New-York daily tribune., 1863-11-18
REBEL DEPBEDATIONs ON our
COMMERCE.
Memorial 60 the secretary OF the Navy
Reply of NIr. Welics.

Reply of Mr. Welics.
H. GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary cf tie Nary, UasaiHStoa
DC
SIR: The continued depredatons Of the Rebel
cei the mercantile marine Of the country have only
sroyel large amoun: Of the active capital Of the
,ln bat seriously rcsten the very existence Of that vau
de part # Apart from the loss OF much
tvda wealth and the destruction Of valuable
efms.ei power and ENTERPRISE ia humilstng pride
peu, Of the fs, naval power the esrth that couple
n udferery equipped Rebel cruisers should for long
rri resen with snnihiaiion 1t Is pain
source Of modification to every American at home and
,roii ia the great highways Of have hiih
ri, been cf unprotected by the almost total absence Of
tona ned vessels to induce Rebel insolence to attack
CT fas almost the Of hsrbor and TO actually
t ksde merchantmen the Cape Of Good Hope
r. an account Of which you have here incosed. being
, copy Of letter recently received from captain
one Of the bockaded ships having valuable cargo
We coasciou. that i; easy capture
O. cruisers the bouudess Of the ocean aided and
tsel ,ey too ooen have been ports where u,ena
en comfy ifno international law have been set at def
see and have witnessed with satisfaction the patriotic
and energy your department and the glorious successes
Kour navy In subiung the Rebellion which threatens
u1na uion
Sill we think tia, the loyal merchants and shpowners Of
escoIy whose zeal and patriotic cooperation hsv,
ted 20 ave energetic protection Of their inere;s than
.s heca hitherto exteudeitoi IT,
YOU vcy ssduous Official duties have doubt prevented
20 investigating the serious nroads which the unpro
ei 4 carrying trade has produced ,unnnse
u without Troubling you with the great loss which ship
Ivasrs Sustain in the almost total loss Of foreign
h1y cesry 20 call your attention TO the inc!osed table
tplred aud published by Of the best informed
u, journals Of the city showing the loss Of the carrying
a sofs Iv
- WI perceive that. while duIng the quarter ending Goth Of
J-ne 1850 imported and exported 462 ooooOC IN
Lnicsr vessels and bet 900 0oO by foreign vessels
The corresponding quarter Of this ycH only seo0
s,o1r ships while haze sc5 10000 by foreign yes
W. The Intermediate periods show mos, painful decadence
osr shipping nie.es, and tunnage by transfer and sale to
t,isn al.s which this time Of considerable commercial
,y does much indicate want Of enterprise IN ths
Edo occupation s want Of Conscience IN the nA;ioaal pro
oa OF our sg the The national pride Of m,ny
o patriotic shipownes has subjected them TO heavy sacri
fee, difference Of n.ur against capture of2 per cent to
p,r cont while the Underwriters Of lie country heve been
sczpei make grsa. concession IN favor Of American ship
ps VI without materially as citing the result and many Of
hen scouneriug beavy losses by captures in quarters where
Gy bid cason believe commerce would be protected
sy-s.i5n,l vessels o: efficiency End power.
Indeed Ire almost total absence 0; efficient naval force IA
E.y Of the reu, highways Of commerce mas had damaging
kneiy the part Of the Rebel cruisers and
an the part of ndeIwIters, and others IN interest
u,o b-he, Government protection would be asoraea 20
,gr shin, laden with valuable cssoes The want o Aoeq's'e
nsd els on prominent naval stations Tor protecting our
, has become notorious that Underwriters no longer
e on the chance Of the capture OF these heo.' cruisers
,, Of or national sirs but calculate only on the chances
er Of our OF the possible Destruction o.
d. , craft irom reported unseaworthiness or inniiny
r uoen,. are made with az candor, aud in no srr oi
,rtou.ae but with desire to cOlcede that the eDaIAss
re-, Of the department which Il not b. prudent of pH
table 10 explain 20 the pubic, mly fny Justify the rniof
t,s,s which the ant Of nav protection has pcen
o., commerce in Yet IL J. respectfully urged that you VIII
s,s h. subject tie beBel. o! Tie ssne energy ana aOy
s,isb have 30 credisbly marked the sdninistFs
Il. Of your departrnen, in ell other chsnnols Z"
va, oaicisl duties 30 one can better comprehend
tan m IN your position tie value Of successful commerce o.
G time Of great National expenditure and paralysis o 50
Epot sn interest cannot be contemplated without Aoo'
.a period -four National egc We beg leave tso "a
to on extract from The C9am0cia! Aar1ii' Of IL Io'f
t 70 .eoue: yoif attention to the paragraph marked
We are sir very repeatedly your Obeden' servants
| RICHARD LATHERs, Presf. ct WesteFn ms Co.
IS ii1ffIfRoP. Pre-; fre;, tnion Ma'u.i ins Co
III GRlSNELL, Pres- r-n Nutlsl ins. 90.
l ROLI. l., TAYLOR, lnes shsii snd s.ipo~I.eI
6RiYNELL. MiNTURN Co., merchants and shipownerr
CHIg fyEWCOMB. V. PTest. Merchants Mutual ln' GO
i BROW. BROS. & Co., BANKERS.
l W. 7. FROST, merchant aud shipo"ners
/ gOGfRT q KNEELAND, meIcianis
| DUNCAN SHERMAN Z Coz bankefs
/ BICKTiN nCRANE merchants and ,Alpowners
i RI MORGAN merchant and shpo"n.r'
l A LOW s EROS, merchants aud 'hipo"nsrs
/ VI. WilTLOCK. IT, merchant sad shpo"ner.
i GEORGE OPDYKE, Mayor Of City oi Ne"'ioM
l ArGr ST BELMONT bsnter.
i JAS O. KINGS SONS. bsnk'ra
i ARCHIBALD GRACE, Incrchsnt ,,.
L HOWIHHDk FROTHl lNGHAM. merchants and shipow's
WILLIAMS 5 GUION, nesciisnts end shpowner'.
Isaac sUEKMAN merchant and shipo~ner
VA SALE & Co.. merchants and shpowners'
| THOMAS DIrNflAJ. merchant and snPowneT
| sPOFTOHD & TiLFSTOS merchants and shipowneTs.
4 BABCOCK BROS. & Co., bsukers
4 J. r. MORGAN / Co., baDlers.
l T. ID. MORGAN, e. :. Senator.
Il kec- York Oct, 20, 1868.