The New York herald., 1870-01-14
AMERICAN COMMERCE.,
Views of an Americans Shipmaster ON the
Recuperation Of Our Commerce and
the Employment Of Seamen
and Mechanics.


adVancing opinions by and In what manner our
much reduced commerce may be recuperated,
none OF which, in my humble opinion, are cacu.
lated TO secure SO de<kabe necessity, for 10 1s q
necessity in the fuil sense OF the word. Either our
commerce must be increased 10 something like its
strength previous TO the war at once, or the
prestige and power we formerly cnIoyed on this
win be lost TO us forever. Tns ii bold asser.
ton, but think can convince all reasonable and
sensible men that 1t is q truo one. To this end I
would car the attention OF Interested persons to
the TACT that there thousands or sailors
nom the quarterback to the lorecastle now
out OF employment These men are the right
arm OF the nation IN case OF foreign
war, as they were the left of the nation during
the late rebellion, and the record OF the volunteer
corps In our navy needs no trumpeter or any mans
voice or pen to herald II. These sailors, finding
their occupation gone In thus country seek II else
where and thousands OF them have already sought
and found employment in foreign ships, mostly
British and have joined the naval reserve OF that gov
ernpcnt, which now numbers over 60, 900 seamen.
Thus, for want OF commerce. we are losing our
sailors and thereby our strength. and thus advanc-
Ing the naval ana commercial interests OF other na-
tions TO the detrment and disadvantage OF our own
This is occasioned by the folly OF Congress- who faH
TO repeal law made by our forefathers ana suited
TO benefit the country at that time but now TO
vaiiy inIure n not destroy, the commerce and large
shIpowning interests OF the naton-Baneiy COM
pciEng American citizens to bund snps only in the
United States, and refusing 10 give a register TO
shlps purchased by Amerlcans With American gold
abroad.
Members OF Congress, shippuilders ana others are
lOud III their acc!amatlons on the support and pro-
lection OF American manufactures and shpbui!ding;
put have yet to see OF hear the man OF position
nnuece lake up The cause and Interests OF the most
abused class OF men In TINS country, and that Mr..
Editor, Is the sailor both on the quarter deck and
the forecaste. Even the government has, and Is
now, ropbng every sailor officer that sails under
our boasted iag 0 liberty And the state or New YORK;
with rs abundance and wealth, during period Of
more Than thirty years has forced poor Jack and
officers to pay one dollar and dollar balf per
VOYAGE towards the support or q Retreat a
Sailors Retreat, forsooth POOR fellows they much
ofener retreat from its walls than enter within
them, although millions nave been taken from their
hard earnings, enough 10 Dud ana support dozen
'hafDorS or resP' Tor the poor, wornout and de-
creplt Old tar Sailors are the only class OF men
taxed their labor the United Stales. They nave
to pay to the government twenty cents per month
and am cretiibiy informed that the litter conteii-
plate increasing 1t 10 fortyhospta money, and the
revenue tbereirom lar exceeds the expenditure for
the SICK sailor; nevertheless, the latter compelled
TO pay 70 The fuli extent OF bis wages hospital aud
medical attendance when SICK III foreign port.
Ihus does our government impose on Its mariners,
Tor III justice TO the seaman each Dutes
towards the support OF the other when SICK, our
government should pay, through the Consul, his
hospital and medical Attendance expenses abroad.
Ihere Is no charity Tor the sailor. fne societies
Claiming 10 nave IL snow II not IN action or In fact.
pity the sailor VINO expects much relief from any
Of them without 1t is spiritual RELIEF IN the shape or
tracts. The employers Of seainen be tney Captains
mates or 1oremast men, eneavor TO get all they eau
out OF tnem out are too grasping and selfish TO en-
deavor IN an Wa, 10 seek and enhance their well
lare. The a!rnghty dollar Is the great consequence
TO most OF thelE. Nevertheless there are few eX-
eeptions TO this rule, aud say God bless them.'
