The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-05-10

sailing out of a harbor bound to a foreign port
| than to a coastwise port: Look at the compul-
sorry potage law in all its bearings. and view
it from all sides, and il is an imposition to the
| American vessels. There is no authority grant
ing State the right to impose any such law
upon American shipping. 1t is wholly against
the wishes and interests of all persons interest
| ed in shipping. There is no argument that can
| justify the continuation of this law or make it
| appear otherwise than an imposition on our
commerce and an unnecessary tax imposed
| upon vessels to support Il monopoly without
authority of law. 1t is in direct opposition to
the teachings of the Constitution of the United
| States. What lawyer in this free country will
attempt to argue that any state has the author
| ity to force me to pay a man for his services
when do not require them: Would this logic
meet with approval from the bench: Would
any judge give decision fay yoiable TO this rea-
soning: 1t i Il sufficient reason for aboIi,hng
| this law that every man who is obliged to sup
port ii is opposed to its continuance. The law
is in direct opposition to the wish of ship own-
ers. Every man who is obliged to furnish fuel
to support this unjust pilotage monopoly is
against it, and stands ready to-day with money
and information to assist in ahoi>hing it. 1t is
an unnatural law that appoints Il man to com
mand my vessel as spou a> She arrives within
the limits Of any narbor in the nited States.
| Let the masters and owners of American
vessels form ali association. paying six per
cent annually yer ton register, and let every
one of those vessels refuse the assistance of pi-
lots, and refuse to pay their bills. when pre-
>ented. Lei H. employ the best lawyer in the
country to defend our ease. We will soon have
a sufficient fund in the treasury to induce some
one to take 4 trip to Canada. even in the short
space Of twelve months. This would create a
breeze which in time would BE certain to blow
in cur favor. and would bring about the oblit-
Grafton Of this unjust piiotaye monopoly. We
do not show proper resentment to this outrage.
We allow ourselves 10 be made Victims Of with
out showing we can fight or have grit sufficient
to resent this State imposition.
have within eighteen months when bound
into New ork, paid the pilot who spoke me
two-thirs Of my pilotage 10 take the vessel in
myself and he 90 oD board another ship with
much heavier draft and this. too. when had
Il cargo on board valued at &63.0 What ilis-
tice is there in 4 law that will compel me TO do
such thing: No argument can he advanced to
Justify such law The very act condemns IL
self to ali right-mindei men The right of the
state to make such law has never been ques-
toned in eur courts. The object is protection,
but we have never asked fos this sort of pro
lection. Exclusive jurisdiction over their har-
bors in free country like America should lie
vested in the general government. The people
clear the hafbor~ of distractions ,lre,lye the
channels when necessary. buoy the harhor>.
survey and light them. while the state inter-
vencs aud builds Il toll bridge. From what
>cource docs the State derive the right to tax
u> for entering a liarbor that the government
and people have lighted, cleared. buoyed and
surveyed: This right cannot and does not eX-
ist. This certainly is q branch of commerce
over which the states have no control and 10
right to regulate. We imporc Congress TO look
into the matter and see that this obnoxious law
is remedied iii such Il way rs to exempt all
masters Of American vessel. Who are qualified
TO pilot their own vessels. from being obliged
to pay potagc. Bring us some relief from this
State monopoly. Truly Yours,
JOHN W. KANE.