Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-11-28


every branch OF business, and by every class in
the community.
To the commerce Of Virginia. and the States
south o. Vi GINA, this system has proved pee uliar-
~ destructive, having, by its operations, driven
nearly all our regular importing merchants into
retirement, or 10 bankruptcy, and converted most
OF such rs survive and pursue any business at ALL
into mere 'hewers of wood and carriers of va.
Ter, Tor The great cities oi The 1901 "a, especially oil
New ork, ani above all for The .ixc..0aeerS OF
.fe,c- York
! II has been deemed strange, tha.a system 80
partial and u;jos, in its operations sd calculated
TO inJure the many for the benefit OF Lao few; 10
nurture the enterprise, and sustain: The industry
oil foreign nations nj the expense OF the best in
terests oil our own citizens; should SO lcns have
been permitted 20 take root, and spread it, baleu
influence on the vital interests OF so great pr
ton OF the community. Yet, it is an .evil which
we have all felt, ana under which! we have
groaned Tor ten years past--beho!ding, with deep
and intense interest, our commerce whitening daily
under It's influence in the hope that il would ci
Their cure itself; Or that some measures would be
adopted by Ccagress, at the instance OF other me
inoriaiisis, that would arrest il in its conrse. In
this State Of feelings have remained, if no, pa
uen'iy' at least without complaining, until the
expressions of the system have become so griev
Gus as no. to be borne-and no relief having been
auor'ed us In any way, we feel that il is time 10
arouse ourselves to all tn eSerioiis of which we
are capable, and TO use every proper means within
our power, 10 rid ourselves Of this evii-With this
view We present ourselves at the bar Of our coun-
try, and ask the interposi,on os your honorable boz
| dies in our behalf.
! Amongst the numerous evils Of our Auction Sys
TEN, II IS none OF the least, that il partakes large
ly Of some Of he worst features OF mschievou-
anu UNJUST monopoly. 1t is evidently calculated,
and actually does concentrate in the hands OF
JeO an a.c'dad!s an immense proportion of the bu-
slnesS OF our principal cities its laws the founta-
tion and affords facilities for the practising o. ru-
nerous frauds and imposions on both government
and people.
From the best evidence that can be had il ap-
pears, that OF all the foreign merchandise import
ed into the United States, from one half TO three
ourths Is disposed Of by sales auction land OF this
immense amount the far greatest proportion, it is
beiieved,is owned by foreign merchants and man
lufacturers
It's singular and rather extraordinary c;rcum.
stance connected with the auction system, that in
It's vast and various operations, il is made the in
struinent Oh Wrestling from the American mercan,
and trader all those advantages originally intend
ed by o;ir government for the encouragement OF
her own citizens; and OF converting them to the
benefit OF the merchants and manufacturers OF
foreign nations To illustrate this position, it may
be observed that immediately after the organza-
Ton Of tiie present government OF the United
States, one OF The first objects that engaged the
attention OF our Legislators, the establishment
oil Judcious system Of iInposts. Bearing in mind
that tile country was but just emerging from the
inipoverishiDg effects of protracted warfare; that
:he limited capital of merchants and traders
required from fostering and pacrnal government
liberal credit on the duties imposed on foreign
notwithstanding, with i promptitude character
is'lc oil their enlightened views and liberal policy,
granted credit OF eight ten and twelve months
OH ali inpoi;a;ions from Europe, and still longer
credit On all goods imported from beyond the Cape of
Coed Hope. So long as the streams OF trade
COMMERCE continued 10 flow through the orlinar,
endresuar channels OF business, dilFIsing their
heathul and salulary influence among all classes
Of the community, this liberal policy was attend.
ed with very beneficial effects TO our citizens anu
resulted in lille loss or iDconycn;crcc 10 the IL
naDces OF the country
But the system pursued of late By alien mcr-
Chants and traders, OF selling nearly the whole u
mount CT their immense ippor,atious at auction
has driven from the field of competition large por.
ton oil the American merchants: hence, the adj
vat,tages oil an extended cred. duties, held out
by our government Tor the protection and patronage
OF ncr own citizens, Is almost exclusively en-
lJoyed by foreigners; and The liberal credits which
were extended as benefit and a blessing To our
people, are by the ruinous operations Of the Auc-
ton System, actually converted into formidable
and vide spreading evil
From the facilities afforded of enecting speedy
sales OF al kinds OF goods at auction and the short
period in which voyages to and from Europe are
OF late pei formed the most powerful Inducements
are constantly offered TO foreign merchants and
manufacturers to pour the whole OF their refuse
and surplus productions into our market, TO the
rious injury, as well of the American merchant
| as OF cOnsunCrs generally, The long credit on
duties comes into their aid iii operates az boun
"; and III the course Oh i very short time it fur
nishes the foreigner with United States funds e.
quail 10 the whole OF his capital originally invcste
From this view OF the subject, does il not ey-
IDENTIFY result, that the Auction System is attended
with lDcalcGla5le mischiess almost every class
81 AnHri AN citizens 1t remains, then, Tor our
government 10 iDterpose its authority and by tho
sauoFy operation OF an efficient duty on sales at
auciiO, 10 protect our citizens against that intoe
rabIe evil which presses upon all the energies and
icntctWiZe OF the Country. Unless this IL done
and done speedily, most laws, ayowcdy passed
Tor the protection Of 7nrcricGn commerce. will as
eficctua'ly be made subscrveni 10 the Exclusive
interest OF foreigners, and the injury oil own
citizens, as ii those laws we're expressly passed
for The sole benefit of the former, and The dis
courasemeE, and ruin OF the latter.
! Restrain this system within proper bounds AID
the consequences 70 Virginia and the Southern
States, we confidently belle will be, tie regain
ing oil lost commerce; the direct importation of
our goods to large extent the direct expectation
OF our own produce, the benefit o!lic trade oil our
own Satcsj he reduction Ct the premium now
paid Tor exchange sng.aDd, and tie prevent
ing OF those dreadful commissions in the pccuniary
STAR O! our country, which caused by exces.
save imports and The overIrading consequent there.
, ULcn.
Your mernoriaiiss persuade themselves that
/, your Honorable Bodies will interfere TO correct
me evils resulting irom such a system; a system
which III lis more Immediate effects, ENCOURAGES
frauds on the revenue, facilitates impc5ons on
The public, destroys the mercantile character and
u ruinous 10 that class Of citizens to which you
meinortalis;s belong, and the injurious result, Of
which alternately fall upon the agricultural and
id1ouFins part OF the population.
ihcy, therefore, respectfully pray your Hon.
oraDic B0dIes to impose duty Of ten per ccniuu
on sales ny auction, excepting the effects OF bank.
rupI. anddeceased persons goods sold for the ben.
ut OF underwriters, shipping and real estate.