The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-03-31
Presidents Message.
The Decline of American Commerce.

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On the 23rd the President sent to Con.
gress the following message:
To the Senate and House of Representatives
In the Executive message of Dec. g.
1869, to Congress, the Importance OF
tax ing steps to revive our decreasing
merchant marine was urged, and a
special message promised at future day,
during the present session. recommend
ing more specifically plans to accomplish
this result Now that Committee of
the House of Representatives intrusted
with the labor of ascertaining the cause
of the decline of American commerce, has
completed it's work and submitted re-
port to the legis lative branch of the
Government, deem this fitting time to
execute that promise. The very able,
calm, exhaustive report ofthe Committee
points out great wrongs which have pro-
duced decline in our commerce. 1t isa
National humiliation that we are now
compelled to pay from twenty to thirty
million dollars annually, exclusive of
money, which we should share with other
nations, to foreigners, for doing what
should be done by American owned and
American manned vessels. This is di-
rect drain upon the resources ofthe coun-
try of just SO much money. equal to cast
ing it into the sea so far as the nation is
concerned. A nation Of the vast and ever
increasing interior resources OF the Uni
ted States extending as it does, from one
to the other of the great oceans Of the
world, with an industrious, intelligent,
and energetic population, must, one day,
possess its full share of the commerce OF
these oceans, n" matter what is the cost.
Delay will only increase this cost, and
enhance the difficulty OF attaining the re-
suit. / therefore, put in an earnes plea
for early action in this matter, in way
to secure an increase to American com
merce The advanced period of the year,
and the fact that no contract for ship
building will probably be entered until
this question is settled by Congress, and
the further fact that, if there should be
much delay, all large vessels contracted
for this year will fail of completion
before winter acts in and will there fore
be carried over for another year, induces
me to request your early consideration CT
this subject. | regard tof such grave
Importance, affecting every interest OIL
the country to so great an extent that
any method which will gain the end will
secure . rich national blessing the
building ships and navigating them, and
the utilizing of vast capital at home.
This business employs thousands of
workmen in their construction and man
ming. 1t creates a home market for
products Of the farm and shop. 1t di- |
minishes the balance of trade against us,
precisely to the extent of freights and
passage money paid to American vessels,
and gives US a supremacy upon the seas
of inestimablc value in case of foreign
war. Our navy, at the commencement
of the late war, consisted of less than 100
vessels. of about $50, 600 tons, and q force |
of about 5000 men. We drew from the |
merchant marine, which had cost the |
Government nothing but which had
been a source of national wealth, 600l
vessels, exceeding 100000 tons, and
about 1000 men, to aid in the SUPPRESSION
of the rebellion; This statement demon
strates the value of the merchant marine
as a means of national defense IN time |
of war The Committee on the cause of
reduction of American tonnage, after
tracing the cause of its decline, submit
two bills, which if adopted, they believe
will restore to the Nation its marine
power. Their report shows with great
minuteness, the actual and comparative
American tonnage at the time of itsI
greatest decline since then, together with
the causes, and exhibits other statistics
of material interest in reference to the
subject. AS this report is before Con-
gress,s | will not recapitulate any of its
statistics but / refer only to the methods
recommended by the Committee to give
back to us our lost commerce. AS gen
eral rule.it can be adopted. believe,
that direct money subsidy is less liable
to abuse than indirect aid given to the
same enterprise. In this case, however,
my opinion is that subsidies, while they
may be given to specific lines of steamers
or other vessels, should not be exclusively
adopted; but, in addition to the subsidies
of very desirable lines of ocean traffic, a
general assistance should be given, in an
effective way and therefore I commend
to your favorable consideration the two
bills proposed by the Committee and
referred to in this message.
(Signed) 81 U. s. GRANT
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D.
g., 23d March, 1870 aKa
The trial of Watson for the murder of