Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-22
The Navigation Laws.

prosperity. Not content with presenting
our navigation laws in the most uniavor-
able manner possible, Mr.. Wells copies
from the Maine republican platform adopt
ed last August, aud sneers at the conven-
ton because of its endorsement of those
laws and declared opposition to any radi-
cal change in them. The question:" he
SAYS, NATURALLY suggests itself, Was
there one single man in this same con-
vention that had any clear and definite
knowledge of how these laws originated,
what they embody, aud what is the sphere
of their infuencep'
We can reply to Mr.. Wells that there
were men in that convention, goodly
number of them, who build ships, own
ships and sail them under these same
navigation laws, and are quite as capa-
BILE of Judging by practical knowledge
what the navigation laws embody aud
the sphere of their influence as any per-
son who is employed for certain sum
per line to write them down. How the
laws originated is question of no more
consequence than whether the father OF
Mr.. Wells was chimney-sweep, boot
black. or millionaire. We judge them
by what they are, not by their origin.
According to Mr.. Weiss own admis-
sions the commercial marine OF this coun-
try fourished under our navigation laws
until 1855. They had existed from the
infancy of the republic up to that year the
same in fact as they are now, and under
them our tonnage had increased until 1t
stood only second to that of Great Biitain
among the nations of the globe. Even
as late as 1861. at the breaking out OF the
war, Ito use Mr. Wells's own words) 1.-THE
tonnage of the United States engaged in
the international carrying trade of the
world was larger than that of all other
nations combined. with the exception OF
Great Britain But subsequently to 1856
there came a decrease in shpbuilding
WhyP Mr.. Wells attributes it to the nav
igation laws. But if he had been prac-
teal shipbuilder and ship owner instead
of q penny-a-liner he would have known
that it was not the navigation laws which
caused the decline in building but the
simple operation of the laws of business.
Gold was discovered IN California in
1847 Prior to that the commerce OF that
country was almost nothing, principally OF
hides. But immediately after the reports
of the rich gold deposits on the Pacific
reached the Atlantic shore, emigrants be-
gan to pour into California and an ocean
carrying trade was created which caused
q large increase in our tonnage to supply
the demand for vessels. This stimulated
oil our shipyards to activity, until at last the
business was overdone, and in 1855 came
had foreseen. Vessels then on the stocks,
the most of them built expressly for the
California trade, sank in price so that
many shipbuilders were ruined and ship
building had not entirely recovered from
the blow when the rebellion began in 1861.
What crushing effect the rebellion had
upon our shipping needs no extended re-
cital. With Confederate cruisers prey
ing upon our vessels, high rates of nsur-
ance, an inflated currency. and the un-
friendly attitude of most of the countries
of Europe to our government in its strug-
gle with the slave power, the American
flag was almost driven from the seas and
our commerce nearly annihilated. Here
was cause enough for decline in our
shipping and shipbuilding, with which our
navigation laws had nothing whatever to
do. The repeal of our navigation laws
cannot bring back the vessels or the com
merce we lost by the rebellion. The only
possible result which the advocates OF free
trade in ships seem to expect. il their de-
signs are carried Gut, is that the same
country (Great Britan) which sent out its
Confederate pirates to destroy our vessels
in the war, may now be permitted to come
In by act OF Congress to rob our shipbuild-
ers Of their business and our country of
Its glory and independence as a maritime
nation.
Vessels are being built in the State of
Maine as cheaply as before the war. The
best of vessels. better in quality than those
built before 1851. all rugged and fitted for
foreign voyages, are constructed this year
and sold for about $50 per ton--a price
according to quality as low at least as the
ruling price oil the best vessels before the
war. The shipbuiders of Maine stand
ready to supply any deficiency existing in
the tonnage of the country at the above
rate. If men like Mr.. Wells, who are de.
sirous of returning to our former colonial
dependence upon England, will keep their
hands off the navigation laws, the sturdy,
strong headed builders oil vessels will see
to it that their part is done in restoring our
commercial marine to what the honor and
prosperity OF the country require it should
be-.
Senator Gordon has introduced in the Senate a