The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-04-19
AUGUSTA COMMERCIAL CONVENTION
REPORT.


The committee Of 81, who were instructed to con-
sder and report on the proper be adopted
by TINS Convention, beg leave respectfully report
That they have bestowed upon the subject referred TO
them, the attention which It's importance demands.
Time does not permit, does the occasion perhaps
require, elaborate examination of The subject IN al
It's bearings and this is the less necessary the able
documents, recently published by the Convention have
exhibited in the clearest light and demonstrated in the
most conclusive manner every pon, which would be
important for establish Indeed the whole cues
ton Is embraced IN the single proposition, that the
interest and duty Of the Slayc-holdng States OF this
Union, to improve their natural advantages by securing
to themselves that portion Of the Of the
try, which rghtfuy belongs TO them proposition
which, be not selieyident, cannot derive much sup
port from argument illustration We our whole
case upon the fact which beyond all dispute, that the
Southern aud Southwestern States furnish hree-ourhs
Of the entire domestic exports Of the whole Union, while
they import but htie than onctenth Of the pro-
ductions received from abroad exchange for these
ports. II has been shown in the documents published
by the Convention, that when the imports OF the United
States amounted 10 100 900 900 those Of all the At
iantlc States Souh OF the Potomac and the States
the Gulf OF Mexico, amounted to only 1000. 600;
and while the domestic exports Of the Union amounted
to $l07 900 600, the States Of the South and South
exported S7S 100000. South Carolina and Geor-
ga, while furnishing exports TO the extent Of S24 000
900, actually imported less than three millions and
half The amounts have varied IN different years, but
this may be taken exempIica,lon Of the condi-
ton of the Southern trade. #..u.....
The mere statement of these facts must surely con-
vince any unpreudced mind, that this unnatural state
OF affairs could only have been brought about by the
most powerful aud extraordinary causes and that from
the very nature OF things the effect must have been
highly injurious to the Southern States: Without at
tempting to trace all the which have had
agency producing this result will merely advert
of the obvious, and which perhaps suAi-
clent OF itself to account for tive aude to the
quail aeiloa Of the Federal Government especially in
the mode OF leryng and dsbnrsing the public
II, instead Of throwing nearly the whole Of the public
burdens, the shape OF duties upon those foreign goods,
which are received almost exclusive ely exchange for
the great staples OF the South, the had been
levied in direct tax, however largely exceeding the
wants OF the govcrnmen the burden would have fallen,
least equally upon the different portions Of the Union.
But by the system which was adopted while the labor
and capital of the South borne down by weight
of taxation, which IN many instances amounted to one
half of the articles received In exchange for their pro-
ducons the labor and capital OF other portions OF the
Union substantially exempt from taxation, and
stimulated by enormous bountles Nor did the
evil stop here Under the pretext Of encouraging "do
nestle industry, duties on foreign goods were imposed
greatly exceeding the cants Of the govern
menL The amounts, thus brought Tito the Treasury,
accumulated m The Northern ces, and especially
in New York, from whence they drawn only to
be distributed among the military and naval establish
mens at the North; the surplus being finally divided
among pensioners, and internal Improvements In the
of dollars thus drarn from the South and ex-
pended North of the Potomac and wealth was
conveyed from by a steady stream, constantly flow
ing Northward, in current as underwriting and ire
sstble the Gulf Stream itself, which knows no
fux." With this system other influences were COM
bined all having the object in view, and tending
produce the general result On these, time does
permit to dwell 1t is sufficient for merely TO
mention the long Credits the auction system, the
Capitalization OF the exchanges, and the concentration
iha rh1la and ,nGn of tha
vernnent in favor of the North and especially Of the
city Of New York-causes Of themselves abundantly
sufficient, to them those advantages, against
which we so long struggled IN vain.
The calamities, under which the South labored. I'M
der the operation of this system, belong that class,
which Of the ablest rters political economy has
declared to be than g the barrenness Of the soil
and the inclemency of the Heavens 'for if our fields
fertile and the heavens propious, the harvest
for those who reaped where they had not sown."-
Under these circumstances so far Iom It's being mat
ter OF surprise it the result almost d an inrIncibe
necessity, that the of the South and South
Vest should be thrown into the hands OF III" northern
merchants that the exchanges should be centralized at
New York /; and that should be rendered TRIBuTA-
NORTHERN BRETHREN. To show, that we
have not mistaken the character, natural effect
OF the which have mentioned, we will advert
to among many facts Illustrative Of the truth OF our
position Before the introduction OF the protecting du-
ties, large and profitable direct trade cas actually car
Europe by Southern Merchants and in Southern ships.
For several years prior to 1907 for instance, our I'M
ports into the city of Charleston amounted 10 several
millions of dollars annually From this period, under
the operation Of the restrictive system, they grsdu-
ally dwlndled down to less than half a million From
the period, however, when the American system recev-
ed fatal blow, and the Government commenced retrac-
ing its steps back to the free trade SYSTEM our imports
began TO increase, and have been steadily increasing
ever snccthus showing concluslvey the true sources
81 SA,t har, thn hand nj h
ern prosperity the other FREEDOM is the very ele-
ment Of the South, in which " she lives, and moves,
and has her being" Freedom in " all the pursuits Of
industry" is essential to our well being We look
back with surprise TO the fact, that people possessed
OF such advantages, should have long and pa
tienty submitted state almost OF " Colonial Vas
saage and hesitate TO say that the page III our
history, which shall record the and progress OF the
" American System" so called will be regarded here
after dIsreputable to the intelligence Of the age, and
to the public spirit and virtue Of the American people
Bot happily for prosperity and will add, for the
peace aud harmony Of the Union this system has been
broken down--we trust and believe foreuer and we
coming back, by slow but steps to the great
principles Of free trade and unrestricted industry 10
avail ourselves however, Of all the advantages OF this
great and sautay change system, 1t is uispen-
SADLY necessary that should FREQ ourselves from the
tammcls Of long established habits, Opinions, ana pre-
ludccs. II is OF the greatest evils Oh misgoserh-
Inent that its effects continue long after the evil has
been corrected and in all commercial operations the
influence Of established usages IS extremely difficult to
overcome To divert capital from its accustomed chan
nes to introduce associations and habits OF business
among commercial men, is one OF the most dlihcuit
tasks which any people impose upon themselves
and it we're not for the high spirit and intelligence OF
our people, we might disrust our success When we
survey the actual condition OF the Southern ana oouh
western States however, who can fan to perceive mat
possess immense advantages 10 ,his CONTEST "'en'
properIy inproyed must in the end our Efforts
with triumphant success II is true we have but lew