The Portland daily press., 1870-05-09
AMERICAN COMMERCE..
s ECH
HON. JOHN LYNCH,
IN TIC
House Of Representatives.
House Of Representatives.

Mr.. LYNCH. Mr.. Speaker, the com nercial
marine OF our country has always been re-
garded as one of the chief sources of our power;
oneof the mainsprings OF our prosperity. and
our most efficient means ofnational defense. AS
such it was watched and guarded with jeal-
Gus care by the early statesmen OF the cOun-
try; and under the wise policy adopted by
them with regard to it at the formation of the
Government, and steadily adhered to since I'M
der whatever changes of administration, it
grew SO rapidly than in little more than half q
century we had placed ourselves in the very
foremost rank CT maritime misunderstanding
in 1860 side by side with Great Britain and
disputing with her for the sovereignty of the
seas. The earnest discussion by the public
press of all measures proposed for restoring
our commerce; the messages of the President
ard the reports of the Secretaries of the
Treasury and Navy calling the attention OF
Congress to it; the appointment by this House
of a special committee to investigate its con-
dition and the causes OF its decline, and to re-
port measures calculated to revive and restore
it, attest the regard in which this great inter-
est is still held, and is evidence that although
for a time neglected, while our distracted and
shattered country was being recognized and
reconstructed, its Importance has not been
lost sight of nor its value underestimate.
1t would be unnecessary repetition to de-
tail all the causes Of the decline of our ocean
commerce, or rather the decadence-I bad al
most said annihiiation-of our shipping en-
gagged in the foreign commerce OF the country
and the world, these details having been min
utely set forth in the report submitted with
the bills under consideration. The fact that
our shipping has been reduced to its present
deplorabIe condition through the unfriendly
action of a rival commercial nation at time
when we were not in condition to defend ii
is too deeply craven upon the American
mind to be forgotten by the present genera
ton. And the national pride inspired by the
recollection of this fact will, trust, impel us
to an effort worthy of great people to regain
our lost position, and that, too, with the least
possible dependence upon that nation which
has for its own advantage despoiled us.
| believe, sir, that there is very earnest
feeling among the American people, confined
to no section of the country, but pervading
all classes and all parties, that our present po-
Sition as a maritime nation is not only I'M
profitable and unnecessary, but under all the
circumstances positively dsgraceful. And
believe there is determination which will
manifest itself in our action here when The
measures now under consideration come to
be passed upon to regain our power and pres
tiee on the ocean at whatever cost. The loss
OF our commerce was our misfortune; our
failure to regain it, if we do fail, will be our
fault.
[ am aware that it is less difficult 10
ascertain the fact of the loss OF our shipping
and point out the causes which have prOduc-
ed that loss than to prescribe and apply the
means necessary to retrieve it. But think
l am .sate in saying and an examination OF
the evidence taken by the committee will
sustain the assertion, that there havei never
been any important measures proposed to
Congress for its action, affecting any leading
into in tho which fhapo II &
been expressed such uDanimty of opinion
among those having a practical knowledge of
the subject as with reference to those under
discussion.
The testimony taken by she committee, and
submitted to the House with its report, en-
braces tle evidence OF merchants, shipowners
and shipbuilders. taken in four Of the CONNER
cal cities of the country, with letters from lead
inc men of the same classes in all sections OF
the country, and also from American con-
suls at the principal commercial ports of the
world, representing Republicans and Demo
Gratis, prOtectionists and free-traderS; and, as
l have said, there is nearly unanimous
agreement OF opinion that substantially such
measures as have been proposed would if
adopted, accomplish the desired object; and
that such measures ought to be adopted.
The object OF the bill under consideration
is indicated by its title, $40 revive the naviga-
JiOu dHl llflClSSiS vi UiC Oultcu
States" and the justice and policy of enact
ing it are perhaps as well stated in the pre-
aInbe as l can express them:
Whereas, The mercantile marine of The country
was neary destroyed during the late rcDeilon i'll
consequence of the inability of the COVER nment to
protect IT, and now while beaing its share OF taxa
ton has no such protection RON foreign compel :
ton as is afforded other great natIona interests
anu industries, and is therefore steadily declining;
and whereas, the restoration OF our commercial
marine, constituting it does. one OF the most
efficient means OF defence in time of war, is OF
great ational importance and essential TO the main
tenance of our position as hrst-clas3 power: lie
10 enacted, &c.
In order to secure these objects the bill pro-
vdes for a drawback equivalent to the duties
on all imported material used in the construc-
ton OF vessels built in the United States; and
when American material is used in the con
struction of non vessels, the payment of an
amount equivalent to the duties; the With
drawel in bond of stores for consumption on
voyages to foreign ports, ard the payment OF a
small annual subsidy to vessels engaged in the
foreign trade. 1t also provides by Sec. 4 tax
upon all tonnage engaged in foreign trade.
The provisions in the bill allowing rebate
or drawback of the duties on imported mate
rial used in the construction of vessels, and
providing for withdrawing from bond stores te