Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-02-20
FROM THE JOURNAL.

Mr.. Miler-Sir, although many Of our mercan-
tile brethren, engaged in the West India trade, are
dissatisfied by the proposed Increase of duty on mo-
lasses; and, although the majority of the Committee
on Manufactures very evidently aimed, by this pro-
vision in the reported bill, what they deemed a severe
blow at the shipping interest of the eastern states; l
feel assured, that should the bill become a law, as it
now is, our shipping merchants would be very agree
ably, and our antitarif and anti-administration men
worry dis-agreeably disappointed, by its effects.
The effect Of the tariff of 1924, has been to accel-
crate the cultivation of sugar, in Louisiana; and the
crop may now be considered as nearly equivalent to
ono half of our consumption Of that article. Our
shipping merchants, however, do not complain OF the
diminished importation of foreign sugar. Why do
they not complain! Because it is immaterial to them,
provided they have the business of transportation,
whether the sugars are imported from Havana, from
Jamaica, or from New Orleans. But the country,
and this section Of the country, reap a benefit by pur-
chasing at the latter port, because we can, there
pay in any thing which can be shipped here; Whereas
at the two former ports, many articles, which might'
otherwise, be convenient and profitable means OF pay
men,, are contraband Of trade. In the mean time,
the cultivation of sugar advances rapidly; in a very
few years the crop will exceed the home consumption,
and we shall be able to export to foreign countries;
and this expectation will he made in eastern vessels.
The supply of molasses keeps pace with the sugar
crops; and our consumption Of that article will, then,
be sustained by iml.ortstions from the Mississippi.
The whole of this business, being "a coasting trade,
iii lxl.-- .~.1...ol, 10 our oxyp merchants. and
they will not then, as they now are, be troubled
by the ~rivalship and competition of foreign ship
ping. mt.
But the advantage to our shipping interest VIII not
end here. II. a few years hence, the sugar and mo-
lasses which we now, annually, take from the "es'
India Islands be left to find another market than oir
own, that large additional supply, thrown into foreign
markets, will greatly reduce the price in those mar
kets. The sugar of Cuba will compete with that o.
Jamaica, and other British islands; and the plan
tiers in those islands will be less able than they no"
arc, to bear up under the misconccived policy OF TIL
mother country. The mother country must abandon
Mr.. Cummings scheme of monopoly, and come t.
those terms for which Mr.. Adams has contonded
ever since he went into the Cabinet.
The results, then, of full protection to the suga
and molasscs of Louisiana, will be,
Ht. To promote the cultivation of immense tract
of lands on the lower Mississippi, now waste and un
productive.
I'd. To secure to our own merchants the transpor
tation of all sugars and molassscs for domestic con
sumption; and to our manufacturers, the sale of i'm
mense quantities of cloth, in payment for those arti
cles.
Sd. To add another great staple to our exports t
foreign markets; and,
4th. To render US independent Of the naughty an
monopolizing policy of Great Britain.
Now, although these results might not, exactly
suit the views of the leaders Of the Jackson part
in Congress, I am confident that they would nc
, displease any consistent friend of the
AMERICAN SYSTEM.