Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-04-10
VOL. v.
were foremast to advocate the system, from an
ticpations of future benefits.

were foremast to advocate the system, from an
ticipations of future benefits.
Competition is well known to be one of the
greatest indictments to life, activity and i'm
provement in any department; and healthy
competition we needed more than any thing,
for the development of our abundant resources.
But Americans could not then compete with
the powerful manufacturers of England and
the continent of Europe, with their pauper op-
eratives who were glad to work for the merest
substance. And those manufacturers saw
clearly that if our project for supplying our
selves succeeded, it must prove ruinous to
them, and that their only safety was to be found
in crushing, if possible, our infant Efforts
Amy amount of exertion and pecuniary sacri-
fee for time was hardly too great for them to
make to effect this end, and there was brought
against our youthful skill, industry. enterprise
and capital, competition which it would have
been hardly possible for our manufacturers to
Withstand without the protecting aid of their
own government, for time at least for, not
only foreign skill, capital and industry were
brought against them in their infancy, but, leg
islation also. For illustration, n,-when the first
efforts were being made to establish in this
country the manufacture of sheathing-copper
for ships, for which we had hitherto been al
most entirely dependent on England, where,
immense wealth was invested in the manufac-
ture of this single article, and consequently a
strong motive existed to crush in the bud those
efforts of ours which threatened the English
manufacturer with ruin, to counteract which,
one of those concerns instructed their agents in
this country, IS was told by him in confidence
to customer. thst they had determined to keep
| their prices for the article, below what the
q mericans could afford it, and would continue
this course until they had sunk at least Geo.
600, or 900. as their share of the sacri-
fce to be mae in this warfare. And this pre-
sents but single case and single point Of at
tack upon our deveiaping enterprise. And,
although, the American manufacturers of this
article may never have demaLded protective
duty, lest they should drive our s.hips abroad
to sheath, the illustration is nevertheless good,
as relating to that point.
What American, we would ask, with con-
viction of our ability to.supply ourselves, and
understanding the position of things as they
then stood, if he wished to be provided against
future dependence on but one source of supply,
would have hesitated with regard to the true
American policy, And, what ship-builder
would hesitate to say, save me from the mo-
nopely of English manufacturers, even though
am hardened for a time by duty on their
articles, adequate to enable our own manufac-
turers TO persevere in their efforts to hold with
Foreigners, healthy competition - Very many
of our ship-owners and builders did say So
the policy prevailed, and even home cempeti-
ton has been brought about, not only in the va
rious productions ia copper, but iron, lead,
hemp, &c, bringing down the prices Of all,
and we congratulated ourselves that, for time,
we submitted to the tax.
Other causes may deabtiess have had some
thing to do with this bringing down of prices,
but we believe that the protection of American
manufacturers and its production of healthy
competition in the developments of our various
resources, have had the principal share in ef
fecting this desirable result.
But is it our true policy to continue these
heavy duties on articles which enter so largely
iato important branches of our industry, such
as ship-builling! A branch too, in prosecut-
ing which, we have to contend for success
with the whole commercial world, and on
the prosperity of which, our agriculture and
many other branches of our industrial opera
tions greatly depend. Is it necessary that the
full measure of this prolectioa should be con.
| tinued1 Will net those branches, if not our
manufacturers generally, no,o sustain them
selves with a reduced protection which will
prove less eRereus to other important depart
meats Of cur industry and enterprise I, We
believe that these questions may be answered
| in the affirmative, and that, as Maine is deeply
interested in their correct aud practical solution,
it is time for her to raise her voice on the sub
ject until efectually heard. r1 si 1l.-ti
We have advanced to new era in COM
merce as we'll as in politics. The more liber-
| al policy of commercial nations, seconded by
that reciprocity Of which eur own government
has set an honorable example, is widening the
field and sharpening the edge decomposition in
commercial and maritime operations, in which
our country, and especially our own State is
destined 70 act SO important part, if not Grip
pied by excessive tariff taxation. ni .-.tI F.,
1t is true that the shipping interest Of this
country. has in time past and to the present
moment patiently submitted to bearing heavy
est have, to greater or less extent justified ii
to themselves and felt to be justified before the
world in submitting thus patiently to the bur-
then as part of a system of true policy, for the
time at least. Perhaps they have been too pa
tient, and the time has now fully come when
they should demand reduction of these bur
thens, as the true policy of the country--cer-
tainly they should not patiently submit to an
increase of them. a.....u,.f
In illustration of this patiekce, we well re-
member the remark of one of our largest ship.
builders and owners, some twenty years since
In view Of the fluctuatioas Of the tariff--it was
this: "'If the government will only let us know
4 what burthen we have to bear, we will accom-
! modate our shoulders to it. -" This patiea,