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Letter to Editor
August 9, 1828
Literary Cadet And Rhode Island Statesman
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A letter defending the tariff system against criticism from ship owners, arguing that shipbuilders benefit from protective laws preventing foreign competition, and that most ship owners support protection for all classes to boost commerce.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
FOR THE LITERARY CADET
Messrs. SMITH & PARMENTER,
Gentlemen—I was much amused this week in hearing a ship owner conversing with some ship carpenters concerning the operation of the Tariff, informing them that the present system would be the means of prostrating commerce, and thereby throw all the ship carpenters out of employ, to assist the manufacturer; and in this manner working on their fears to induce them to oppose the Administration. The fact is, the ship builders, (or manufacturers of vessels) are more protected by similar laws than any other class of manufacturers—for it is well known that a ship can be built in the English provinces for a quarter less than it can here; and if there was no tariff, or protecting law, to prevent them from bringing their vessels here for sale, our ship carpenters would have nothing to do. This was early attended to by our Government and to encourage ship building in our own ports, a law was passed to prohibit any foreign built ship from obtaining American papers, thereby amounting to a prohibition, unless a ship owner paid foreign tonnage and duties every time she arrived in America.
It is true some of the ship carpenters do not know this fact, but those who do, and are reasonable men, are perfectly willing that government should protect manufactures of other description;—and it is a little singular that some of our ship Owners, who are so opposed to the Tariff, do not bring this item into their grievances; that they should be entirely free to purchase vessels where they please, and obtain American papers. Could they obtain the removal of all these grievances, and the government spend millions for Ministers abroad, light-houses, break-waters, sea-walls. a strong navy, and hundreds of millions to carry on wars to support commerce, then perhaps they would be satisfied, as all would be subservient to their wishes. Most of our ship-owners, however, are perfectly willing that all classes should be protected and encouraged, and thereby enabled to purchase their imported articles.
AN IMPORTER.
Messrs. SMITH & PARMENTER,
Gentlemen—I was much amused this week in hearing a ship owner conversing with some ship carpenters concerning the operation of the Tariff, informing them that the present system would be the means of prostrating commerce, and thereby throw all the ship carpenters out of employ, to assist the manufacturer; and in this manner working on their fears to induce them to oppose the Administration. The fact is, the ship builders, (or manufacturers of vessels) are more protected by similar laws than any other class of manufacturers—for it is well known that a ship can be built in the English provinces for a quarter less than it can here; and if there was no tariff, or protecting law, to prevent them from bringing their vessels here for sale, our ship carpenters would have nothing to do. This was early attended to by our Government and to encourage ship building in our own ports, a law was passed to prohibit any foreign built ship from obtaining American papers, thereby amounting to a prohibition, unless a ship owner paid foreign tonnage and duties every time she arrived in America.
It is true some of the ship carpenters do not know this fact, but those who do, and are reasonable men, are perfectly willing that government should protect manufactures of other description;—and it is a little singular that some of our ship Owners, who are so opposed to the Tariff, do not bring this item into their grievances; that they should be entirely free to purchase vessels where they please, and obtain American papers. Could they obtain the removal of all these grievances, and the government spend millions for Ministers abroad, light-houses, break-waters, sea-walls. a strong navy, and hundreds of millions to carry on wars to support commerce, then perhaps they would be satisfied, as all would be subservient to their wishes. Most of our ship-owners, however, are perfectly willing that all classes should be protected and encouraged, and thereby enabled to purchase their imported articles.
AN IMPORTER.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Informative
Political
What themes does it cover?
Economic Policy
Commerce Trade
What keywords are associated?
Tariff Protection
Ship Building
Foreign Competition
American Commerce
Government Policy
What entities or persons were involved?
An Importer
Messrs. Smith & Parmenter
Letter to Editor Details
Author
An Importer
Recipient
Messrs. Smith & Parmenter
Main Argument
the tariff protects shipbuilders from cheaper foreign competition through laws prohibiting foreign-built ships from obtaining american papers, and ship owners opposing it overlook their own benefits while demanding government support for commerce.
Notable Details
Amused Anecdote Of Ship Owner Scaring Carpenters About Tariff
Law Prohibiting Foreign Built Ships From American Papers
Criticism Of Ship Owners' Hypocrisy On Protectionism