Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-04-27

NfAHsh''SNNA
earlier blows, and when. we consider that
it was a blow at civilization itself. Be-
sides degrading us and running our COM
mcrce, its direct and constant influence
was to encourage the rebellion, and to
prolong the war waged by slave masters
at such cost of treasure. and blood. 1t
was a terrible mistake, which | cannot
doubt that good Enslishmen must regret.
And now in the interest Of peace, it is the
duty of both sides to find a remedy, com.
plote, just, and conyiliatory, so that the
deep sense of wrong and the detriment to
the Republic may be forgotten in that
proper 50 satisfaction which a nation loving
justice cannot hesitate to offer. w
THE EXTENT OF OUR LOSSES. q
Iadiralual losses may be estimated with
reasonable accuracy Ships burned or
sunk with their cargoes may be counted
anu their values determined but this
leaves without recognition the vaster dam
age to commerce driven from the ocean,
and that other damage to commerce, i'm
mense and infinite, caused by the pro on
cation Of the war; all Of which may be
called national in contradistinction to in
dividual. ' ''''-
How to authenticate the extent of ma
tional loss with reasonable certainty is not
without difficulty; but it cannot be doubt
ed that such loss occurred 1t is folly
to question it. The loss may be seen in
various circumstances, as in the rise III in
suranee on American vessels; the fate of
the carrying trade, which was one of the
great resources of our country the DIM
mutton of our tonnage, with the cores
ponding. increase Of British tonnage; the
falling off in our exports and imports, with
due allowance for our abnormal currency
and the diversion of war.
The interesting report Of Mr.. Morse,
our consul at London, made during the
last year and published by the Secretary
Of State, shows that, on the breaking out
of the rebellion in 1861, the entire ton
mage Of the United States, coasting and
registered, was $3.50, ,Gl3 tons, Of which
2,642,625 tons were registered and en-
ployed in foreign trade, and that, at the
close Of the rebellion in 1863. pQtwith-
our registered tonnage had fallen to L.
COZ, ,52S tons, being a loss during the four
years Of moro than a million tons, amoun-
ting to about forty per cent. Of our foreign
commerce. During the same four years
The total tonnage of the British empire
rose from 1896, 800 tons to 1922, ,604
tons, the increase being especially III the
foreign trade. q 'Iya ,mi I'a
Beyond the actual cost in the national
tonnage, thereiwas a further loss in the
arrest ofo natural increase IN this branch
of industry which an intelligent statistician
puts at five per cent. annually. making in
1866, u total loss on this account of L.
3S4, ,95S tons, which must be added to
! ,329, ,035 tons actually lost. The same
statstician, after estimating the value OF
ton at forty dollars gold, and making
allowance for old and new ships, puts the
sum total of national loss on this account,
at s1lO,0O0,0 COO
This is what have to say for the pres
ent on national losses through the destruc-
ton Of commerce. These are large enough ;
but there is another chapter, where they
are far larger. Irefer, of course, to the
national losses caused by the proloDgation
of the war and traccabe directly to Eng
land No candid person, ". no studies this
eventful period, can doubt that the rebel.
lion was originally encouraged by hope oi
support from England that it was strength.
cned at once by the concession of beliger,
ent rights on the ocean; that it was FED
to the end by British supplies; that il
was quickened into renewed life with ev
cry report from the British pirates, fam
ing anew with every burning ship; no.
can il be doubted that without British in
tervention the rebellion would have sool
succumbcd under the well.directed effort
of the national government. Not week
or months, but years were added in thi
way to our war, SO full Of the most costl
sacrifice. mal eafh1 hi
e The sacrifice of precious life is beyon
human compensation but there may b
an approximate estimate Of the nationi
loss in money. The rebellion was suppre'
sed at cost of more than four thousan
million dollars, considerable portion I
which has becnipaid, leaving twenty-f'
. hundred millions as a national debt to bu
den the people. If through British j
: tervcntion, the. war was doubled in dur
ton, or in any way extended, as cam
: be doubted, then is England justly rcspo
/. sible for tho additional expenditure,