The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-30

pe1sor al pur,dcstion and changes Of raiment
1S he si p
the release Of al not TO be 30 within the period
reduction IN The charges Of quarantine in every branch
ins nc and
The selecscn at tie earliest period prsccsee Of sperma
s.ie1 sdsp.ss e .Is pubic s.issnCss 80 .-.'.'
~. That =, Ne Chamber w urge upon The s,
law providing for me adoption Of the before mentioned pnc
p sm y ans and OF the '
e Of Urhed .ysS
wsrebousnE IN conAeaon with hs Quassnrne ssatn Of tho
Some dscusaion arose on the report between Messrs
Low and Prosper n. Wetmore, but it Of puoic
tsIest. motion TO adopt the report led to another
lengthy discussion, and finally accepted and ordered
to be published in all the daily papers, and be taken up
for final action at the next regular meeting Of the Cham
Il is ordered that 1000 copies OF the annual report shall
be published.
G. a. MARSHALL by the unanimous consent OF the Cham
Der, submitted tie following memorial be presented to
the President OF the United States regard TO losses by
collisions Of vessels at sea, and asked the Chamber
officers signatures TO it, After debate the request
was granted The following Is copy Of the document
THE MEMORIAL.
To HB ExcyIIxNcy JAMES BUCHANAN, President OF The
sRThe Undersigned merchants and shipo wners Of the
city Of New York. respectfully ask your Intervention
the purpose Of relieving American ship owners from abi
hes TO which they unjusty exposed In consequence
Of the existing laws Of Great Britain reference TO
time losses and disasters especially those occasioned BY
collision. 4,
The undersigned are informed that the attention OF the
British government has already been called TO this sub
ec by merchants In England engaged in with
this country, and they cannot doubt that examination
Of the facts would a induce views
and action between the two governments
BY the British Merchant Shipping oct Of 1884, the liabi
lily Of shipowner for loss or damage 70 life property,
occurring without his actual fault privty limited 70
the value Of the ship and her freight [5ee chap cv 18th
The principle urdu which ths law proceeds ia obvious
OF statute limiting the liability OF ship in
such cases. (See act March 3, 1851, United States
Statutes at large esq., has, however, been neld by the
Ergsh courts In judicial decisions In nvolvng the
construction Of the oct first above referred that It a
plies only TO recognized British vesses, and that Ameri
can owners (notwhsanding the limitation Of liability
secured them by the law OF their country
entitled the benefit Of the English statute, but
responsible TO British subjects unlimited extent TO-
the consequences OF the disasters embraced within tn
II will be apparent at once that In this state OF thu
law the very evils which the British Shipping act and
The act Of Congress above referred to were
prevent stll exist in respect TO all American vessel
and their owners mourning liabilities TO British subjects,
and by parity Of reasoning, to all British vessels and
their owners mourning liabilities 70 American citizens
Any American OF interest, however small, ia
which by Of collision with another should
be held liable, might thus be compelled respond IN
damages the extent Of the entire however great
No prudent would be willing 70 be engaged In com
merce 1t such reks, especially vigilance FORE
sight on tho part Of owners can guard AGAINST the danger
Of cohisona peril Of the which the constant
augmeuts
The interests OF our commerce mporativeiy demand
that relief should DO afforded against the liabilities
to which refer, and that the equitable principles al
ready recognized both England United Sases
in respect 70 their osn shipppg should be made part
OF the International Law OF the two countries.
In hope that this simple statement the will be
srb,ie, IN secure yoor carry aud favorable susUeoo
ths g. Co., ~ IL " s~lt W - -s r0l..iv- ou