New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-07
OuR FOREIGN COMMERCE.

rapidly decreasing in value since 1861, the
year that civil war was inaugurated IN this
country.
Our foreign commerce, according to Mr
Boutwell,, is worth, in its earnings and
profits, at least one hundred millions Of
dollars year, Of which abou. th;,ty-fve
or thirty-seyen millions only inure to
American merchants and interests, and
the remainder to foreign countries, chiefly
to Great Britain. Estimates twenty years
ago show that the shipping Of tie world
was about twelve millions Ct tons, Of
which one-third was American, one-third
British, and the remaining third was dis
tributed among other nations. Present
estimates show that, while the shipping OF
the world has increased to fifteen millions
Of tons, our interest in that important
branch Of the worlds trade has gradually
diminished, and that one-tenth OF
it has been transferred from this country
to Great Britain. Ofthe fifteen million OF
tons of shipping Of the present time Eng
land enjoys an interest Of torty-eigEt or
torty-nine per cent, while that OF the
United States will not exceed twenty per
cent, about thirty per cent being divided
among other nations. Secretary Boutwell,
is inclined to think this change due to two
facts. He believes the chief and imme-
date cause was the destruction Of our
commerce during the war; but feels bound
to admit as a matter Of opinion, that
similar, though perhaps 10. equally disas-
trous result would have been reached at
period not very remote, if We had not been
afflicted with war. We doubt this opin-
ion of the honorable Secretary, because we
are not inclined to give England the bene-
fit of #, should it be generally con-
ceded to be correct in the settlement Of
the Alabama claims. Mr.. Boutwell, be-
lieves we would have employed
and used the vessels that We had when
the war broke out, but thinks it doubtful
whether the places Of those decayed Or
lost would have been supplied by Amer
lean ships. He is lead to this conclusion
from the fact that England had already
taken the lead in the construction Of iron
sailing vessels and iron steamships. But
passing from the causes which have con-
tributed to the present position Of our
commerce, he believes We must now choose
between still further and more damag-
ing losses, or vigorous and persistent effort
by the government to regain our position
in the hope and, as he thinks, in the be-
lief, founded reasonably upon known
facts, that when by the aid OF the govern
ment or commercial interests are re-es-
tabished we shall be able to maintain
them without its financial aid. His object
It the present time is to give substan-
.ial aid to this pursuit in order that our
merchants and ship builders may gain
courage and acquire skill and finally be
enabled to make this importan. branch Of
American industry source o. profit both
o themselves and the government, whose
assistance IS now asked. The objects of
Mr.. Boutwell's bill are various and import
mt, and chief among them is the estab-
ishment, upon firm basis, OF our foreign
and ship building in this coun-
~, for he evidently believes that, in order
o reap our full share Of the worlds COM
nerce, We have got to enter largely upon
his work. In connection with this branch |
# the subject he shows that the number
# tons Of merchandise moved on toe navi |
able waters Of the globe is twice as great |
S it was twenty years ago, and very rea-
onably concludes the increase VIII not |
'e less in the next twenty years, and
0 meet this immense growth OF |
he carrying trade the Secretary con-
ludes tina. the building of ships is 20 be |
n immense business = mora important |
han ever before. And that, therefore, |
With our vast resources Of timber Of iron
nd of coal our capacity for every me-
hanical pursuit and the adaptation Of
arge classes of our people to the ocean
re ought not to be Indifferent to COM
nerce as branch of industry important
o the country in its internal condition as
,ell as its external relations. To encour-
&c ship building in our country and the
onsequent growth Of foreign commerce
q American bottoms the Secretary pro
oses in his bill, for the aid Of our mari
me interests, that the government be au-
horized to offer a bounty of not more
han ten dollars per tor, to be paid each
ear for a period Of five years, for the con-
truction of iron steamships not less than
ne thousand tons each, not exceeding five
undred thousand tons in the aggregate,
I'd not more than one hundred thousand
ons to be constructed in any one year,
aid ships to be employed exclusively in
he foreign trade The bill provides that
hese vessels shall be first class in every
aspect, to be constructed after such plans,
models and specifications as shall be ap-
'roved by the Bureau of Construction
nd Repairs Of the Navy Department.
md the bill further provides that the
government may at any time purchase or
harter said vessels, or require them to
AIRY the mails between the United States
nd any'foreign country by compromising
hem for said service. It is also provided
hat tie Secretary Of the Navy may detail
II officer Of the navy not above the rank