Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-01-29

The British coortss In particular, were never supplied
with sated provisions from the United Staes and by
references 10 the s,atcs OF the Island Of Gu
"a, by Governor V-ez and Inserted Ia abstract in the
Amviican Qnarierly Review Tor June, this year, an
vids will be bad vi what may he Effected by le-
gsatye measures, when circumstances make it de-ira
bic TO encourage tae supplying OF NE colonies from
+ rope. IL will be seen with sstonishuent how the
impo a,ion OF flour from the United States into the
has dec essed OF late yeats, tho same having
been g. 1913 barrels the year 1927 aud only 80 $3.50
IN the year 1925 while hn, tom Spain but 81 6S2
barrels in the former year. an to 6i2 in the
latter. II H. therefore, neither visionary difficult,
u execution to give such direction to the trads OF
the Wet indies and the less when IL the pa,ur-
al course which the ira lie ultimately must take under
poh,bory system Ia tue Uoited States against The sta
pies OF the Wes' fndies.
The undersigned has laid particular stress upon mu-
tusl exchange Of proiuct., the 6rst principle oil all
commercial intercourse, aud being OF more direct
apple ation To the intercourse between the Uucl > aes
aud bis MaiestN's West India pc sessions. Supporting
upan th. exchange Of rum against Indian
meal TO be allowed in the United States, without any
duty whatever this commercial ccnvetbiity OF Indian
msa into fairly my be- stated as smile to the
operation Of dis,illing-~h what dlherenee ony; 'na
the building employed ship instead oil cis''ieIy,
an the hands American s-amen instead oil common
laboren. Such exchange OF Ptoiuc's, however,
which, 10 the opinion OF the undersigned, would have
beer fair and prof abl. to no parties giving result
according to the operation OF those concerned has
been nterdicted by the tariff Of the United S.aes not
with view TO the prev eniion of intemperance, as
tax or restraint whatever has been imposed upon the
dist Hing OF spirits ON grain or moasses, nor to pro-
tect New o. leans rum, which, from peculiar crcum-
stances unfavor sbe to its manufacture does no, con-
siitute staple in the mark et but solely tor the pur
pose OF precuding foreign article from the American
market, and supercedng it by an exclusive privilege
given TO a dome. tc manufacture, known by The name
OF New-England rum. This rum is manufactured
from foreign iasse allowed TO be Imputed for that
purpose chi, fly, aud not from New Oleaus molassss
which bears a higher price in the market as SUBJ
stitute for sugar. Nav England rum il, therefore,
not domestic article in its raw materials but as mo-
lasses does not make good quality OF rum without,
due proportion OF skimmings, which are not to be had
in the Nav England States, the New.E'gland rum
Is besides OF very inferior quality to tba, manuiae-
tureI in the West Indies and becomes only marketa
BILE for home consumption by an admxure OF certain
proportion OF ST. Croix run; after which, his srurou
article is thrown into the narkrt, passed of under h-
n'me OF ST CIoix rum nay, go great the difference
standng the prohbitory duty imposed upon TO-
reign spirits D tho United States small quantity OF
ST. Croix CONTINUES to be imported for the above
purpose and is actually paid Tor, account Of the
high duty, the OF IS cents per gallon, while
he price OF New En- gland Rum /, only &c. Exclusive
protection has thus been given to most inferior article
which has be- forced upon the consumers without
oher benefit 20 The country than what may result from
Tie employment given TO a very limited number OF
banis In the operation of disng the molasses, while
The vital interest OF ghboung colony has been dis
regarded, possessing in climate aud soil natural
advantage in producing superior article, constituting
by na'ure, staple commodity Of its productions and
fecSviog almost without restriction the produce OF the
United States, to very large amour; by which means
the industry Of this country in its various branches has
been encouraged add main aimed in the sam proper.
tom the stills, vdts and butts used in the
manufacture OF in the islaud Of ST. Croy taken
from the United States.
In all the bAr-rooms throughout the Union, the
name OF ST. Crox rum is silli conspicuous as sig n
OF the extensive intercour.e which formerly existed
be,w, the United ani the island of 81. Crox
aud OF the great demand its produce met with in the
American market.-At that time Ii the re al and
genuine article, which was sold every where with
out aia Grafton; while at present only the is Dor
rowed, to cover an limitations spirit OF most interior
qualify.
1t has been shown above how this great change
has been brought about TO the great injury of the
island Of ST. Crox. without any adequate profit the
u S'aes aud by further pursuing its consequences,
total change in the trade OF the colony will bs fonnd
be the inevitable result The island of ST. Crox
not give up the natural advantages possessed by her
in making rum OF superior quality from her molssses
and skmmings the spot IL, therefore, The prohibit
tory system be persisted in The part OF the United
States, all the rum manufactured in the islARd OF ST;
C5ox, being as the suppotion Is, excluded from the
American market, which formerly even constituted
it's only market, must OF be shipped to Europe
aud, when so shipped, all the supplies required, TO
that extent in value-must be TAX from the
quarter.
The undersigned knogs from actual experience, as
Governor General OF hifMsrsty's West India po'es-
sions, that II IL not, and cannot be, in the power OF
the planters Of the island OF S. Crox to contract for
their supplies in any other way than by barter,
direct exchange OF commodities. The supplies must
be contT acted for, payable in rum and sugar, and
rum and sugar must he given in payment for sup
plies To buy supplies in money, 10 raise that money
by bills OF exchange and 10 rely up The payment OF
such bills from the proceeds OF produce shipped 10
third place, disan, from the colony Denmark il, is
altogether inpracticable. The planters have not the
credit TO DO IL, Is IL their interest to act IL il
The nisrchanps business to take the chances OF tn
markets upon himself, to furnish the supplies. aud to
take rum and sugar ia return, aud thus TO close the
transaction with the planter FGom this char
scsr OF the trade, the il will and necessarily
must take, under the crcum.tan above stated is
sviden; and hence il becomes incumbent upon his
Msjesty's Government to anticipate the result by
legislative measures calculated to facilitate the transit
lion from the present system, which is altogether in
favor OF a commercial intercourse with the United
a system, limited in lie principles by the
couragemeD and protection which the colonial trade
OF the mother country shall require, and upon which
the colony, under such circumstances must be thrown
for its supplies.
Whregard to the importation Of sugar into the
United States from the Isand OF St Croix, the duty OF
three cents pound be said tu be absolute
prohibitory duty, but il falls nevertheless very heavy
upon the West India planter; and Is the felt,
tie prizes OF that commodity has generally declined all
the world, which increases the relative proper.
ton said duty bears the actual price II that price
be four dollars in The West Indies which has been III,
low ebb this present year, the duty Of three cents per
pound amounts to seveniy.fve per cent. Of the org
nal costs while, assuming the price 10 be dollars
which readily paid years ago, IL gives pro-
portion OF about foTty-hree per cent only. Commits
sioDs Aterest and inrurance, ashore, are affected in
tbs manner, and become heavier the article D
proportion TO ts decline in price st greater draw
back, however, results from the in which
sumption s all, cled, by the price at which article is
sold in the market. IL is in The power of the UGited
States Government and Legislature, by reducing the
high duty now existing upon sugar; 10 create in
creased demand for that article, prOpOrtionsd the
increased culture which OF late years have taken place.
and thus promote the comforts Of tbs people, and the