Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1851-02-28
The Beginning of the End.

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inr to the iorco OF truth. Messrs. Hyde and
Sewcll are wings, and as such, have acted
with a party whose doctrines, II carried into
practice, would ruin the great shIp-bulldlng
and ship-ovniug interest OF Maine. Ia 80
acting, they have only done, uuaccouniablc as
1t may seem, what large majority Of those
particularly concerned IN those pursuits have
done. so true II is, that IN politics, men are
governed quite as much by their passions, a.
/ by their interests.
In former times, there was little difference
Of opinion in Maine upon this subject. When
the tariff Of ls2s was passed, all the shipping
in Portland harbor carried their colors at half
mast. This was before political deluslons
had crcpi in, and when men were cool enough
To SIC that a commercial and navigating State
had everything to lose and nothing to gain by
system Of prohibitions.
In rlo war with the L. :. Bank, common
ccd in 1899, Gen. Jackson and ihc democratic
party pursued a policy adverse tn the oPln-
ion, OF the mercantile classes. The result
was, that many Of them, who a. shIp-oWncrs
had no atiniiics with 4 high tariff policy,
we're carried along as merchants, IN 4 strong
current Of hostility In the democratic party,
and really gave their influence IN favor Of the
. pruhlbiusc System, by acting with the whg
party. II would seem, at length, tina, some
Of them are getting on, Of that current, and
taking the positions which their true interests
demands. We hail these indications rs me-
I bcmriag Of hs md. And !, was really
! high time. that those who think bg.fiT,
should al together, in resisting common enc
mics. The democracy have always been the
bet and true,i friends To the commercial int
crest, and have suffered most unioscncdy
from It, hostility. Ship-buildcrs and ship
owners have nothing to hope from abolition
lists, or rcsiuciiouists, and should refuse, noN
and forever, an political eompauiousliP with
them.
/ II would seem from the estimates made by
Mr. Scwcll, tia, h0Hp AID roH, m hs "a.
r,iy eC forms ~ rri,ch they arc oupioy,i az
1rnd,ug and slp,Twg oar re's'', o0H'ni'a'
a trariioH 0rrr 20 p, o1f. et thar cost. -
Why then. should anyboJy Ia Maine wish tn
Increase the taxes on hcmp and iron, which
are already iu the highcs, s,hcjulc oi pro,oc-
tive duties, and which already receive pro-
lection fifty PER cent higher than is accorded
to the products Of our own foros's'
I l., d, be rccolIcctcd, that as the laws now
stand, orr ships are obliged to compete with
foreign sups, vilhou, any favor, or dlscrm.
inaliou a, 40, with lhc exception of lhc coast
ing trade Ga al foreign voyages, our shlrs
arc compelled 10 BID for freight against tlr
competition of the world. Tais .s lhg race
which ,hip-owncrs have to run, aud they are
ready TOT It, and will prove equal to d. \
fair field and no favor, these are the terms,
aud by these terms they are content To abide
but let Us give them really far field. 1t
%, no, load them down with augmented taxes,
and compel them to leave the occan, which
nov invite, American skill and American en-
lcrprsc TO their lon,c,t displays and most
splendid ,iumphs.
/ 1t 1t be remembered TIA, Maine build.
more large ships, than aIl the rest ol lhe In
lon, aud that resting on the Atlantic with
coast of three hundred miles, Indicated with
uuu,allci harbor,, her destiny is emphatic
ally commercial. Who then oi hgr son. will
be fOuLd to strike a rccrcant blow a, the rrra,
source OF prosperity, for the SAKE OF pet auJ
pampcrcd interests IN Pennsylvania aud Ken
lucky States, which tccmug with wealth
and absolutely wanton with prosperity, yet.
dare 20 as,lll congress aud lpc cosulry, with
icigucd and Iypocritcll cries OF ruin and dis
lrcss' To the law and To the prophets To
the census and Ia the valuation Ii these
Pcnusyl,aullns and kcniuckans wish To
know what hard work Is, and what hard fare
Is, let them come In Maine, and see the pc,-
pie face to face, hose industry they seek to
tax yet higher
Here at the iruzen North, comforting nature
in her stcrncs, aspects, on one hand invading
a rugged forest, aud on the other hand trying
the fortunes and hazards of stormy oceans
Maine only asks not to be robbed by those to
whom has fallen the heritage Of rich fields
and bcnignan, skies.
trrom the Belfast Journall
COMMERCIAL Interest oF MAINE.-Wc
give below a communication to the editor of
this paper, which, however, We should re-
marx. was not intended to meet the public
eve. II contains suggestions Of value, aud
we need not disguise another fact, which Is
tina, We feel hattercd by the kind and comPli-
mentary things said Of our efforts, by gent
man, who though now retired from the more
active duties of public life, has done so much
for the reputation Of Maine for commercial
enterprise, as has its venerable author And
we need not assure our correspondent, that, To
the extent of our humble ability, We are ready
to carry out his valuable suggestions.
Barn, Feb'y ilth, 1851.
TO he Editor efhe Republican Journal
DgAR STA: Invalid as am, you will please
excuse my writing with pencil, and allow
me to thank you for your eXcellen, and we'll
timed article upon the commercial interests OF
Maine, in late number OF your paper, obllg-
ingly sent to me. sent 1t To the editor Of
the 4" Eastern Times" who, approaching lis
value, gave i, place in his columns, as YOU