Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Message of the President in Re-
lation to the Decline of American
Crmnorpa

WA.HINGroN. March 90.
The following is the mt ssage OF the Presi-
dent in relation to the decline of American
Commerce:
In the Executive Message of December
9Th, 1860. to Congress, the importance of
taking steps to revive the dccaylng merchant
marin was urged to a special message and
promised at future day during the present
session, recommending more specifically
plans to accomplish this result. Now that
the Committee OF the House of Representa-
tives that was entrusted withthis labor of aseer-
tanning the cause OF the decline OF American
Commerce has completed its work and sui
mi;ted lis report to the legislative branch of
the governments | deem this a fitting time
to execute that promise
Thu very able, calm and exhaustive report
OF the committee points out the grave wrongs
which produced the decline in our commerce.
Il is national humiliation that we are now
compelled to pay from 20 to 80 millions OF
dollars annually, exclusive of passage money
which we should share to other nations, to
foreigners for doing work which should be
done by American owned and American
manned vessels. This is Il direct draw upon
resources Of the country OF Just so much
money, and equal to casting 1t into the sea,
so far as the nation is concerned. A nation
Of the evcr-increasing interior resources of
the United States, extending as it does from
one to the other of the great oceans OF the
world, with the industrious, intelligent and
energetic population, must one day possess
full share Of the commerce OF these oceans
no matter at what cost; delay will only in
crease the cost and enhance the difficulty Of
attaining that result. l therefore put in an
earnest plea for early action in this matter
in a way to secure the increase of American
Commerce. The advanced period Of the
year. and the fact that no contract for ship
building will probably be entered into until
the question is settled by Congress; and the
further fact that if there should be much de-
lay. all large vessels contracted 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 consid-
Grafton of the subject.
regard it of such grave importance, affect
ing every interest of the country TO so great
an extent, that any method which will gain
this end will secure the national blessing
of building ships and navigating them, and
utilizing the vast capital at home.
This business employs thousands of work
men in constructing and manning; 1t creates
home market for produce of the farm and
shop: it diminshes the balance of tide
against us, precisely to the extent OF trolShtS
and passage money paid To American vessels,
and gives no superiority upon the seas OF m
estinable value in case Of foreign war.
Our navy at the commencement OF the late
war consisted of less than 100 vessels, of
abou: 10000 tons, and a force of about
| 5000 men. We drew from the merchant and
marine which had cost the government Moth
! ing but which had been source OF national
| wealth, six hundred vessels, exceeding .OUO,-
900 tons, and about 10000 men to aid in the
| suppression of the rebellion. This state
mcnt demonstrates the value of the merchant
marine of a means Of national defence in
time of war.
The committee on the cause of the rcduc-
ton of American tonnage, after investigating
the cause of its decline, submit two bills,
which if adopted we believe will restore to
the nation its maritime report. Their re-
port shows with great minutencss the actual
and comparative American tonnage at the
time Of its greatest prosperity. and the actual
and comparative decline since. together with
the causes and exhibits of the statistics of
material interest in reference to the subject.
As the report is before Congress, will not
recapitualatc any statistics, but refer only TO
the methods recommended by the committe"
to give back to us our lost commerce. As a
general rule it can be adopted. believe
that direct money subsidy is less liable to
abuse than indirect aid given to the same en-
terprise. 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 ad-
dtion to substituting very desirable lines of
ocean traffic, general assistance should be
| given in an effective way; and therefore
commend to your favorable consideration the
two bills proposed by the committee and re-
ferred to in this message.
L. S. GRANT.