The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-09

| which will promote the interests OF all oul
industries.
material, In itself constitutes an incident d
protection TO mechanical production, and
must also tend to stimulate greatly the de-
mand for coal with which our country
abounds Such are In great part the 2bsta,
Icles to fair participation Of the United
States In the markets Of South America. II
Is, however In the want of facilities Of com
Imercial Intercourse and correspondence with
foreign countries on this continent that we
find the chief obstacle to the great object
stated. 1t Is only while we compare the facili-
ties for this purpose furnished by other no
tions with the almost entire absence OF similar
accommodations on the part Of our own gov.
eminent, that we realize the true cause Of
this restricted intercourse. On turning TIC
authentic sources we find the amounts ap.
piled by those nations, who enjoy the greatest
part Of the tropical trade, to stand In com
parison with our own somewhat as follows
The English subsidy fol. Central,
| South American and West India
Royal Mail Steamship Company,
and Pacific Steamship Company $930,O0O
| The French subsidy for the Com
| pagnie Menagerfes Maridmes, ct
| Coinpagnie Grande Transact
lantique .................... 1,4o,451
s2,s79, 45t
| There are, besides, many lines Of German
steamers running to the same ports with
those of France and England. The sole APP
preparation made by the government Of the
United States at present to the same service
consists In an assignment to ocean steamers
Of part Of the sea postage which they carry
themselves. The postal receipts last year
| from the lines trading to South America,
| 1.-THE cost OF sea conyeyances," or subven-
| tion, was s47, $40 49, The South American
service was last year kept separate from
| that of Australia and China
which this government returned to the car
riers $52 101 leaving to the Postoffice Depart
ment net profit OF $44 $40 AZ. It certainly
evinces admirable enterprise on the part of
| those American steamers to meet the compe-
| tition of subsidized foreign service and to
| pay their own government profit upon
| service which cost the government nothing,
and for the performance Of which 1t would
have otherwise been compelled to pay foreign
vessels.
The late President of the United States
| took more liberal and sagacious view of the
| public duty. In his annual message Of 1875
he said:
| 800, 900, 900 per annum for freigbts and pas
sengers on foreign ships. = It is to be
regretted that this disparity In the carrying
trade exists, and to correct 1t / would be will
ing to see O great departure from the usual
course of government in supporting what
may be usually termed private enterprise |
would not suggest as remedy direct subsidy
to American steam shipping, but [ would
suggest the direct offer OF compensation for
carrying the mail between Atlantic seaboard
cities and the continent in American owned
and American built steamers, and would ex-
tend this liberality to vessels carrying the
mails to South American States and to Gem
trail America and Mexico, and would pursue
the same policy from our Pacific seaports to
foreign seaports on the Pacific.
The President also said in another message
Of 1875:
"The subsidy Of $15o,OO0 per annum for
carrying the mails between New York and
Rio de Janeiro having ceased on the 30th of
faeiiities with IT, the o South American ep statss
This Ia greatly to be regretted, and do not
hesitate to recommend the authorization OF q
renewal OF that contract, and also that the
service may be increased from monthly to
to be gained by direct line Of American
steamers to the South American States will be
far beyond the expense OF the same"
In like manner the Chamber Of Commerce
Of New York, in o spirit OF enlarged and Inn
partial wisdom, has said
.In our last report we invited attention to the
Importance OF developing our trade with our
natural neghbors and allies, the South Ameri-
can States The Chamber has even favored re-
strictions In trade. It would not now sup
port subsidy to any steam line to Europe
1t Is not necessary. But 1t has repeatedly
expressed It's belief that only by government
aid In the beginning can such communca-
tions with the Southern Continent be estab-
lished as will ensure the opening of their
markets to American produce, in which the
West as producers, and the North and South
as carriers and consumers, are alike interest
ed In this commerce is the future hope Of
New York"
It Is thus made obvious that with a more
moderate rate Of reciprocal duties between
the European nations and the Southern
American States, and with the peculiar Ii not
exclusive facilities of intercourse with those
States and Colonies enjoyed by European
great proportion Of the trade already stated
In this fact we find an explanation Of the in
significant trade enjoyed by the United States
with the Empire OF Brazil. Our minister to
that country reports twenty lines of European
steamers In its ports without one from the
United States, and says that much of the
freights, passengers and correspondence be-
tween the United States and Brazil has to
pass through q British port In its transit
Much opposition has been recently made
postal service. Statesmen who have sub
mitted without remonstrance to gifts Of pub
lie lands and to loans of public money, to
be employed In railroad construction and re-
imbursed by military and postal services to
the government seem embarrassed by the
proposal to consummate the postal service
by extending the transportation of the mail
upon the sea. It may possibly puzzle such
casuists TO- explain how, under a simple
power to establish postofIices and posts
routes" Congress has acquired any right to
pay for carrying the mails at all
We may assume that postal service was
80 Indispensable to the commercial and social
Intercourse of the people that the service
was necessary and proper" to exercise this |
granted power. Upon this reasoning the au-
thority and the obligation is not limited to the |
internal intercourse Of the country, but may
be extended wherever that intercourse may |
require. The deck Of an American vessel Is |
the territory of the nation, and the national |
jurisdiction Is as clear over any contract of |
service on the deck of that vessel, as on the |
back OF any mule bestrode by any mail rider |
on the staked plain of Texas
The obligation of Congress is not res tricted |
to land routes, nor does it cease at the sea-
coast. This obligation to carry the mail on
the land cost the American people last year
1873, 1853, 459. This was nearly five millions
more than the government derived from the |
hostages. With what justice can the govern
ment expend so large sum in the imperfect
performance of this obligation, by failing to
deliver these missives at their ultimate des-
tination z There is q great International