The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-26
The Navigation Laws.-AMsrican Commerce.
we md IN an exchange paper the following extraC
rom the Hong Kong Register OF Augusta:

The NsviKsuon Lsws.-An,sricaa Commerce.
we ind IN an exchange paper the following extract
from the Hong. Kong Register OF August 5
"Fine times, these, for American clippers The Sur
PRISE captain Demaresq has been loaded London
10 whilst plenty Of British ships lying idle and
valuable u, half the The Surprise we hear earned
3oo,0oo from New York TO San Francsco-she will make
S4OOW TO London. We ask, are the Americans cutting us
out or hare they done IN Let clipper freight be 20, The
rao ny other ships I'll l0s, the Americans get it and
maintain that the carrying trade between China and Eng
land is as good as lost to British shipping"
we have seen many statements similar to this-all Of
them proving that American ships not only able to
maintain themselves against British competition but that
they are rapidly gaining the control OF many branches Of
trade OF which British tonnage enjoyed almost entire
monopoly until the spread of freelrade principles pre-
cured The modification OF the navigation laws Of England
and the United States, which took effect on the LIST Of
January, 1850. Since that modification an immense field
has been opened to American commercial enterprise and
the fact is already demonstrated that an nesmabe har
vest will be gathered from it.
The English navigation laws which had been in ope-
ration for several centuries not only excluded foreign
tonnage from the coastng trade OF the British islands,
but they forbade the importation or the consumption Of
the United Kingdom) OF the products OF British colony
in foreign vessel. or the importation for the same pur.
pose Of the products of any country except in the ships
OF that country, or in British ships. An American yes.
sci could not take cargo OF lumber from Canada nor
one OF coffee from Jamaica. and enter it in any British
port for consumption in the United Kingdom Nor could
French Swedish vessel take from any OF our ports
cargo of tobacco, cotton, breadsus. or of ANYTHING
which was the growth product Of the United States
and enter it at British port for the consumption OF the
United Kingdom. These provisions were protective in
their character They at war with the principles
Of free trade They prevented competition and enhanced
prices by imposing unnecessary and charges be-
tween the producer and consumer
On the Isl of March, 1917. retaalory act of Con-
gress approved, which prohibited after the thirteenth
day OF September next ensuing the importation Of goods
wares, merchandise into the United States except in
vessels of the United States, in such vessels az
truly and wholly belong TO the citizens subjects of the
country of which such goods wares, merchandise
were the growth, product or manufacture, from which
such goods wares merchandise could only be or most
usually shipped for transportation. This act lad
the following proviso attached
Prordsd, wsvrrthsiess. Thar SHALL NOT
EXTEND TO Tux VESSELS OF ANY FOREIGN HAS
NOT ADOPTED, AND WHICH SHALL NOT aporr, SIMILAR
LAToN"
The act OF March 1917, was reiastory in its char
quoted. i, plainly intended 10 apply only those
nations which had placed restrictions American ton
mage The proviso also looked TO the future, and took
away the benefit OF any exemption from any nation
which might thereafter place similar restrictions ships
owned by citizens OF the United States rhe democratic
party always gave the true Interpretation TO that law and
as il had prospective operation, held tina, would moi,
apply TO such nations had imposed the restrictions il
treated OF on vessels OF the United States on or before the
first of March. lsl7, after they should repeal those
.trctons This construction prevailed until lsl2, when
Mr. Webster was al The head OF the cabinet, and Walter
Forward esq was Secretary Of the Treasury On the 9th
OF July Of tina, year reversed and the prohibitions OF
the ac, Of March ISL made to extend repeualy
to such nations had similar prohibitions on that day,
although they might have subsequently repealed them.
This forced construction TO realiaory law was
ruled by the district Of the southern district OF New
York. On the 9th OF November, Is47 Mr. Walker, then
Secretary OF the Treasury, issued circular in which he
referred to the New York and restored the
s,rucon which had been placed upon the act of 1877
from the time of its passage up 10 1912. That
siructon accepted reciprocity in advance and made
&C, of Congress unnecessary when the British Parla
mep in June 1sl9 repealed the English navigation laws
Except to the coasting rade) in favor OF those
tons which should grant reciprocity eioreJsnuary
/, 1850
Durw Mr. Folks administration, instructions were
sent 10 Mr. Bancroft minister at London, TO urge the
repeal Of the British navigation laws, TO the end that the
PRINCIPLES OF Tree trade might be introduced into
cal rivalry The introduction OF the repeal bill in the
House Of Commons drew attention 10 Mr.. Bancroit's in
.ruc,ions when Mr.. Webster, who then in the
Senate brought the matter to the attention OF that body,
and deprecated in strong language the which Mr.
Folks administration had pursued great portion Of the
whg press If our memory is not Ieacherous, assailed
that administration and attempted TO convince the
try tina, our commercial marine about to be
DESTROYED BY British competition. Blu, the repeal bill
was sanctioned by Parliament in June, lsio, throwing
open the British carrying trade, excepting the coasing
trade. to the competition of the vessels OF all nations
which might repeal their navigation laws yield reci
rrociiy by the st OF January 1850 Then the monopo
lists conended that nothing but act OF Congress could
accept the offer of the British Parliament, and that il
necessary TO pass bill to that effect, Congress did moi,
meet until the Oh Of December, 1si9 and il was mani
testify impossible pass such blk through both houses
in time 10 accept the British Offer If General Tay
lor's cabinet had been willing to approve it. General
Tayor's administration hesitatcd. The mercantile CON-
mum y became camorous. The law Of 1917 was cited
tn. construction which had been given TO !, up 1912
was cited; the decision OF the New York court, over.
ruling the new construction OF is12, cited and
the circular OF Mr. Walker Of iS47, restoring the right