The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-23
YANKEE GREED RUINS OUR SHIPPING.

Our affair" with Chill, If that piece Of
humbuggery may be dignifed with such a
title. calls public attention very pointedly 10
our absolute restitution in the matter Of a
mercantile marine. If we had had war with
the little South American republic she would
have armed all the steamships owned by her
citizens. and they would have made formida-
bic craft with which to prey upon the little
hat we have, and to lombard our
seaports. whilst we should have had no steam
ships Of any consequence to arm. In 1850 the
United States was the third maritime power
of the world in the point of merchant marine.
Now she is nowhere.
The Confederate States cruiser Alabama
drove her marine from the face Of the ocean
during our war, and the legislation Of Con-
gress, controlled by Yankee greed. prevents a
restoration Of it. The acts Of Congress make
it simply impossible for Americans TO buy
foreign constructed ships, and the cost of
building them abroad is so much less than
that of building them in America, that We
cannot. with American built ships. compete
with foreigners using foreign built ships.
The cost of a 1000 ton ship built in
Europe is 10000 less than the cost Of
the same ship built in the United States. yet
Coneressiona legislation forces Us 10 buy our
ships from New Englang ship-builders, and
80 we buy none. The history of this legisla-
ton is very curious and instructive. When
the convention met to frame the Federal Con-
stitution, the two great sectional questions
dividing parties were slavery and the slave
trade on one side. and regulation Of com
merce on the other. The extreme South
wished a continuation Of the slave
trade; the New Highlander wanted a
monopoly Of commerce. There was much
angry controversy IN the convention over
these questiens. until Gouverneur Morris pro-
posed that both subjects should be referred
TO a committee, suggesting that these things
may form a bargain among the Northern and
Southern States" The hint was quickly
adopted. and tho New England delegates
agreed that the slave trade shouldb be legalized
until ls0s. in consideration Of Congress being
gwen exclusive control of commerce. with the
understanding that Congress should be al
lowed to pass such laws as would give New
England a monopoly of commerce and ship
ping, and the Constitution was so framed.
(Hildreth's United States. Vol. Ill, p. 52O.)
Luther Martin. a member OF the Conyen-
ton, writing a letter to the Speaker Of the
Maryland House of Delegates said: Il found
the Eastern States, Notwithstanding their
ayersions TO slavery. were very willing to in !
dulge the Southern States at least with a
temporary liberty 10 prosecute the slave
It'd, .-l~.l.l tra GgptIarp Staten would
in turn crafty them by laying no restriction
on navigation acts; and after a little time IL
committee agreed on "A report by which tn
general Government was TO DO prohibited\
from preventing the importation of slaves for
n limited time, and the restriction clause rela-
tive 10 navigation acts was 10 DO omitted
(Elliott's Debates, I'd Ed. p. 373..
As an evidence of New England thought
at the time, We quote from a speech made by
Hon. David Daggett afterwards United States
senator and chief justice OF Connecticut at
New Haven. July 4. 1857, a month before the
Federal Convention, then in session. took I'D
the subject OF slavery and the navigation
laws. Speaking of the gratitude and generous
reward the country owed TO the officers and
soldiers Of the Revolutionary army, and its
immediate inability to discharge such ob.iga-
tons. he said:
IF, however, there is not a suficiency Of
property in the country | would project a plan
to acquire it. " Let us repeal all the laws
against the African slave trade and undertake
the truly benevolent and humane merchan-
disc Of importing negroes to Christianize
them. This has been p~racticed by individuals
among US. and they have found it a lucrative
branch Of business. lie, US. then. make a
national matter OF IL. "-s We should havs
the sublime satisiacto on Of enr.ching our
selves. and. at the same time, rendering happy
thousands o. those blacks. by instructing
them in the hopes of religion. - This
country permitted it for several years among