Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-29
Decline Of American Commerce.
PRESIDENT GRANTS MESSAGE.

WAsHNGToS, March 23.-The fol-
lowing is the message of the Presi-
dent in relation to the decline Of Amer
lean commerce:
"In the Executive message of De
cember 6, 1869, to Congress, the im-
portance of taking steps to revive our
decaying merchant marine was urged,
and special message was promised
at a future day during the present
session, recommending more specifically
plans to accomplish this result. Now
that the committee of the House of
Representatives intrustcd with the la
Dor of asccrtaining the cause of the de
cline Of American commerce has COM
pleted its work and submitted its re
port to the legislative branch Of the
Government, | deem this a fitting time
to execute that promise. The very
able. calm and exhaustive report of
the committee points out the grave
wrongs which have produced the de-
cline in our commerce. 1t is a ma
tional humiliation that we now are
compelled to pay from twenty to thir-
ty million Of dollars annually, exclu-
sive Of passage money, which We
should share with other nations, TO
foreigners, for doing work which
should be done 6y American owned
and American manned vessels. This
is a direct drain upon the resources
Of the country Of just so much money,
and equal to casting it into the sea,
so far as the nation is concerned. A
nation of the vast and ever increasing
interior resources OF the United States,
extending as it does from one to the
other of the great oceans Of the world,
with its industrious, intelligent and
energetic population, must one day
possess a full share of the commerce
/ of these oceans. no matter at what
cost. Delay will only increase the
cost and enhance the difficulty Of at
tanning that result. | therefore put
in an earnest plea for early action IN
this matter in way to secure the In
crease of American commerce. The
advanced period of the year, and the
fact that no contract for ship building
will probably be entered into until the
question is settled by Congress, and
the further fact that if there should be
much delay all large vessels contract
ed for this year will fail of completion
before winter sets in, and will, there
fore, be carried over another year, in
duces me to request your early con
sideration of this subject. | regard
it of such grave importance, affecting
every interest of the country to sc
great an extent, that any methoC
which will gain this end will secure
the national blessing of building ship:
and navigating them, and utilizing The
vast capital at home. This business
employs thousands of workmen in con
structing and manning. 1t creates +;
home market for produce of the farm
and shop. 1t diminishes the balanc,
of trade against Us. precisely to The
extent of freights and passage money
paid to American vessels, and give
US supremacy upon the seas of inesti
mable value in case of foreign war
Our navy, at the commencement Of TIN
late war, consisted of less than 10(
vessels, of about 100000 tons, and
force of about 5000 men. We drew
from the merchant marine, which hat
cost Government nothing, but whicl
had been a source of national wealth
600 vessels, exceeding one million tons
and about 10000 men, to aid in tn
suppression of the rebellion. Thi
statement demonstrates the value @
the merchant marine as a means G
national defence in time of war. Th
Committee on the cause of the redue
ton of American tonnage, after il
vestigating the cause of its decline
submit two bills, which, if adopted
they believe will restore to the natio
its maritime power. Their repor
shows with great minuteness the act