The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-02-16
The Registry of Alienated vessels.

REMARKS OF Mr. LYNCH IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
o. 1t is well known fact that during the war
just ended an Immense number of vessels
owned by Americans procured licenses or sea
letters by which they enjoyed the protection
and benefit of foreign flags without changing
their ownership In many cases disloyal men
have largely availed themselves OF the fags
and privileges of foreign nations, often for
purposes which if not absolutely dlsloyal were
vet indefensible. The injustice of allowing
sucb vessels to resume at will the character
they renowned in time of danger, and to
compete on equal terms with such as have
faithfully adhered to the fortunes of their
country is manifest. Hon. John Lynch, our
Representative in Congress, lately called the
attention of that body to the matter, and it
was referred to the Committee ON Commerce.
Mr.. Elliott, from that Committee, has report
ed bill which provides that ,... e,..s.r
No ship or vessel which has been recorded
or registered as an American vessel pursuant
to law, and which shall have been licensed or
otherwise authorized to sail under foreign
flag or the protection of foreign government
during the existence OF the rebellion, shall be
deemed or registered as an American vessel, OF
shall have the rights and privileges OF Ameri-
can vessels except under an act of Congress
authorizing such registry. ...i .st.,fE
In the debate which ensued upon the merits
of this bill, Mr.. Lynch had the floor and made
the following remarks; n. .r,f
Mr.. Speaker, hope that action on this inn
portant matter will not be deferred. believe
that immediate action is demanded. Every
day vessels are coming back by an evasion OF
the present revenue laws, and are taking out
American registers.
If gentlemen will refer to the law of Deem
Der %, 1852, they will find that it provides for
the issue of American registers to foreign YES
sells wrecked and sold to an American, where
the amount of repairs shall be three fourths
of the value of the vessel when repaired.
Under this law great many vessels have OBJ
tanned American registers. l have long list of
vessels which have obtained registers under
this law through the custOm-house at the port
of New York; and it is significant fact that
all of these vessels were formerly American,
and transferred during the war to foreign
flag. They come back in this way: man
who had put his vessel under foreign flag,
and enjoyed all the advantages of its protec-
ton during the entire period of the rebellion,
now desiring to procure an American register,
adopts this ingenious plan to evade the law ;
the vessel is grounded at some obscure place
along the coast, and is then advertised as a
wrecked vessel in some obscure newspaper:
the owner buys her at a nominal price, pur-
chases sails anchors and rigging. amounting
to more than three times the price paid for
the vessel, thus making the repairs amount to
more than three fourths Of the value OF the
vessel. After obtaining an American register,
these sails, anchors and rigging are sold. More
than twenty vessels have come back by thus
evading this law. B.sUs ~. tn.i3a-laf+
Others have come back under an opinion of
the Solicitor of the Treasury that vessels own
ed by Americans who took up a temporary
residence in foreign country during the war,
and sailed during this time under foreign
flag and foreign register, were not Invested
of their American character. 1 think quito a
number of vessels came back under this de-
cision; but on the Secretary of the Treasury
having his attention called to the subject, /
believe he does not favor this construction of
the law. / think it is agreed that an Ameri-
can vessel has q national character which does
not depend wholly upon ownership. A.
Now, the question arises, whether it is right
to allow vessels to come back in this way by
an evasion of the spirit OF the laws; whether
it is Just to those owners of vessels who have
refused to desert the flag of their country in
her hour of peril !. 1t is a cowardly argument
to offer in behalf of these ship owners that their
country,could notprotect them, On the same
principle the whole population might leave
with their property and place themselves I'M
der foreign protection. 1t is for the people to
protect the country in time of war; they are
part of the country, and ought not to desert
her when in danger. Lit would certainly be
dangerous policy for a nation to offer indhce-
ments for its citizens to desert with their prop
erty and identify their interests with its enc
mics in timeof war. 5s1ciila sGW d3info .iE-
Let me for moment call the attention of
the members of this House to the position of
these American ship-owners while their yes
sells enjoyed the protection of foreign nation
during the rebellion. Their interests were
rot only aienated from their own country,
but were identified with foreign Eship-owners
whose interests were promoted by destruc
ton of American commerce. Every Ameri-
can ship-owner, whose vessel sailed under the
flag OF England during the rebellion had pre-
ciseIy the same pecuniary interest in the de-
struction of American commerce as had the
English shiI-owner. dagMGa ~ a HP..'
Now, is it policy for the Government to al
low, TO encourage her citizens to desert her
during war, aud then TO return with the re-
turn Of peace and have the same advantages
as those who have suffered by standing by
her? trust we shall not 50 decide. sslq bonn
r8h 6-l .d Not So. at l1f uglsainiil1|
The Newbern IN. C.) Times utters dolefhl