Eastern times., 1853-04-07

Der suited TO the purpose, and chesp materi-
ais al command, 10 build ships and throw
them into our market on such terms as 10 he
oppressive, if not ruinous, TO our shiI-build-
ing interests. We should not stand on enual
ground. Our ship timber is broueh, from !
distance. Il is collected from Maine IN Geor-
gia. Many hundreds OF our mechaoics ar.
employed every winter in Maryland. Virgin
ia, North Carolina, and Georgia. IN cn,t;no
aud preparing timber, which is transmr,pd
to our ship ards in Maine and other north
ern States, and there manufactured into ships.
Heavy duties, too, are imposed upon the iron.
the bolts, the cordage, the sails. and other
articles which our ship-builGers NAV wish
10 import, from which duties their rivals
would be relieved. These duties alone
amount to about $4,000 upon The materials
for single ship of sevea Lkndred tons bur
den.
The time at which it is proposed 10 strike
the blow at our navigation is peculiarly un.
fortunate. We are IN the midst of the strug-
gle with our great commercial rival for the
commerce of the world. She has dis.anced
every other competitor. Venice, Portugal.
Holland, are 40 longer in the field She is
now making herculean efforts to overpower
the new competitor that has entered the con-
test on this side Of the Atlantic. Thus far
we have held our way, and more than held
n; and It is not from an American statesman,
or an American Seuate, that blow should
come 10 cripple our mercantile marine, while
engaged IN this great struggle.
: have heard the declaration from several
Senators that they are in favor Of free trade,
and some who opposed the proposition be-
fore the Senate, OH the ground that il is par
tial in its character, have taken the occasion
10 declare themselves for free trade when
ever il can become general. Ii by free trade
they mean the entire abolition OF duties on
imports, and the support OF The Government
BY direct taxation, | must say, in all frank
ness, am not in favor of that policy. In
my judgment: il would be inexpedient and
unwIse, II not iinpractlcabIe. That taxation
which is least felt, is least Irritating. Reve-
nue. raised 10y duties upon imports is more
cheertuIly paid, and is felt to be less harrass-
ing and oppressive than il could be made
when collected by the tax-ga aIherer under
any system of direct taxation.
Nor should we overlook, in the decision OF
question like this, the benefits that fairly
accrue 10 many branches Of domestic indus
Try from the lncden al protection which they
ICSCNO liOuI u tdiHL upon imports, necessary
Tor the purpose OF revenue to support the
Government. believe that our true policy
is TO administer The Government upon prin
ciples Of the most rigid econom. aud 10
raise the means essential for this purpose by
tariff, so adjusted, as 10 afford incidental
protection TO manufactures essential 70 ma
tlonal independence, and those 10 which our
country is capacltaled to succeed when fair
ly established, making also proper discrim-
ination in favor OF the necessarles for the
masses, as compared with the Iuxuries which
wealth may demand. This, it appears 10
me, is far better policy than any which
will be likely TO result from absolute free
trade. II is The proper mean between ultra
protection on the one hand. aud direct lax
alton OIL the other. 1t is the free trade which
the country wants, leaving commerce unfet-
tered and free frem any unnecessary or op-
pressive burdens, asit is left by the iudcious
tariff of lS46.
Mr.. BORLAND. With the permission ot
the Senate, will withdraw my amendme n I.