The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-10


the probabilities of the early future.
Radical LeGislatIoa-The American Marine.
The foolisbness Of radical legislation is per-
haps more strikingly manifest in the condition
Of the American shipping interest at the
present time, as contrasted with few years
ago, than in almost anything else. Scarcely
decade has elapsed since American steam
navigation was rendered famous by the advent
Of the world renowned Collins steamers In
the Atlantic carrying trade; and barely half
that time since the United States were among
the very first maritime nations on the globe.
And now, owing to the little "brief authority"
of handful Of radical Legislators, what
humilating contrast to this do we present
In the first instance, Congress stultifed itself
by virtually repudiating its obligation to fulfil
its contract with the Collins line Of steamers,
in refusing to pay for the carrying of the mails,
by means Of which this American line, COM
prising the Atlantic, the Baltic, the Pacific, the
Adriatio, &C., had been enabled to compete
with the subsidized steamers flying the British
flag This reputation of its plighted faith by
Congress resulted in the destruction of the
finest line of steamers ever built, and was
virtual abandonment Of the Atlantic ocean and
the carrying trade between two continents to
British steamers. And later, at the close OF
the rebellion, by the most iniquitous system Of
legislation that ever disgraced the statute
books OF any country, when American shipping,
which had been driven by the rebel privateers
10 OF a fOro
which our own government failed TO secure,
and after the immense carrying trade between
Europe and America had been forced from
American to foreign bottoms, Congress pro-
hibited the retransfer Of American built ships
to the American flag, and at the same time, by
means Of enormous tariffs on all kinds of
materials that enter into the construction Of
ships, virtually prohibited the recuperation Of
the American shipping interest by the building
Of new vessels Could the imbeciity of
radicalism be more strikingly manifest! Could
radicalism further go?
In the name of this noble interest. which now
lies PROSTATE before on indignant people, let
the demand be made that Congress shall recede
| from the ridiculous stand which it has taken in
| regard to the taxing Of all shipbuilding
| materials If an American Congress will not
| foster and encourage this most important
branch of American industry, let it at least
remove some of the many obstacles which
it has foolishly placed in the way Of its
| development.
| But few years ago about seventy per cent
| of the foreign commerce was carried in Amerl-
can bottoms, whereas now scarcely twenty per
cent falls to the lot OF American vessels; while
Great Britain, because Of her greater pre-
science in fostering her mercantile marine,
monopolizes large proportion Of the carrying
trade of the two hemispheres; and other na-
tons which but short time ago were away
behind, now lead us, and are rapidly follow
ing the lead of Great Britain, and increas-
ing their mercantile fleets, while ours Is actually
diminishing. 1t is high time that our leading
| shipping merchants shipbuilders, ship owners
| and others awake from the lethargy into which
they have fallen, and unite in on earnest re-
monstrance against the further adhesion by
Congress to the suicidal policy which has been
pursued, and demand the abrogation Of all
enactments which are in any way calculated to
restrict tire construction of American vessels.
Under existing laws not only are our NOR
chants prohibited from building vessels, but
they are absolutely driven to send their vessels
elsewhere for repairs; so that not only the
vast shipyards in and around this city, but
| also those of the New England States, are de-
serted. First, let all laws which initiate
against the recuperasion of the shipbuilding
interest be repealed, and then let our enter
prising merchants and slip owners turn their
attention 10 the construction of screw steamers.
The era Of sailing craft has gone by, and what
ever nation would now compete for the carry
ing trade must have large feet of screw pro-
pellers. Time and experience have fully de-
monstrated their superiority over every class
| Of vessels both as to time and economy, and If
| the United States ever regain what they have
lost, or secure even fair share of the worlds
commerce, it must be by means OF this class Of
vessels. To this end it Is indispensable that
Congress first wipe out the Ubiquitous duties on
all shipbuildlng materials, and, if necessary to
secure this result, let the handful OF high tariff
radicals be wiped out first and made to give
place to more enlightened and progressive
| class.
i