Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-09-30
Line Of water communicatIon, Oasred

line Of water communication, o1fered
the following resolution:
Reso1Ved, That among the measures
a | to facilitate commerce in the whole
country and the attaining of CONNER
cisl supremacy among the nations,
the completion by the general govern
ment of Wisconsin and Fox river i'm
4 provemeuts, on which about two
millions of dollars have been expend-
ed. connecting the waters Of the Mis-
sissippi with those of Lake Michigan,
on q scale commensurate with Its
great importance, to be used as q puH-
, lie highway, free for the use Of al, sub
, iect Onlvt to such tolls as may be neces-
sary to keep It In repair, is demanded
by the highest interest, and being OF
national character, Is entitled to, and
claims, the aid of the general govern
ment in its completion.
ResolUed further, That the tonnage
OF the Erie canal, in Its connection
with the commerce of the great lakes,
being strictly national in its charac-
ter, it is eminently proper that the
general government be requested to
take such measures in connection with
the State of New York for such en-
largement and increase in its tonnage
capacity as shall tend to cheaper the
cost of transportation between the
eastern and western states, thereby
adding to the material wealth of the
country. The resolutions were adopt
ed.
On the subject of the Baltimore and
Atlantic canal, the convention pro-
pose that a special committee be ap-
pointed to petition Congress to aid
the work in case the survey already
authorized by Congress shall prove |
! favorable.
On the Louisville canal, the COM
mittee recommend that Congress be |
asked to accept the canal and make |
an appropriation of its outstanding
bonds and hereafter to collect only |
the tolls necessary to keep the canal |
in order.
On the Albemsrle and Chesapeake |
canal, the committee recommend that |
Congress make such appropria- |
tiODs as may be necessary for the i'm
provement of natural water courses |
in Virginia and North Carolina lead
ing into this canal as are found practi-
cable by survey by the United
States.
All recommendations Of the COM
nllIl66 were duOpbSus
The special order Of the day, which
was the resolution Of Mr.. English, Of
Arkansas, in reference to the cotton
tax, was taken up. The following is
the resolution:
ResOyved, That it is the opinion of
this convention that the special tax
imposed on cotton by the act of Con-
gress for the years 1866 and 1867 was
!, |
the rules of taxation as prescribed by
the Constitution Of the United States,
and that Congress be respectfully re-
quested to provide for the refunding
OF the same to the parties from whom
it was collected.
Mr.. Lopp, of Tennessee, made a
long argument against the constitu-
tiOnality of the tax. The resolution
was adopted and the convention took
a recess.
AFTER THE RECESS.
On reassembling, Mr.. Kirkland, of
New York, chairman of the commit
tee on foreign commerce, submitted a |
report, which vas adopted. The re-
port suggests thai il is the duty of the
general government to use ali proper
means to secure the trade and COM
merce OF Central and south America I
and Mexico, and to this end to subsi I
die lines OF the ocean steamers,
and send with them additional COM
mercial agents and cOnsuls, and re- s
move all unnecessary distractions to
commerce with all foreign countries.
The committee would also call atten-
ton to the custOm-hOuse service, and 8
suggest that Congress TO revise the sys-
tenn and correct the existing abuses
by drafting anew the tariff law.
The report of the committee on
American ship building ana navi.
cation reviews briefly the present de-
pressed and unsatisfactory condition
of ocean transportation and traffic;
declares, as the first condition for re-
gaining our ocean commerce, both
ships and seamen should be fecreated =,
ana restored; alludes with confidence
10 be forthcoming report of Secre- .
tary Robson to Congress on the best =
measures for the revival OF our COM
marine, and recommends ,
Congress, at its approaching session, to :
mature and pass comprehensive act a
for the protection of merchant sea- :
men. In it should be provisions for =
the establishment Of a seaman's home y
shipping masters and marine boards =
in every port where there is owned :
over five thousand tons and upwards I
Of merchant vessels, the main boards =
TO have supervising charge of all, :,
with authority to examine and eerti- 4
" to the qualifications and compe- i
.ency of sea captains, matss and Il
other officers Of vessels, and to give :
certificates thereof or to !,
reject those who are not competent; :
with authority also to apprentice a !.
certain number of youths to each yes !,
sci OF the merchant marine; shipping / :,
to have charge of seamen, and :,
homes, with the sole authority of a
and discharging seamen, r
aud Of the care of their persons and .
property; to protect them nom the ii
plUndering practiced by q,
many of the sailors boarding house II
keepers, or in their houses; if needfui AZ
% commerce, to pass general act -
the withdrawal from | :,
bonded warehouses, free from all =
iuty and tax, every article which en- ~
ers into the vitality and preservation
II a ship or subsistence and protec-
ion Of her crew while In port or on r
yoysges; and also for a reduction OF
luty, or a return thereof as shall
,e equal to the duties or II
xes collected upon all material
lsed in constructing wooden and iron
7essels and steamers of all classes.
These measures, il perfected, will re-
tore or reereate and enlarge our COM dC
nerce. There are oppressive local hS
equations, differing in ports of the Gu
United States in their rates Of taxa ci
ion on ships and cargoes, which de- OF
nand, emphatically, correction under th
ne law OF Congress, which shall ap- 10
,ly to all ports equally and fairly and, th
Without being burdensome, shall ID
lield q sufficient sum to meet the ex- th
,enditures necessary to their enforce al
osnt, which is all that was ever con- dI
in the necessities which n
aused their origin. Among ed
hese stand prominently exactions, to
-aried in their forms, Of the forced nC
layment OF heavy sums on vessels j0
aFgoes and passengers, collected by &C
f1cers Of the quarantine, especially al pl
be port of New York, and less but th
Qually vexatiOus exactions OF harbOr r
masters to secure berths for ships, dc
7hich, in most cases, can only be OBJ ir;
aimed by paying premium direct it
0 the harb0r master or some known ca
nd distinguished favorite; the rates th
( pilotage, should be equal and fixed, co
kept in cases OF great danger or ex- N
Osure. These are all controlled un- er
er State and municipal laws, which to
re in direct violation OF constitu- dc