The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-23

1r>..aA -jisi-.----~x
an equIvslsp. fOr IT," and &c should b dhwg
ling to advise e tber favor any relaxation Of
the rigor Of the law.
We do not altogether agree with the Seore-
tary of the Treasury In his view OF this matter.
The law by which vessel once transferred
from tie American flag to foreign one--ex-
cept in specific cases mentioned-was forbid
den to be rc>-registered in the United States,
was passed as early as the year 1877. AT that
time our commercs was mere cipher COM
pared with what It low Is. The voyages Of
our merchant ships wer> then confined to
relatively limited sphere, Ind the circumnavi-
cation of the globe was scarcely ever attempted
by our ships. Steam navigation was entirely
unknown. The idea Of the occurrence Of .
rebellion as prodigious as that through which
the country has just passed could scarcely
have been conceived. In short, the entire
aspect Of American commerce has since that
time been completely revolutionized. What
was then but an infant has now assumed gigan-
tic proportions. 1t should be further remarked
in this connection that 1t was no fault Of Amert-
can ship-owners that they transferred their
flag. The sxigencies Of the case demanded
it. The nation was unable to protect their
vessels on the high seas. Their ships
were at the mercy of few but formidar
BILE cruisers Of the enemy, and they obviated
the difficulty by adopting, what military men
do in emergencies, species Of strategy when
they have not the strength to cope with foe.
Another point: These ship-owners did not
transfer their flag to the enemy; they did not
adopt the ensign Of the adversary as protec-
ton. On the contrary, they incurred double
penalty by being discovered sailing under
false colors. Some sailed under the British
flag, some under the French; others again, in
discriminatory, under the flags of Russia Spain,
Portugal, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway,
and almost every other known flag. Some
were built and owned in Boston; and one, re-
Gently lost on this coast, hailed from Liver
pool while she was owned and her insurance
was paid here. In short, 1t is reasonable
view of the subject to excuse, II not tQlaud,
the conduct of American ship-owners this
matter, for the reason that while they protected
their own interests at no expense to the gov
ment, they kept open our commerce with for
eign countries and enabled us TO receive, al
belt under quasi-toreign flag, materials OF
war-saltpetrc, for one article-that helped
us 10 carry on the conflict successfully.
II must be remembered also, that all these
vessels, although ostracized by the Secretary
OF tho Treasury, are still owned by American
citizens; that they still, In fat, comprise q
portion Of the American mercantile marine;
that they are insured in American insurance
companies, and that all losses are paid By
those companies. In reality, our commerce
has not been deprecated by the fact Of these
vessels adopting in an extremity another flag.
The same amount Of capital and the Same
number of vessels remain here. What the
government may have lost by the non-receipt
Of tonnage duties from them, while under
another Gag, 10 . mere bagatelle when com
pared with what Il may receive after our oom-
merce "a again fully restored 10 It's lstcy aour.
ishing condition n 1t be necessary 10 revise
the navigation laws In order 10 restore them To
the old Gag. now that they again seek in pro-
tecsion, by oil means do so; and thus we shall
be carrying out, not only on land, but upon The
seas, President yohnson's admirable recon
struction policy.