New-York tribune., 1870-12-01
RUYJyC OrR YESSELS ABHO1D.


The United States, with insufficient employ
ment for their present commercial marine, arc
urged to extend all the rights and privileges
pertaining to American origin and ownership
TO foreign-built vessels. We object to this
that, so fast rs we need new vessels Of what
ever kind, we have shpwrights ready and
willing to construct them at fair American
wages. Our ship-yard5 are spacious and ready;
and our shp-builders and riggcrs, who have
seen dull times for years, would, by the policy
recommended, be debaned all chance or hope
of the return Of better days. We do MT want
to exile or to starve our shlpWrghts; hence
we oppose Free Trade in vessels. We want to
save whatever ship-building skill and expert
ence we now have, in the hope OF soon AGAIN
needing and using it.
Even in these times, our vast COas'ing and
Internal Transportation by water is confined
to American-bu vessels, and it gives en-
poyment to thousands OF shiDwrights. we
want these men on hand to hurry up an cf-
fective Navy in case of war; but Free Trade
in vessels would send most OF them 10 the
carpenter-shop or the plow. Our Treasury has
been largely replenished from Duties on Iron,
Hemp, &c, employed in the construction OIL
our coasters. As it would be no further rcplen-
ished if we welcome foreign-built vessels to
American registry we object.
So in regard to vessels engaged in foreign
commerce; it seems to be fayoTite argument
with those who demand that fOreign-built ves-
sells shall be admitted to American registry,
that the freights on our Imports AID Exports
would be thereby cheapencd.
Now, the fact is, that so far ~ our foreign
commerce is concerned, we can now bring or
carry merchandise under tho cheapest flag that
can be found, and which may enter or depart
from our ports without charge over and above
that required of our own tunnage.
When. therefore. it ia taken into account.
that we cannot sail vessels under the exisuSg
Tariff and with the increased wages of our
scamen, "a cheaply as other countrTes, it will
bo seen at n glance that no advantages such
os are claimed would result from n transfer to
the American flag Of vessels intended for
foreign commerce.
The business for American-built ships en-
gagged in foreign commerce has, for the past
three years, been uHprOftable. 1t is so at
present. The mere difference between the
cost of q foreign-built ship and one built at
home would make the loss TO the owner less
in degree--at tho same time no profit, with
freghts at present rates, would result
Oar vessels have paid the Government heavy
duties on articles used in their construction,
Is there reason why our ship-builders and all
tha mechanical trades involved in sbip-building
should be exposed to the free competition Of
the cheapest labor of the world, when other
trades and manufactures in the country are
protected9
Now these simple suggestions are based upon
the facts as they exist. The builder or
owner of American ships employed in for
egn trade pays duties to the Government in
his construction and outfits, and yet, so far as
our Navigation laws are concerned, he has not
a single advantage, but has to compete with
the cheapest foreign flag that can be found.
The only real remedy, therefore, is not to ad-
nit fOreign-built ships to American registry
but so to adjust our laws as to give American
vessels employed in foreign commerce such
relief as is consistent with due regard for
other interests and not, as too many persons
not familiar with oil the facts would advise,
give the entire building of our future COM
mercial marine to foreigners.