The Portland daily press., 1870-12-08
DAILY PRESS.
MD.
Thursday Mornine, December 8, 1870.
PORTLAND
A scapegoat Needed.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. Sd, 1870.

~~~~@S1s
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. Sd, 1870.
THE NAVIGATION LAWS.
The revenue reforms, or rather New York
importing interests, are congratulating them
selves in advance on the probabilities Of their
securing that prize to them and their British
friends, which has really been at the bottom
of much of the free trade zeal for year past.
I refer to repeal of the navigation laws,or at
least to important notifications thereof I
have been watching this discussion, and the
movements growing out Of it with close at
tention, and I am almost satisfied that it is
the deliberate intention of western and south.
ern Republicans to throw the New England
shipping interests overheard, as an expiatory
offering to the unity of the party. 1t is ca
sier to sacrifice the navigation laws, as these
politicians look at it, than it is to reduce the
Tariff, or rather as Mr.. Lynch's committee
proposed, allow an equivalent drawback on
shipbuilding materials. Pennsylvania and
other mining and iron working interests will
strongly oppose reduction of duties; the
west will bitterly oppose the drawback propo-
sition. New York City and the Democracy.
aided by Senator Chandler, Logan, Allison
and others, will unite in demanding the ad-
mission of foreign ships to American register.
Unless there be an earnest and determined
effort to counteract this- which will be
as ready to set facts on the desks of members
as the English and importing interests have
been to present those that mislead and mys-
tify, New England ship p-building and ship
owning interests, may expect to see the bars
let down, the Clyde and Mersey here after
supplying our capitalists, and their ships car
rying our flag.
THE FOREIGN LOBBY-ACTIyITY
The foreign interests have been industrious
all through the summer. There has hard-
ly been week that somebody connected
with the German lines, with Williams and
Guion's, with the National, Oceanic or some
other Of the transatlantic lines, which are prob
ably owned in whole or part by Americans,
have not been in this city, busiy occupied
in presenting their Views of the necessity for
amending or repeating the navigation law.
They want to put their vessels, English built
and nominally so owned, under the American
flag, or the Germans are very anxious to
transfer some of their vessels. Such transfer
would be but nominal, like that under which
the sea letter game, closed so completely by
the opinion of Assistant-Attorney General
Talbot, was carried. Some members of the
German Houses, whose heads or branches
were in New York, would take out a declara-
ton OF intention to become citizen and then
proceed to the Custom House, and swear TO
the fact, and that they were owners OF such
and such foreign built vessels, thus obtain
ing the quasi protection an American sea let
ter affords: The registration to be affected
by repeal or modification of the registry law
would be about as much American as was the
process have indicated.
ADVERSE HOME INFLUENCES,
There are some combinations being effected
at home, which will affect the result. It is
repcrted that there are great through rail-
road interests combined with the New York
importers and foreign steamship owners and
agents, for the purpose of procuring the in
corporation of one or more mail steamship
companies, with the privilege of buying for
eign built iron ships. The North Pacific, but
recently so enormously endowed are under
stood to be in movement of this character.
So with the other Pacific roads. The only
movement of an American character that
looks hopeful is the effort now making in
Philadelphia and by the Pennsylvania Cen
trail railroad, to organize an American trans
atlantic steamship line. The railroad has
subscribed 100000, and promises to build
four iron steam ships on the Delaware. if
Philadelphia raises 100000. This seems
likely to be done. From these and other in
dications it is quite evident that there is to be
a most systematic attempt to break down the
navigation policy, and that the capitalistic in
fuences in favor thereof are so strong that
nothing but organized and constant effort
will defeat it. I am inclined to doubt if it
can be successfully resisted, as there are for
midable influences in its favor, of another
character.l
POLITICAL NEEDS ADVERSE.
fear that the President will renew his
proposition of last session, and if it becomes a
question propitiating the revenue reform
movement, or so much of it as has proved a
disturbing influence over western Republi-
cans, you may be quite sure that it is the nav.
lgation laws at which the rally will be made.
The action of Gen. Schenck, Senator Chand-
Ter and others prove this. So it is well to sur
vey the field fully, and prepare like prudent
men. SPECTATOR.