Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-11-29
COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.
Ma MlLLSON'S REPORTFROM THE COM
NJlNrEE

! Ma MlLLSON'S REPORT FROM THE COM
MITrEE OF 81.
The committee who were instructed 10 consider
and report upon the object OF this Convention,
| specially
REPORT,
| That they have carefully considered The lmpor-
tant question submitted by the Convention Tor their
examination. In the prosecution OF then inquiries
into the latent causes OF our Commercial decline,
they have avoided all questions which involve sub
lects OF party preference political disag
Such discussions might not, indeed, be wholly ir-
relevant. but they believe that there is sufficient com
mon ground upon which every friend of Southern
| Commerce may consistently stand, without touch
ing subjects of party disseution. uenchlug upon
the lines, which divide the public sentiment at the
present day. Your committee, therefore. without
slufriug over any inquiry, which they deemed es-
sential 10 correct understanding Of the questions
conded them. have confined then notice Ia those
PLAIN simple aud conceded truths which only re-
quire 10 be stated TO secure the assent OF all.
Commerce Is but the exchange of property and
however diversified aud intricate some of It's ope-
rations may seem. they are merely designed to IA
ciltate such exchanges. The existence of trade
between any two countries is evidence that neither
sufficiently supply itself from IFS internal rcs.ur
ces wllh those things that una, crafty the wants of
| its people. No nation would be guilty of the su.
perctogation OF sending abroad to obtain what ii was
! already abundanty blessed Of; as no individual
would seek his supplies beyond the limits oil his own
|
satisfy his real or his Ianced wants
The same necessity winch impcls a nation TO seek
abroad those things, which It's industry cannot
supply, would prompt II 10 obtain what II wanted
from the nearest and most convenient point +; nor IS
it probable that itsiade would ever be diverted from
such channel SO long lis own products could be
advantageously exchanged for thosc of such neigh
boring community. An individual residing IN the
town of Hampton, would scarcely submit 10 the de
lay and expense OF Obtaining from the city Of Rich
mond any article that lie could purchase upon as
GOOD terms III Norfolk Borough; and when he had
effected his purchase in Norfolk he would he still
less disposed 10 bear the necessary cost OF ITS trans-
ponation TO Richmond before receiving it at his
home. In Tue case supposed the interest OF The
purchaser would be as njurionsly affected, where
the expenses OF this circuitous conveyance were paid
bv the seller, they would be where he Is hun
self Immediately subjected TO the increased cost
for il is obvious that the seller, by undertaking 10
pay the charges Of such indirect transpntailoh'
would be unable sell his goods al 40 low pree
rs he otherwise might, by exactly the amount which
he is pay for thelr conveyance.
Having shown that - direct trade Is the natural
channel of communication between natious," the
committee do not deem it necessary 10 enter into
any argument to prove that the Trade which supplies
the people OF Virginia with foreign goods, imported
into the Northern poris Is not direct trade. /
those who are al all acquainted with the geographical
relations existing between US and those by whom This
trade is conducted, such an argument would be
mere waste OF time
They proceed to consider the more important in
ouiry. whether any and what part OF our consump-
ton Of foreign merchandise is supplied BY means Of
this indirect communication. Upon This point, in
formation has been obtained Of as precise Kind us
the nature Of the case will admit; aud II places IN
striking light the disadvantages to which this and
the other Southern States are subjected, from the
present condition of their trade. Were there mol
the most indsputable evidence Of the fact, it would
scarcely be credited, that when the total imports OF
the United States amounted to Sl26,52l 1852, the
imports of Virginia amounted only 10 the sum OF
1887 1925 while OF the total exports, estimated AT
Sl01 1896 e73. those of Virginia amounted to nenr
FIVE aud a bali millions of dollars. Ofthe above n
mount of imports, those of New \ oik alone exceed
ed S73 900 600, while the imports into North Caro-
lima we've less than one-iourth of million. Those
Of Massachusetts amouoted TO Sl7,G72l29, while
South Carolina imported but to the value of$l7a7,-
267. Those OF Pennsylvania to Sl0.i79,26S, while
Georgia received tle none than $3.50 900, aud Ala
bana less than 500, 900.
In further illustration Of this 4tauch spf the sub
ject. the committee PRESENT tInSJ ot~4ng extract
from fhe ale report submitted to he late Conven-
ton at Richmond, by their committee. the state
ments and estimates Of WHICH based upon the
latest official reurns, and aye believed 10 be entirely
accurate. 1t will be seen that they in close aocor-
dance with the statements presented above "on
examining the official returns it will be found HAT the
exports hom this State, on average Of The last
monted to S5 265 461 and the imports 10 SSiG,ss7.
the former being the latter, nearly thirteen TO
two. For the same period the average exports OF all
the Staple States amounted to S72, OF ,039, and
their imports to SO. 303 CSC, while the exports Of the
other States for the,same period amounted but to
s2s.3lG.olo and tl'e,f imp~tsNo sllo,9os,72l ;
making the exports of the stNrlS states compared
to their imports as to Q. while the exports ofhc,
other staresare to their ir-Itofts as to 4.
The Report, after advertng 10 the fact, that the
official re,uns>alo give ffese6 fting trade, and
that many of the exports from the Northern States
l-are products of the South, proceeds as follows =
rom these results it appears that OF the exports
of This SNss une-tentbSpart is direc, anu one
tsyxA eifcni1oA rouefShrg-srpris of the other
| SiMrs-and assuming that her imports should be
equal h her EXPORTS only seventh part IS direct
and six .sfvenhs crcuious. Nor is that OF the
Staple States generally in much better condition
Taken in the aggregate, nihe-tentlis Of ther ex-
ports are direct. and onc-ienIh clrcuous while oil
their imports. the same assumption, only parts
are direct and trcuous, subject to all the expense
and burfeaS lncideaI 70 such intercourse.
| Considering this subject upon. the received pfln-
cirIes Of political economy, It would be a natural
inference, that dimlnutIon III the imports OF any
nation would be attended BY, or at least would m
licae corresponding decrease Of its exports; and
vet starting as the fact may the reverse is
| lrue of the trade of the different sections OF tins
country. The exports of the Southern States,
have been steadily increased during the whole peri
cd that then imports have been dwindliDg To their
present insgniiicance, while the enormous increase
! in the imports of the Northern States, has been
attended with 50 slight an improvement IN Inc
sum Of their own products. exported 10 lofelgn
countries as to be scarcely worthy OF mention'-
10 the year 1880, the exports from tue United