New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-09

egn owners and foreign service; some go to China,
others South America others again 10 the Black sea
Baltic. or German, French, spanish, and Italian
shipowners many 10 England TO build steamers anu
ships In short the high reputation OF the builders there
attract purchasers from all parts of the world except te
United States There might be some reason Tor tne
policy which people pursuing IN refusing TO Dud
steamers and ships outside Of the United States n SUCH
one class Of our citizens II even served to any
part OF foreign trade to ships built in tho states
might tolerated but the reverse is VIGOROUSLY true
The system works dsastrOusy to every American inter
est connected with navigation not excepting the snip
builders themselves.
THE CARRYING TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES.
Steamers and ships especially designed for the foreign
carrying trade OF the United States built in England
in great numbers and every ship whether owned by an
Englishman German, or Frenchman, enters INTO eOmpe
foreign trade. Our futile efforts 10 protect our snip
builders are fast destroying the business OF our SHIP
immense carrying trade into the hands Of foreigners.
ON the Clyde alone So steamers regular traders between
NewYork and European ports have been built since
1860 Their aggregate tunnage is not less than 10000
tuns This large feet does not include the vessels built
for the Canada and Portland lines 1t is quite within
bounds to estimate that this fleet Of Cydebuit steamers
has driven 100000 tuus OF sailing vessels from tue
shpbuldlng, we seem to have resolved TO throw away
the prOhts OF lpownlng and herolcaly insist upon
mariners from the rather than grant American
register To a t0reIgnbuit ship.
In any American Is disposed TO doubt that the days Of
wooden ships are over lot him make tour around the
wharves OF New-YOrk. Jersey City, and HOboken, and
look ct the steamers which carry on the trade OF
ports with Europe and the ships that fetching
cargoes from Ihdia II his walk in New-York fail 10
satisfy him let him visit the docks of London Liverpool
Bremen. Hamburg Havre. Marseles, Trieste, Alexan-
dra. ST. Petersburg, Bombay Calcutta, &c. aud see how
rapidly and surely woodruff ships have disappeared
from those great mars Of traffic, and how nnetenths OF
the iron ships which have succeeded them bear unms'
taxable marks of British origin The attempt regain
former preGminent position as maritime Power by
remtting the duties on imported materials ana en-
couragng the building OF wood sailing ships must fall or
be attended with very limited success
THE EFFECT ON AMERICAN INTERESTS. -,
It very certain that the United States must adj
Y,
rear Of England Germany, and France. we cannot
world mercantile navy is TO consist Of wooden sail
ing ships alone wooden sailing ships coupled with one
or OF subsidized steamers and this is present
position, while all rivals dstancng us and carry
ing of our own trade II Of course better to Dnd our
shpsat home than IS TO build them abroad but IT bet
ter to build them abroad than 10 build them at all 1t
Is better 10 employ our own shpmasters mates ana sea
men, than the masters mates, and seamen OF our COM
merca rivals and 1t Is better for us TO cover the ocean
with steamers, commanded by our own felOw'cltlzehs
and carrying our own flag All this only be accom-
plshed by repeating tho law which refuses TO grant an
American register 10 steamer built IN the cheap Duld
ing wards OF Great Britain 10 surely worth while
10 consider whether not paying too dear for the
sentimental feeling which has already destroyed our
commercial prestige
The Registry laws declared be. by the fierce Of
circumstances prohbitory and oppressive to our own
Mariners and II Is declared that the system Of drawbacks
advocated strenuopsy by the shipping interests OF tue
country being the only panaeea for present ills II Is
highly protective procivities and will surely fail Inc
report concludes:
By the amendment OF the Navigation laws as pleaded
for IN the papers, the heaviest loss will fall upon the
present OF wooden vessels especially OF wooden
steamers, aud those benefited VIII be snip
carpenters enginebuders, bOiler-makers machnlsts,
sailmakers sparmakers rope.makers joners painters
shipchanders dry dock owners, wharf owners, seaeh
officers, landlords, coal dealers, hghteImeh' lugDoaI
Owners-in a word. citizens of every class"
report was after CONSIDERABLE debate iau on tue
table for future action.
VIEWS or THE FREETRADE LEAUGE.
The FreeTGade League have issued memorial similar
in purport, with the following conclusions;
In the opinion OF your memoriass the true means 10
revive this important but PROSTATE industry, would be
tho abrogatiOn all laws preventing the purchase OF
vessels foreign countries where they can be procured
the cheapest and the admission OF these to Amer
lean registry or other words absolute freedom OF
trade In ships aud steamers. The American shpowner
would thus be put equality with tie foreigner so
far "a cheap vessels Is concerned; and your me
moralists ara convinced that by the adoption OF THIS
simple and just measure, the country would regain III
great part that share OF the carrying trade OF whch IL
has been deprived by erroneous legislation