New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-05
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.


YESTERDAY ut ns rooms corner OF Cedar and William
,ttets PsLgTIAH PERT the President, occupying the
chair There was unusually large attendance OF
members.
The mautes Of the previous meeting read, and,
after slight amendment were approved.
The following gentlemen were elected members:
Charles A. Cops land, Abraham ). Hewett, William
l.. King, and CLas. Squire, IT, Archibald Graeis WAS
elected member Of the COMMITTEES Of AToitrauon IN
place Of Henry W. I. Mali Whose term had expired.
The question Of opening the coating trade TO foreign
bottoms came up the majority and minority reports
Of the Special Committee, TO whom the matter had
been referred coon after the interview Of the ESecu-
tive Committee Of the Chamber with Mr.. Lindsey,
NJ p, on his recent visit to this country.
GIo. w. BLUNT moved tho adoption OF the ma
joi.y report, submitted by Capt Nye its Chsirman.
Mr.. NELsoS, who had submitted the minority re-
port opposed the motion 70 adopt. He held that there
would be but little risk ia opening eoasting trade
10 foreign competition and illustrating this fact he
stated that while had ships al thi port loading for
China, India Australia, the s.sI ana est c9As': Oh
not one Ia hundred Of them were foreign vessels, and
he could not why should fear tue result " the
California trade in the ooasting law to this extent
was repealed. The English COLONIAL carrying trade
was very large oue and he doubted not thai most OF
our chief sLpOwpers would admit that II woGld be Of
great advantage TO them 10 be able TO participate In
It, II seeued 10 be the policy Of great nation to
grasp everything and to give nothing III return Tor
fot we bad nothing give except ooastiDg trade.
On the subject Of buying foreign ships aud having
them registered here he thought that privilege ought
10 be granted 10 citizens Of the United States. lie
moved 70 amend by substituting the minority Tor the
majority report.
ions II. brewer favored the adoption Of the ma
ory report. lie alluded 10 tho policy Of Great Bit
ain 10 being liberal toward foreign nations where her
interests were TO be snbseryed by it, IN admitting
cheap food when her products insufficient TO
supply the wants of her people, and when her capital
and labor could be protably employed In her varied
branches OF industry SO, too she oeased 10 tax Tie
nav mattel ials which entered into her manufactures
that they might be rendered profitable. Her in
,eress were carefully protected oil points, whether
by free trade rodp ocal reaiies, TO cheaper whai
che bought and ~ place the results OF her lndurty
upon the unrestricted markets Of the world fearless OF
competion. lie thought that tie majority report was
correct In saying that Great BRIAN old not oer amy
Just equivalent for the advantages which tho opening
OF our coasting trade woGld place at her disposal lie
took issue with Mr. Lindsey In bis state nebt that the
ship owner was mere carrier, ana old not create
trade--that the trade must be created Tor him. lie
held that the construction Of ship was q
creator of trade, If there any creation IN trade
The timber iron, hemp and cotton coupled VIVID trans.
portstioD and productive labor We're combination oi
q large trade OF its own creation. Mr.. Brewer pro-
duced statistical information to sustain bis view
Comparing the enrolled with the registered tunDage
which much Of toe enrolled tunIage was employed,
and taking into consideration the short routes upon
compared with the registered, he thought II
might be fairly inferred that our coast and
the lake carrying trade was quite equal
In quantity 10 that Of our foreign commerce In both
American and foreign ships. lie thought that nr.
Lindsey understood the importance OF our coasiinB
trade and was desirous TO turn TO Junt In behalf
Of his tountrynen in view OF the sups or advantages
in cheopness England had over Am Tlcs In the con-
strucon Of iron ships. II no duties were levied on
iron, our mechanics would have TO compete with the
Scotch in the price Of labor only with duty, they
would have 70 compete with the amount OF the duty
also. As this they could DO iron ships would have
lie imported Tor u.s. already built and free OF duty;
and then sbips, whether owned 6y our merchants or
foreigners could compete In our domestic trade lie
contended that far from there beng compensation
for the United States open her coasting trade In En-
gland opening her colonial trade, that was
compensated for in having divided with her the
same important foreign commerce OF our country IN
both her products and own, anu by winch her
sailing vessels had been as advantageousiy en-
loyed our own, or they could have
been had she retained her colonial carrying trade ana
left Us with less competition on the AtlaAtc Our SAIL
ing vessels had lost 81 eli advantages Of former days
having been supphnedh Wy the lines Of British Subsidized
seamers and TO bis mind tie policy now was to extend
these lines OF steamers 10 embrace our nome trade IN
competition with local lines. lie did not wish TO DO
understood es advocating restrictive trade WHAT ne
would like was TO take away all restrictions and give
us free trade In full But when he cav the mechanic
ard artisan but half employed because Of taxes on the
material necessary TO their trade and wa asked 10 de-
prve them OF the other half by Withdrawing the taxes
upon the material when combined with foreign labor,
he must reject the proposal The proposition began
tho wrong end In conclusion, Mr.. Brewer commended
that In the present state OF the country we were MOI 10
such certain relation the coast from South Carolina
TO the Rio Grande that Government could negoti-
ate with England in regard to the trade OF the adjacent
ports, and that If there 70 be permanent separa-
ton Great Britain might soon turn her negociaIenS 10
another direction, unless different disposition should
prevail ID the North toward the people and the COM
merce Of the States which bound that coast.
Capt. ME- stated, In reference to the Cahiornia
trade II that were 70 be thrownoPen, In very short
time Great Britain would be running her steamers
from Victoria TO Panama under subsidies from the
British Government, and that lie 70 connect would
BE- established upon this sde and we should have our
Mr.. NELSON oontsnded that were we allowed TO
purchase the other side We could then
compete with England In the Atlantic carrying trads