THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF ITS RISE AND RUIN AND THE PROPER MEANS FOR ITS ENCOURAGEMENT BY WILLIAM Wa BATES Member Society Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, N. Y.; Magazine and Naval Journal; ". Writer on Shipping 1-20-1926 In Hemembrance OF JAMES MADISON OF VIRGINIA, AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS; FOR EIGHT YEARS A MEMBER AND LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, EIGHT YEARS SECRETARY OF STATE, AND EIGHT YEARS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES; IN EVERY STATION THE FRIEND OF AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING, AND THE ABLE AND FEARLESS CHAMPION OF AMERICAN COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION, THIS WORK IS REVERENTLY INSCRIBED PREFACE. IN offering a second work on the Shipping Question the Author desires to diffuse information respecting the circumstances of our early navigation, and the encouragement given to it by the Colonies, the Independent States, and the National Government under the provisions of the Constitution. His object is a better understanding of the important subject of an American Marine. Before the date of the famous Navigation Act of England our forefathers had studied the means of developing Navigation in America. One of their complaints against the British Government was that it had prevented our trade with the world. The instruction to be gained on the subject has not yet been supplied to our people, and is to them inaccessible. So far, it is only to be found by searching the records of legislation, State and National. The object of the present work is to open up this field, to bring to light the leading facts, and to point their application to present needs. A proper choice of measures for the restoration of our foreign carrying trade would doubtless be much assisted if the People knew all the facts about our primary Navigation policy why it was the necessary, and why, also, it was the best policy. It is not generally known just what the measures were ; if they were well adapted, why they were preferred, and how the system operated. Because this information is wanting, there can be no settled opinion as to the merits of the different shipping measures that, from time to time, find support in and out of Congress. This suspense of judgment has continued for a generation. Our public men have been doubtful all this time as to remedies for foreign dependence in navigation. Our marine has been so long neglected that the evils of our situation are now actually questioned. No other nation of any |