Year: 1868

Sir, no language of mine can add force TO
facts like these. They show conclusively that
our foreign commerce has been nearly annl-
Inflated by the war in consequence of the in
ability OF the government to afford it protec-
tlon. They furnish also key to the motive
that actuated foreign nations, particularly
Great Britain, whose commercial rival we
had become, in giving aid and comfort to the
rebellion. Shall we allow those nations that
aided in destroying our commerce to profit by
its destruction? or shall we encourage and
stimulate Its reproduction by enacting wise
and liberal measures in regard to it?


1t is said that every interest in the country
should bear its proportion OF the public bur
den; and fully concur in the general cor
rectnesS OF that proposition. But L
submit whether this particular interest
which has been crushed almost out OF exist
ence by the war, while those other great in
terests, agriculture and manufactures, have
been stimulated and improved thereby should
not be made an. exception to this general
rule.


If an article of American manufacture is
taxed, if the raw material which enters into
its composition pays an impost duty, the ar
ticle when manufactured is protected by a
duty upon its foreign competitor, which is
intended to cover not only these disadvan-
tages, but also the increased cost of American
over foreign labor.


And now l wish to call the attention of
my friend from Pennsylvania Mr.. Myersl to
the difference between the protection this
great interest receives, and the protection
which is afforded to the manufacturing inter-
ests which that gentleman represents. They
are protected by the tariff which is put upon
those articles that are included in our tax
laws.


The gentleman from Michigan IMr. Blairl
asked wherein our laws had been changed in
regard to this ship-building interest that it
now requires protection. | ask that gentle
man and the gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA
wherein our laws nave been changed in re-
gard to the interests they represent? And
yet those gentlemen, from the commence
ment OF the war to present time, have come
here and demanded more protection, and we
have given it to them. We have advanced
the import duties pari passu with and in
proportion as we have advanced our internal
taxes, The laws in regard to the ship-build-
ing interest have not been altered to meet
the altered condition of affairs, while the
laws in regard to manufactures have been so
altered.


Let us see how it is with the American
shipbuilder He must build his ship with
high priced-labor, and high priced and high
taxed material; everything tIom stem to
stern, and from keelson to truck, has paid an
excise or impost duty. And when the ship
is launched and ready for business, provision
ed with taxed stores and manned with tax
ed crew, the foreign ship, built with cheap la
Dor, without single article which has enter
ed into her construction having paid tax to
the government, with every article of ship
stores exempt from duty, this ship, thus built,
manned, and provisioned, hauls alongside of
the American ship, at an American port and
enters into free competition with her for all
foreign commerce. Is it strange, with this
condition of things, that the American flag
is fast disappearing from the ocean so far as
foreign commerce is concerned? Is not the
fact that it has held its own so we'll against
such adverse circumstances conclusive proof
that, with reasonable protection from the
government, we should soon regain all we
have lost?


would like to ask my friends from Penn
syvania, who are constantly asking for more
protection-which have always been will
ling they should have-how long they think
they could stand the competition il it were
possible for the Englishman to bring over
here his rolling mill and machine shops with
workmen to run them bringing at the same
time provisions and clothing for the work
men, all free of duties or taxes; and then be
allowed to sit down beside and enter into free
competition with them? This, sir, is Just
what the English ship-builder is allowed to
do in competition with the American ship
builder and ship owner; and the present bill
affords only partial relief; because in the
nature of the case only partial relief can be
afforded. There ought to be a provision in
the bill under consideration by which an
American ship, clearing for foreign port
should be allowed to take its stores as the
Engl ship does, in bond, free of duty. The
disadvantage which we labor under, OF high
er paid officers and crews to man our ships


is one under which we have always labored
but for which we have been compensated by
the superior intelligence and enterprise Of
our officers and sailors. To show how rapid
ly, with reasonable encouragement and pro-
lection, our commerce can be restored, we
have only to refer to the tables which L have
presented, showing the increase of American
as compared with foreign tonnage, and to the
following table showing the amount OF ton
mage built each year fiom 1850 to 1866, inclu
csu