The Express. — 1867-01-01 (London, England)

AMERICAN COMMERCE TO BE EXTINGUISHED.  Under the above heading the New Yolk Times, of Dec. 17, writes u follows :  One of the most striking passages in the report of the Secretary of therTeasury is that in which he demonstrates the effect of high duties upon raw material, in diminishing and almost destroying our once important business of ship and steamer building. He shows that though formerly a first-clean commercial power, and apparently destined soon to lead the commerce of the world, we have during the last sir ears been steadily falling behind Great Britain, and if the diminution of our ship-building and carrying trade goes on at the present rates (of some fifty per cent. in six years), we shall ere long cease to be a commercial power of any importance. These serious fact. are confirmed by figures, showing the decrease in American tonnage from this country, and the increase in English, employed in our porta, such as the following:— The tonnage of American vessels engaged in the foreign carrying trade which entered United States ports was—in 1860. 5,921,285 tons; in 1865, 2,943,661 tons; in 1866, 3,372,060 tons. The tonnage of such vessels which were cleared from the United States was—in 1860, 6,165,924 tons; in 1865, 3,025,134 tons; in 1866, 3,384,176 tons. The tonnage of foreign vessels which entered our ports was—in 1860, 2,353,911 tons; in 1865, 3,216,967 tons; in 1866, 4,410,424 tons. The tonnage of foreign vessels which were cleared was—in 1860, 1624,005 tons ; in 1865, 3,595,123 tons; in 1866, 4,438, 384 tons. . _  .These' statements haie been strengthened by a fact which has called forth some public remark within a day or two—the approaching salesof two steamers of the Havre line—they being apparently the last American steamers on any great line between New York and Europe. So ends our expected greet commerce in American•built ocean steamers. Great Britain has a vast fleet of iron commercial steamers plying over every sea, built so cheaply and ingeniously as to drive out all competition. In the grand business struggle of nearly a century to get possession of or to lead the commerce of the ocean, the United States, that seemed once on the point of victory, must now own to defeat. She is not only a commercial power, second to Great Britain, but she seems destined to still further inferiority, and to be almost driven from the ABM _ _  The explanation of this mortifying defeat is not to be found alone in cheap labour, for labour was cheaper in Great Britain twenty-five years ago than now, and the difference between what wages will buy in the two countries is not so great as it was a few years since. The difficulty is the same as that which is gradually taking our machine manufacture from us, i.e that machines for South America, for instance, which used to be ordered in New York, are now made in England. It is said that even river steamboats will soon be plying on our waters which were manufactured in Great Britain, because with all the duties they can be made so much cheaper there. This, as Mr. McCulloch wisely remarks, is a direct effect of the high protective system, especially as applied to raw material. It must be remembered that such a tariff as we have now weighs upon every article which the manufacturer uses, his iron, brass, steel, wood, coal,and tools ; and he not only has to compete with the cheaper labour of England, which he might do with the aid of ingenuity, but he has to work on raw products, which are all far dearer than in England, owing to our exorbitant duties. More than this, the effect of such a high bounty as the present tariff offers is to encourage, with the American producers of the raw material, a carelessness, extravagance, and want of business prudence and saving which gradually render their production more expensive. There is nothing which stimulates economy, ingenuity, invention, and care, like open competition, The moment government comes in to back up an interest with excessive duties it becomes wasteful, and soon loses the watchful ears which before made it successful. We have no doubt that there is something of this effect of very high duties even on our manufacturers, as well as our producers of coal and iron. It must be borne iu mind, also, that the expenses of the labourers are greater under the high duties upon raw materials, and of course their wages must be greater, and thus the cost of manufacturing be increased. Our ingenuity, even under • revenue tariff, enabled us formerly with dearer labour to compete with Great Britain in ship-building and in many articles of manufacture. It will again, if the immoderately heavy duties on raw materials berewoved, and production of manufactures be thus cheapened, and individual expenses so be diminished. This country is especially adapted to be agreat commercial country. Its forests of pines and oak, its mines of iron and coal, its countless bay. and harbours, the hardy men on the coasts trained to the sea, its connection in trade with so many countries, and the new link now forming between the east and Europe over California and the Isthmus, all show that, if no false syetem be adopted, we shall become gradually and naturally the great carrier of the world's products, and take the plume which Venice and Holland had once, and Great Britain bolds now. But if, on the other hand, our commerce be destroyed by our own suicidal policy, by a fatal mistake in political economy, we may in our youth lose that which we can never regain in our maturity, and the trade of the world peas out of our hands, and become merely a wealthy China, where agriculture alone shall be the profitable pursuit, and manufacture and commerce be left to foreign hands. Commerce is the great liberaliser and civiliser of a people. It brings a nation in contact with foreigners ;it is the best school fora navy ; it prepares us for what is our only danger in the future—a naval war. We must always export our raw produce largely and import luxuries, and we ought not to lose the vast profits of the carriage. The American commerce of a orntury to come may depend on the revenue and protective system we now establish. Let Congress see to it that it be • wise and liberal one.