Ia 1861 cnarter was obtained by some gentlemen
III thls CITY Incorporating what they pleased
can 'lhe American olnpmastcrs' ASSOCIATION but
What mas proved TO be o mlsnomer, for IL should
nave been styled the American Underwriters Asso-
cidon, from The fact mat certain insurance
men nave oilicefed and controlled IL throughout,
none OF It's numerous memDefs tsiX thousand and
over ever having mad voice or vote In It's meet
ings, or permitted 10 nave, or even to attend,
although these men-captaIns and niates-havc
70 pay i've dollars 1or their certificate OF member
sup and an annual fee OF one dollar, which II
tney fan to pay their certificate is cancelled. Ihls
association Is both an insult and injury to It's
members, they having no voice IN It's elections or
privileges under us statutes without 1t TO pay ~
or meet the Increased premium charged Dy the un-
derwritcrs OF this association vessels commanded
by delihquenls. Tbs tuey cndeavor do with those
shlpmasters also wbo nave PRIDE ana stamina
enough be Independent OF THIS indulsitoria ana
useless ASSOCIATION The underwriters connected
with this concern by their action cast glarng re.
necton on the honesty, integrity and ability OF Old
Ehipmasters who have sail d Tor years out OF the
ports Of The United states with an unblemlshed re
putatlon when tley compel them TO JOIN thls mis-
banned society by charging their employers higher
rate Of insurance II they do not Consequently the
shipmasier is forced to join against his viii or lose
his stuaon therefore he contributes tue support
OF party OF men called officers OF the ASSOCIATION
with whom he has no interest ana who nave none
TO enable them To retain lher positions OF useless
ness idleuess aud injury to he character ana pride
or an Amerlcdn shipniaster and | sincerely hope
that the members oI this misnalned concern viii
bave puck and stamina enough TO withdraw ut
once; for III their great strength lies The foundation
Of real shpinasters association that be made
an honor To themselves and the great nation they
represent.
] speak knowingly on this subject for am one OF
those Injured and Insulted members; but the great
power OF tnat mighty and Imposing institution wouia
eudeavor to crush me dll tuey know the hand that
curious workings OF this much vauntcd American
Sinpmasters' Association; and beg, Mr.. Editor
ieeng sure that you are friend to the sailor be he
quarterback or forecaStIe, that sou VIII taEe up our
cause and occasionally use your mighty pen In our
worthy Of your Kindness. have not the education
pr the ctoqucnce 10 write or speak on this subject
as my heart dictates. Would that mad The whole
country would resound with my exposltions OF the
wrongs, imposltions and insults that naye been ana
are daij heaped upon The Class Of men who have so
largely contributed 10 tie honor, success ana wealth
oi tnis great but unappreealve nation.
To return to the question OF commerce ana The
most advantageous way OF recuperarna IL, ana
thereoy finding employment for sailors and
chancs. would propose thai Congress should give
free registry to all vessels oil over l2uu tons built or
purchased abroad by American citizens during the
next five years, the privilege TO cease by limitation
and by Glat time we would DC IN Il position TO build
iron or wooden ships W It'll material OF our own
uaeture ana equally as cheap az those butt abroad
would also recommend that tne registers be re-
turned to ships or vessels wnlca We're compelled TO
change their flag Tor protection from capture by
fenel cruisers during The late rebellion ''Blood Is
IlitCkeT tIdu NulcD" Ntuuy HieU were cOnlpel Gu
whitewash-as 1t Is called-the nag to save mem.
selves ana families from rum. eli-preservati1n
the rst law or nature,n and Congress ought
sider this question at olce for the owners OF these
vessels IN most Instances were not IN position TO
risk their properly to the mercy Of che rebel
or pay the eNorb!fant war premium, IKE our re-
Spectel citizcns william A. webb, a, A. Low, RoD-
ers l.. Taylor, Charles H. Aarshall Co. ana Others
who were al men OF great weallb. Our government
can aord to be Charitable, as Our people have been
generous TO her.
Tue days OF wooden ships are fast drariig 10 q
10 n tlte IN.
compete successfully with other great colnnefcfai
nations. our correspondent Of last Sunday, on
the decline Of American lipouding says, Ihat he
Is not among those wno believe Tie days of wooden
vessels IL past ia ihis counry' He is an Interested
party by ms own Acknowledgements, therefore Is
blinded TO the real merits aud advantages 0f IRON
vessels over wooden ones. For his Information and
those Interested IN this question 1 viii show that
the wooden vessel lnsures at higher pre-.
MUM because she Is more Liable 10 damage
her cargoes by leaking than an IRON one, the latter
having Watertght buikheads, which cannot he made
SO III wooden ship Inc superior 81 ength u an
u0n vessel IN case OF COLLISION has been