The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-03-30
DECLINE IN AMERICAN COMMERCE.

Message from the PresIdent-Our Ma.
tiOnRI HumiIiAtiOn-Direct Money
Subsidies recommendation
Urged to Take Early Action ON tho
Subject
WASHINGTON, March %, 1870
The following is the message of the
President. sent to Congress to day, in rela-
ton to the decline of American commerce
TO the Senate and
House of Representatives :.
In the executive message of December
6, 1869, to Congress, the Importance of
taking steps to revive our decreasing mer-
chant marine was urged, and special
message promised at a future day during
the present session, recommending more
specifically plans to accomplish this re-
suit Now that the committee of the
House of Representatives, entrusted with
the labor of ascertaining the cause of the
decline of American commerce, has COM
pleted its work, and submitted report to
the legislative branch of the Government,
l deem this is a fitting time to execute
the promise. The very able, calm and ex-
haustive report of the committee points
out the great wrongs which have produ-
NCNA LAAC OONlL4AC III Jul AOllulClCC- II 10 q
national humiliation that we are now
compelled to pay from 20 to $30,000,000
annually, exclusive of passage money, to
foreigners, for doing what should be done
by American armed and American man
ned vessels. This is a direct drain upon
the resources of the country of Just so
much money, equal to casting it into the
sea so far as the nation is concerned. A ma
ton of vast and even increasing interior
resources of the United States, extending
as it does from one to the other of the
great oceans of the world, with an indus
trious, intelligent and energetic pOpula-
ton, must one day possess its full share of
the commerce of these oceans. No mat
ter what is the cost, delay will only in
crease this cost and enhance the difficulty
of attaining the result therefore put in
an earnest plea for early action in this
matter IN a way to secure an increase of
American commerce. The advanced per-
iod of the year, and the fact that no con-
tract for ship building will probably be
entered until this question is settled by
Congress, and the further fact that should
there be much delay, all large vessels con-
tracted for this year will fail of completion
before winter sets in and will therefore be
carried over another year, induces me to
request your early consideration of this
subject. l regard it of such grave impor-
tance, affecting every interest of the coun-
try to so great an extent that any method
which will gain the end will secure a rich
national blessing, building ships and navi-
eating them, and utilizing the vast capl-
ital at home This business employs thou
sands of Workmen in their construction
and manning; it creates a home market
for the products of the farm and shop !; it
diminishes the balance of trade against us
precisely to the extent of the freights and
passage money paid to American vessels;
and gives us a superiority upon the seas
Of inestimable value in case of foreign war.
Our navy, at the commencement of the
late war, consisted of less than one hund-
red vessels, of about 10000 tons, and a
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, 600 vessels
exceeding 100000 tons and about 70
600 men, to aid in the suppression of the
rebellion. This statement demonstrates
the value of the merchant marine as q
means of national defense in time of war
The committee on the cause of the reduc-
ton of American tonnage, after tracing
the cause of its decline, submit two bills
which, if adopted, they believe will re.
store to the nation its marine power
Their report shows with great minutenesE
the actual and comparative American ton
mage at the time of its greatest prosperity
the actual and comparative decline since
together with the causes, and exhibits
other statistics of material interest in ref
erence to the subject As general rule
if it can be adopted, believe that di
rect money subsidy is less liable to abus,
than indirect aid given to the same enter
prise. In this case, however, my opinion
is that subsidies, while they may be Civ
en- to specific lines of steamers or othe
vessels, should not be exclusively adoptet
but in addition to subsidizing very desira
bic lines of ocean traffic, a general assis
tance should be given in an effective way
and therefore commend to your favora
BILE consideration the two bills proposes
by the committee and referred to in thi
message. [Signed. o. S. GRANT.
Washington, D. c., March %, 1870.