Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-02-04
The Navigation Laws.

codifying the revenue laws being under
consideration, Mr.. Burlingame moved to
strike out the following:
'.But citizens Of the United States,
sole owners of foreign. built vessels, shall
have right to have the bill of sale of
such vessels recorded in the proper col
lection district. and certified by the col
lector in lieu of registering. and to en-
gage in the foreign trade. uyon comply
ing with the laws Of the United States
in relstion TO master and crew, and the
payment Of an annual tonnage duty. in
advance, of one dollar per ton. United
States measurement; and any such vessel
engaging in the foreign trade without
payment Of said tonnage duty. or con-
tinuing il after the year for which the
tonnage duty was paid. shall be liable
to seizure and forfeiture to the United
| States"
Mr., Millson, of Virginia. said
Il hope the Committee will not
strike cut those words. This is cne of
the sections of the bill which heartily
and entirely approve. l wish. sir, the
section had gone further. l wish the
Committee had gone to greater extent
in removing those shackles upon the
trade"
Mr.. Washburn. of Maine. said:
"This is bill for the codification Of
the existing revenue laws of the United
States. and for other purposes and not
for the purpose of establishing laws and
regulations in reference to the commerce
of the United States; it would be Just as
proper to engraft tariff bill on this bill,
az this provision. The gentleman from
Virginia acknowledge that this section
establishes . new system. In fact. ii
breaks down the navigation laws of the
United States. Now, if Con. ress is lis.
posed to do this thing. let them do i,
openly. squarely. boldly. and not indi-
rectly in bill which purports to be for
the codi6cation of the existing revenue
laws Of the United States. I hope the
amendment of the gentleman from Mas.
sachusetts will prevail"
Mr.. Morse, Gf Maine, said:
1.-THE gentleman from Virginia Mr.
MillsonJ thinks this section will be an
entering wedge towards striking down
the navigation laws of this country. and
he offers us the example of England WHO
has repealed her navigation laws for the
very purpose of enabling her to compete
with the world in the carrying trade.
suppose the gentleman knows that there
is now an almost universal cry over Eng.
land for The restoration of those laws, o.
something equivalent to them; that the
ships Of Prussia and Northern Europe
have entered into her coasting trade t.
so great an extent a. seriously to injurt
even British navigation. These ships
have to-day large share Of the carrying
trade between British America and the
mother country. A few years ago. there
were nearly as many tons Of American
shipping engaged in carrying lumber
from the British American Provinces
and the United States to Europe, az there
were in the export cotton trade. But
both British and American tonnage has,
TO NO little extent. Ten displaced by the
cAeaPer-built and cheaper-sailed ships oi
Germany and the north of Europe, where
labor meets with but : poor seward for
its toll. ! have sssn Ehess ships within
the last three months loading for Europe.
In the lower British Provinocs. where
four years ago. they we're almost A,,Gi,e
strangers, sad the American and British
dags almost the only ones seen. Thess
vessels are built and sailed much cheaper
than ours. They pay their mastlrs only
about twenty dollars per monxh-no
more than seamens wages in &his ceun-
t.y-and their ssamsn only about fixe
dollars-good navigators end good sea-
mon, too; and the dii3evejke in fare. ox