8o OUR CONSTITUTIONAL SHIPPING POLICY. 



Nevertheless, this solemn compact was violated by Congress. At the 

 height of our marine prosperity, in 1826, when our vessels were carrying 

 95 per cent, of imports and 89.6 per cent, of exports in our own commerce, 

 the President recommended the "suspension" of ship protection in the 

 foreign trade. The measure passed in 1828. "Maritime Reciprocity" — 

 free and open trade with favored nations — was the fad. Foreign nations 

 could call for this advantage at convenience and enter into "convention" 

 for a term of years — usually ten, each party reserving the right to terminate 

 it afterwards by giving a year's notice. Conventions averaged one each year. 

 By i860, thirty nations had taken advantage of our Act of May 24, 1828, 

 and our shipping decline was well under way — thanks to mistaken theory. 



THE ACT THAT HAS DESTROYED OUR MARINE. 



"That upon satisfactory evidence being given to the President of 

 the United States, by the government of any foreign nation, that no dis- 

 criminating duties of tonnage or impost are imposed or levied in the ports 

 of said nation upon vessels wholly belonging to citizens of the United 

 States, or upon the produce, manufactures or merchandise imported in 

 the same from the United States, or from any foreign country, the President 

 is hereby authorized to issue his proclamation declaring that the foreign 

 discriminating duties of tonnage and impost within the United States are 

 and shall be suspended and discontinued so far as respects the vessels of 

 the said foreign nation, and the produce, manufactures and merchandise 

 imported into the United States in the same from the said foreign nation, 

 or from any other country; tlie said suspension to take effect from the 

 time of such notification being given to the President of the United States, 

 and to continue so long as the reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging 

 to citizens of the United States and their cargoes, as aforesaid, shall be 

 continued, and no longer." 



There was no reason of state for this act. No nation was demanding 

 it. Under its operation for the past forty-five years, with scarcely any 

 protection, our foreign-trade marine has almost disappeared. No merchant 

 vessels belong to the "United States," save as vessels built and owned in 

 dift'erent states of the Union — registered under the laws of Congress. The 

 many who have been, and the very few that are yet, engaged in the build- 

 ing and running of our foreign-trade marine are now in this situation: 

 The different states cannot, as formerly, protect their shipping; and the 

 Federal Government has "suspended" its law for so doing. More than 

 this. Congress has no other way to relieve the situation than to terminate 



