business will thus diminish, must extend It's
baleful influences the lumber-man, the timber
grower and all the mechanical trades engaged in ship
building and repairs But look little further at the
next step in its bad consequences
How IL the remuneration for all ,his 10 occur IN the
increase of the domestic tonnage: Does that as is es
tmated have more to carry, and further, than II did
when the foreign trade was larger 80 lar from II, all
the domestic agricultural produce which is sold a, ~
York Boston, and Providence, brought no farther
from the West or South, aud It's returns carried
blck no farther than If the addt onal consumption, sup
posed 10 be caused those places, had been trans
ported abroad the additional manufacturing pre-
duets made near and 10 be sent back to The South or
West came from abroad But the whole foreign freighs
of it, and all the persons and capital and profits oil true
American origin and character connected herewith,
are frustrated and the parayzed, not only IN one
of lis great Of industry and means OF rearing Sea-
men for maritime defence in war, but nothing what
ever gained in place Of those vital losses by any ca
large me nj OF our domestic tonnage. More, SIR. AS
the system expands, the manufacture s calculated TO
spread nearer to the South and West, and establish
merits to spring up the slopes of the Alleshanles'
and many of the tributaries TO the Mississippi ana .ne
lakes Al can see that, these approach nearer the
raw materials which they consume, wheihe. couon'
corn -four, meats or other articles, the domestic trans
por,ation both 10 and fro, is shortened ana requires
less time, capital, and employment tor ihe nome Ton
mage. "a.
Pray tell me, then, whether the effect OF this sys.
tenn on the navigating interest foreign domestic be
not hiuhIy injurious, unmItiga,ed evil. and what
there possb!y be IN II 10 atone TO the commercial
glasses for its destructive influences,
The constitution itself was formed chiefly to protect
our foreign commerce The trainers OF IL whether
farmers merchants, planters, saw that on The sue