Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1837-12-12
lanes J.. GRAVES, EDITOR.
Augusta, Geo October 20.

4 #DIJTHERN COMMEhClAL SoNNEN lON
The Select Committee raised for tn,
urpose of ascertaining and reporting
That measures will, in their opinion, mos
Nfiectually contribute to the accomplish
bent of the great object OF this Conven
ion. ask leave to submit the following
REPORT:
The committee are deeply impressed
with the Importance of the duty assigned
IN them. and have bestowed upon il al
Sihe attention their limited time would per
nit. They regard the present derapge
nent of the currency and exchanges o
Ne country, however we may deprecate
Ia causes and deplore its immediate effects
furnishing an occasion which, if wisely
pproged, will relieve the staple growing
Mates from state of commercial depend
nee, scarcely less reproachful to their in.
ustry and enterprise than it is incompati
10 with their substantial prosperity.
The staple growing States, while they
produce two-thirds of the domestic exports
b the United States, import scarcely one
lenth Of the foreign merchandise which is
deceived in exchange for it. Almost the
whole Of the foreign commerce which is
ounded upon the productions Of our in
dustry, is carried on by the citizens Of
Dther States, causing their cities to flour
ish while ours have been sinking into de-
cay In the opinion of the Committee,
1.-THE period has arrived, when our citizens
Mare invoked, by the united voice of interest
Aand patriotism, to put an end to this volun-
Gary tribute, amounting annually to some
fhing like ten millions of dollars. It is
south Carolina alone amounts 10 no less
han three millions of dollars. 1t may
4 Dot be disguised, however, that this ex-
raordinary and unequal state OF our com
sncrcial relations had its origin more in
The fiscal operations of the federal gov
krnment, than in any supposed deficiency
10 the industry and enterprise of our cti-
kens. The high duties imposed by the
iaritI of 1916 upon the productions of
Eouthern industry, and the still more enor-
nous duties imposed by those of 1924 and
1898, combined with the unequal system
of depositing and disbursing the revenue
collected almost exclusively in the North
ern cities, operated as bounty to the com
merce of those cities, which the most per-
scyering industry and enterprise on our
hart could not have overcome. Great and
obvious as were the natural advantages of
Southern cities, they were more than
<ounterbaIanced by those operations of
HE government. And whilst we stood
amidst the ruins produced by misgoyern-
nent, many of our citizens were utterly
Enable to account for the phenomena, and
Bome of our charitable neighbors supposed
Sit to be owing to the curse of Heaven upon
bur domestic institutions.
Every practical man, however, will at
pnce perceive, that the deposite of almost
Ahe whole of the government funds in the
banks of the Northern cities was equiva
lent 10 a loan of like sum without inter-
st; and that the immense sums dsbursed
~ the government at the same points,
operated even more decidedly to give those
Rities an undue ascendency. One of the
most obvious and salutary consequences
which we may confidently anticipate in the
reduction of the duties and the withdrawal
pf the government deposltes from the
Aanks, will be the restoration of the South
Urn cities to condition of comparative
Equality in the business of foreign COM
herce. In fair and equal competition
n cannot be doubted that they will be able
70 exchange our domestic productions for
xhe manufactures of Europe, by direct
skade, more advantageously than the
Northern cities can do it, by circuitous
rtocess, involving intermediate transfers
and agencies, all increasing the risk and
expense Of the operation.
There never was presented to the CAPT
talists OF the South and South West such
m opening for profitable enterprise, and
hey are invited by the most powerful con-
biderations to improve it. Now that the
hscal operations of the federal govern
hent have been so greatly reduced, and
Me field of competition fairly opened, i'll
hey should still look on with listless apa-
khy, while the mighty current of our own
peculiar commerce is flowing literally by
hem, to nourish distant cities, and fer
ailize the barren hills Of distant communi-
eics, we must then acquiesce in the judg-
ment which the world will pronounce, that
we deserve our destiny. But the commit
Zee indulge the confident belief that such
Eeproach will no longer rest upon US.
The public spirit of our people has been
foused into action; they have been awak-
bned TO sense of their condition; and all
pre- prepared to cooperate in their respec-
Five spheres, in the great work Of throw
Png off the shackles Of our present colonial
Condition, and establishing our commercial
Independence upon lasting foundation
The staple growing States never can be
independent, and enjoy the full
measure Of the bounties which Providence
|has so abundantly provided for them, until