The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-07
From The Hartford Courant.
The shipping OF this Country.

Perhaps il is not generally known that in the
number OF our sailing vessels, and in the amount Of
their tonnage, this nation stands superior to any
country on the globe, 70 Britain herself, whose
mercantile fleet 10 greater than that OF all Europe
beside.
Itappears, from the report of the Secretary OF
the Treasury, that there has been wonderful aug
Inentation Of this tonnage since the year 1915,
when our navigation began to recover from the blow
which the war preceding had inflicted upon its
commerce. In that year our tonnage amounted to
,a6S 900 tons. From this period to 1850 there has
been gradual and Of late rapid gain; though the
amount has fuctuated even below the figures OF
1875 In 1850 our tonnage was 1856, 900 tons.
This estimate includes all the vessels employed
the lakes rivers and canals, or as coasters we'll
as those engaged in foreign trade.
The Newark Advertiser remarks this topic
that 1t Is singular amount of tonnage for nm al
most strictly agricultural people, and indicates a
wonderful tendency in the nation towards mari
time pursuits, and endeavors to account for this
propensity. We imagine that there many ORR
ginal causes that conduced to it, The sterility of
the soil in New England and its difficulty of cult
fishing as means of supporting the great increase
OF population that poured upon them during the
puritanical troubles in England. The fishing they
followed soon gave the New Englanders know
ledge Of navigation and an impulse towards it,,
and the profits they derived from the very COM
menccmcnt of their commercial efforts impell-
ed them to further adventure New England
was the source and origin of every desire TO-.
wards navigation the nation ever felt. The "es-
sentinlly agricultural character of our popu-
lation was not fixed fact until many years subsc
qucnt to the Revolution, when the mighty West
began to open its resources. Many sections at the
South, it is truc formed early exception to this
remark, and their agricultural tendency but fur
nishcd materials for the successful prosecution
OF the carrying trade Of the North. So many of
the original thirteen States furnished with
good harbors, and found, during the numerous
wars in Europe for the last century and half so
much profit in the carrying trade, that may say
up to the period Of the Berlin and Milan DEGREES
and the celebrated Orders in Council We were es-
scntialy commercial people, and desired to keep
ourselves 30. The cause that produced change Of
our habits in Now England in this respect is we'll
known to the general reader.
shipping and tonnage hereafter much more rapidly
than the past, and with rapidity with which no
other power can compete. The building Of large
steam vessels of great power will increase every
year-vessels that will be fit for immediate arma
ment whenever war approaches.
There is likewise quite contest in progress be-
tween US and England, not merely in respect to
the speed of ocean steamers but to class OF clipper
built vessels destined for rapid sailing than
even steamers. The late voyages to China and
back, accomplished by some of these vesseIs-per.
feet models in their way-indcatc q greater speed
than has ever been hitherto obtained. We see
nothing in the great future before US that does not
point to the maritime superiority of this country,
unless in an evil hour, intestine connections pre-.
vail, and scatter the whole fabric of our prosperity