Year: 1870




The following is the message Of the President
sent to Congress March 2sd in relation to the de-
clue of American eommeree:! 8.if 80 hsg4rff.l
To the Senate aud Rouse ef Representatives.: In an
Executive message OF December6, 1853, 70 Congress-
the Importance of taking steps to revive our decreas
ing merchant marine was urged, and special mes
sage promised at a future day during the present
session, recommending more specifically plans to
accomplish this result. Now that the Committee of
the House of Representatives intrusted with the
labor of ascertaining the cause of the decline of
American commerce has completed its work andsub-
mitted its report to the legislative branch othe Gov
ernment, deem this fitting time to execute the
promise.


The very able calm aud exhaustive report Of the
committee points out the great wrongs which have
produced the decline in our commerce. II is ma
tional humiliation that we compelled to pay
from $50 600 900 to $50 600 900 annually exclusive of
passage money, which VIC should share with other
nations to foreigners for doing what should be done
by Anericanowned and Americau-manned vessels
This direct drain upon the resources ofthe coun
try of just much money, equal TO casting it into
the so far as the nation is concerned. nation
of the vast and everncreasing interior resources of
the United States, extending, 1t does from one to





Industrious, Intelligent, and energetic population
must day possess its fun share the of
these oceans. No matter what its cost, delay will
only increase this cost and enhance the difficulty of
obtaining the result therefore put in and earnest
plea for early action in this NATTER in way to
and increase of American commerce.


The advanced period Of the year. and the fact that
no contracts for ship building will probably be en-



and the futher fact that if there should be much de-
lay all large vessels contracted for this year will fail
of completion before winter sets in and WILL there
FORE be carried for another year. induces me to
request your early consideration of this subject.
regard'it of srch grave Importance affecting every
interest of the country great extent that any
method which will gain the end will secure rich
national blessing, building ships and navigating
them, and utilizing the vast capital at home This
business employs thousands of workmen in their
construction and manning; it creates home market
for products of farm and shop; it diminishes the
balance of trade against precisely to the extent Of
the freight and passage money paid American ves-
sells, and gives us supremacy upon sea OF inestim-
able value in of foreign war. Our navy at the
commencement ofthc late war consisted ofless than
hundred vessels, of about one hundred and fifty





men. We drew from the merchant marine, which
! cost the Government nothing, but which had been
the of national wealth. six hundred vessels,
exceeding million tons, and about seven thou
sand men to aid in the suppression of the rebellion.
This statement demonstrates the value Of the mer-
chant marine q means of national defence in time
of war.


The committee on the cause of the reduction of
American tonnage, after tracing the cause Of its
decline, submit two bills which, If adopted, they
believe will restore to the nstiou its maripe power
Their report shows with great minuteness the actual
and comparative American tonnage at the time ofits
greatest prosperity; the actual and comparative de-
cline since, together with the causes, and exhibits
other statistics OF material interest in reference
the subject. AS report is before Congress- win
not recaptuIate any of its statistics but win refer
only to the methods recommended by the Commit
tee TO give US back our lost commerce AS gene
raj rule. it can be adopted believe that direct
money subsidy is less liable to abuse than indirect
aid given 10 the enterprise In this case how
ever, my opinion is that subsidies, while they may
be given to specific lines of or other
sells, should not be exclusively adopted but in addi.
tion to subsidizing very desirable lines of ocean
traffic, general assistance shall be given in eec
live way; aud therefore commend to your favorable
consideration the two bills proposed by the commit
tee, and referred to in this message.


arFse ~ - elr U. s. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Washington, March %, 1870.