, 1867-03-22
Condition Of the Country.

AhC lCpO'b W buO HSc19@ Oet-@--- -to~tcuNA "
Revenue, made at the opening Of the last
session of Congress, contains vast mass Of
statistical and other information, and serves
to show that our country, although apparent>
ly prosperous. is in a condition bordering
upon bankruptcy. Referring to this report,
we fud that in Massachusetts there is a
smaller number of hands employed in mand-
factures ut this date, than there was in 1855,
the decrease being about eleven per cent
For other manufactures the decrease is 81
per cent. The report rightly says that
cessation of progress ia the United States, in
view of the rapid developments of former
years; cannot be regarded as other than re.
progression. The fact, however, is that we
are not even standing still, but, US the figures
show, are rapidly retograding. Further on,
it is stated that ''lcading and experienced
shipOwners Of New York report, that no voy>
age with an American vessel can be Planned
at the present time, from the United States
to any foreign port, with any reasonable ex>
pectatiOn of profit" Discussing this question
of the falling of in our commerce, the report
has the following;
"a reference TO the official returns shows the
amount of American registered tonnage, engaged
in foreign trade, in lS65-'66, to have been but
one million and half tons, Il 49,, 1874, 4,) as com
pared with two aud half millions of tons
(2,546, ,23E) of ls59-'6O; which, allowing for
| the difference between the old and new measure
ments, indicates decrease in five years of over
6fly per cent. In 1853 the tonnage of the Un-
ited States was about fifteen per cent. in excess
Of that of Great Britain, while at the present
time it is estimated at thirty>three per cent.
less. An examination of the official returns of the
-coastwise and inland commerce, allowance being
made for the difference of measurement, also
shows a decrease in this branch of aboAt twelve
per cent. 1t should, however, be stated, that n
part of this reduction is probably due to to the
substitution of steamers for sailing vessels. Gut
of one hundred and ninety-one American yes.
sells gagged in the Brazilian or South American
trade, in isGl-'62, bat thirty are reported US
remaining; while the number Of foreign vessels
engaged in the same trade has, during the same
time, increased nearly threefod. The immedi>
ate cause Of this change was undoubtedly the
ravages and frequent presence tpon this part OF
the ocean of the Alabama and other confederate
to this cause would ere this have been rrpiired,
had the ordinary conditions of trade existed
and the cost OF Constructing vessels continued
unenhNhced. Instead, however, of building
ships, MS formerly, for all nations, tAis particu
lar branch of bu.iness has, 10 a great extent,
been transferred from the Atlantic coast of the
United States to the British provinces; and On
the whole Atlantic coast there has not been
probably as many ships constructed during the
past season as in the two British provinces of
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The class OF
ships which cost, at the present time, in the
city of New York, about one hundred dollars
per ton (currenry) to build and equip ready for
sea, do not cost mach over forty dollars (goldA
per ton to build and equip in 1he British prov.
iuces. 1t is further reported to the commissioner
that during the month of November there wa
but \ single vessel in the course of construction
il the shipyards Of the city of New York, and
but one or two in the city Of Boston. What i.
thus asserted of ships during tlVe past year, has
been, and is even now, also true of the business
of printing and binding books. American pub
liSbers have been able TO scnd their MSS. tc
England, have their works prn cd and hounl
there, and returned, paying an import daily oi
twenty Eve per cent. in gold, cheaper than
TREY could bay paper and have the same work
done in the iiIed States by Anericin mcchan
icsi aud so well recOe eu'zed, iuieed, has become
this practice that the American Publishers
CFCul'tT nON ClhSSeS It's NtcEly ll>l OF american
public Tons into tho . printed aud published ia
the United States, and those published here, but
m Inufleturcl abroad Previous to 1850, about
o lie half Of the product of the copper mines o.
Lake Superior WAS exported to France and Ger,
many; now the Proprctor5 of these mines re,
present that their whole investments are threat
cned with destruction. through failufe to secure
eSen the home mark T."
With this commercial depression, in the
train of which failures and bankruptcy must
follow, the Commissioner proceeds to show
that we are more heavily taxed than any
} other people on the face of the globe. Ac
cOrding to his calculation, the amount oil
taxes collected in the Uuitel States is
Sll As, in gold, on each man, woman, and
child. In England, which is the next heav
; lest taxed country, the rate is $40 %. Thus
overburdened with taxes, and with commerce
and manufactures declining, it seema to us
! that it is high time the radicals in Congress
had abandoned their quarrel over the negro
} and turned their attention to measures hav,
ing for their object the relief of the country.
Let our rulers remember that it Is the
working classes on whom the burden of tax,
alton invariably presses the most severely,
inasmuch as the rich pay out oftteir aJun,
dance, 6ut tie ieorkinymen out ftheir i0,
ing. With the heaviest rate Of taxation 10
the world, aud our means Of payment de>
= creasing, it requires no prophet to- foreleli
the end. Wise men wall hesband their re>
sources, and prepare for the Coming storm.
CRY ELEDTIoN.-The election of city
officers, to come of on Tsesday, April 2d,
for some reason or other has caused unusual
excitement Already we have in the field
the "Citizens' Ticket," Democratic Ticket, "
Peoples Ticket" and we know not how
many other tickets. For Mayor, the only
I 4 L.