, 1844-04-20

how requlringfrom twenty totwen-
ty-fve thousand hogsheads of our to-
bacco, and raising at home nearly as
much more, fer which the French
planter is paid from four TO eight dol
larS-will at once come to the con-
clusion that its revenue may be IN
creased (and reUenue is the sole OBJ.
iect Of the monopoly by diminishing
the French culture, and purchasing
more extensively the American quail
ties, offered SO very cheap. This
course they have already taken TO
some extent. and have this year de-
termined to purchase several thou
sand hogsheads more Of the Amerl-
can qualities than they had in I843.
and to dispense, in n great measure,
with the Hungarian tobacco.
1t would seem quite clear, there
fore, that our western planters can
not possibly lose anything by holding
back Il part Of the crop, for there is
certainly to be an increased demand.
The foreign consumer has contracted
n taste for it, and he must and will
have it. The spectators want it.
and they would rather hunt it up al
the river landings, and pay two prices
for ii, than forfeit the heavy bonds
which they are under 10 fulfil their
contracts.
With reference TO the tobacco Of
the eastern States, Virginia. Mary
land, &c. it bears better prices a
broad than The Western qualities, not
because il is considered s. much SUI
perlor to the Kentucky. Tennessee,
Missouri, &c, but because there IS So
much Of 1t constantly IN marGet. and
the crop 81 the West has rapidly in.
creased from wear t. year. Owing
TOO, perhaps, to the I.ct that our Eas-
tern planters set their own prices to
a greater or less extent. diminishing
lie culture, or holding up a part OF
the crop, at proper TINES, ~ order 10
uring about remuneratiag prices.
In my reply to your inquiry, whetLl-
cr 1t is prouab.e that those govern
mems OF Europe which monoPoiize
the tobacco trade within then doinIn-
IONS, can he laduced 10 abolish their
exclusive systems, aud periIi Us 10
trade freely with their people IN that
article, | am constrained ~ believe
that ali persuasion must continue. as
heretofore, 10 be without elect. For
France, which annually derives near
lis S2O,O00,O 600, and Austria. about
900, cannot lie eA; ected IL
give up So great Il source Oi revenue
IN consideration oil any Arguments,
or any commercial advantages thai
our country can utie" m return. But
IA Eugiaud, and IN tie German S;alrS
composing the Lnti verein, where tai
IFS only exist, there Is some prospect
Of a reduction OF existing hISm duses.
In England, the duty Is So hIgh that
II operates as Il premium upon SNUG.
Cling; and the IlI!cIt trade has recent
~ been carried on 10 such All extent,
that AL the Observation-Disclosures have
ncco.Ec unusually ciamorous tor i re.
Duct on q. the GuIIeS thus paid L.
cuutrabandists. About ihe time | lei,
Europe, the British government was
instItutIng Il searching Iuqulry, TO;
only concerning the great Cases re.
Gently detected, but INTO the Whole
system. A committee was then SIT,
tny IN London, at the head OF which,
WIS Lord Somerset. n OF the most
Influential members Of the British al.
mInisIratIon. and learned, from l
source entitled TO c,eat credit. that
Imanv members OF tbs g%uNcrnnen'
had came to the conclusion that, al
though 4 reduction Of the present dn
" might affect the revenue a little
for two OF three years. yet II would
not snlier ultimately, lnasmuch Il:
smuggling would, IN 4 great measure
> be pre:ented, and The duty paid on &
much greater quantity. The question
OF reduction is evidently before til,
British government, ut tins tine, dn
der more favorable circumstances thar
any that have attended former inves
: riGatIons; and it was stated, on gooC
; private authority, that several person:
: who had become rich 10y smuggling
and rciired from business, we're in
: duced to come before the committed
and give evidence of the alarming ex
;, tent to which the contraband trad,
| had been carried, and the cxiensiv,
system of bribery and corruption tina
! it involved.
, You are aware that, in the last few
: years. the government has nearl,
, done away with the superintendent
of the excise officers uynr the tnh1r