The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-14
HARRY BLUFF AND THE MEMPHIS CON
VENTION

vENTION.
The last No. Of the Southern Literary Messenee,
contains an address from the pen Of this distinguish
ed writer to the convention. We call attention te
IT, and particularly to that part which relates to the
warehousing system.
Harry Bluff presents new and curious theory
He ascrbes the loss of the direct trade Of the South
to the effect Of DIR. Franklns discovery of the gull
stream upon the course Of the navigation between
this country and Europe, and proceeds to show
how the South may recover its lost trade by means
Of properly regulated warehousing system; vi
"Under existing arrangements, all goods entering
the country, whether for Incorporation or con-
sumption, are required, on being landed, to pawn SO
much into the custom-house, in cash. Though
they TO be re-shipped from the country the next
day, still, the pawn in cash for the ctisiom-house
must be forthcoming. The exporter is entitled to
receive, as drawback, or debenture, the amount
thus pawned, IT is true; but il may be sadded with
commissions Of various sorts. The custom-house
itself leves commission of "a per cent. upon it,
and retains it, without interest," for 25 or 80 days
after the goods leave the country.
Snow, since the loss of this trade, Charleston and
the southern ports have become the great recepta.
cles of the very elements of commerce. They give
to it those vast quantities of surplus produce, and
those raw materials which indicate the greatness
and constitute the wealth of the country. Instead
of exporting their 2S2 bales of cotton year, as
they did then, they now send out ten thousand
times that quantity. States, islands, and cities,
rich with the materials Of commerce. and offering
good markets, have sprung up in and about the
Gulf Of Mexico These are without shipping,
without the means TO fetch and carry for them
selves, and are dependent upon others to do their
trading for them. Charleston and other southern
ports are the halfway houses between them and
Europe, and are the natural entrepots for their
trade. Vessels from Europe, as they come empty
for your cotton, would gladly divide freights with
you, and bring, so far on its way, the merchandise
for the Gulf markets. but our present regulations of
duties and drawback forbid As though it were to
keep closed this channel of trade, to-gate has
been erected, by federal legislation, at the bar of
Charleston harbor, and tariff of rates hung up, in
forming traders from the seas, if they do but
touch there with the merchandise on board for the
Mexican or other foreign markets, they must pay
cash tolls in onehrd Of the value Of the cargo, to
the collector. Is It, therefore, surprising that Charles
ton has ceased to be an entrepot of commerce'
Suppose body of rapacious law-givers were to
enact such a tariff for Memphis, and hang out a
statute on the bluff, requiring all the river craft as
they touched there, on their way to the markets
below, to pawn with the city, for 80 days, one third
the value of their cargoes in cash. The downward
boats would regard this beautiful city as plague
spot upon the banks of the river and as they hove
like Levites. a
'rolls and taxes, light in themselves, may become
oppressive by the manner in which they are levied;
but, however they become oppressive, oppressive
tolls have the same effect upon the of the
sea, that they have upon the trade of rivers or the
land; and tolls levied in an oppressive manner are
the most effectual Of all the means by which rapa-
cious legislation has contrived to injurc the business
of city, or sap the prosperity of country. In all
the vessels crossing the Atlantic in ballast last year,
for the produce of South Carolina only 1887 worth
of foreign merchandise touched at her ports on its
way to other markets Mobile Jared worse; for,
with an export trade of $4,000, 900, only 81 ,459
worth Of foreign merchandise touched there. Off
cal returns acquajnt us of these facts. How do
you account for them1 Our system Of duties and
debentures embarasses trade, but yields no reve-
nue. worth collecting. ltrequires the importer only
house, which he redraws again less 81 per cent. by
exporting the goods Is not this toll oppressively
levied at the gates of commerce Were il not for the
thus created, the political condition
of most Of the Gulf nations is such, that this very
condition. of ITSELF would force the channel Of their
a supposed case, by way of example. merchant
has in store, at Liverpool cargo Of goods for the
Mexican market, worth $500 900. They arc waiting
for advices and advance of prices he is afraid to
risk them in the custom-house Of Mexico for the
don of the countree is guaranty for their safety
"A REVOLUTIONARY party, OF u DaHu OF IODDeT6, may
break into the custom-house and plumber his gooda,
without redress. In New Orleans, or Mobile, they
would be perfectly safe, near their market place,
and in case of demand, might be the first - offer
They paying storage in Liverpool at all events;
and perhaps storage in New Orleans is cheaper than
in Liverpool Here is vessel going over in ballast
for cotton, and would take them at very low rate
of freight. He, therefore, examines our custom
house regulations, but finds, TO his surprise, that
before this cargo could be landed in New Orleans,
or Mobile for this purpose, his agent there would
have to raise $1,000 in cash for the customs; that
the commissions to his agent in this transaction
would be heavy; that, as long as the goods remain
in the country, and thirty days longer he would be
out of the use Of his money; and that, when he
gets his drawback, it would be further taxed with 81
per cent. in deduction. Such dracback is there
fore felt to be insuperable difficulty in the way
of making American ports the entrep6ts Of such
trades and the empty vessel, that was coming over
for your cotton and other produce, is suffered to
come in ballast. Thus, that cotton and that pro-
duce alone have to pay freight both ways.
"The average rate of duty upon importations is
about "a per cent, or one-tbird their value. The
duties are always in cash, payable on the landing
of the cargo, whether it be for consumption, or sim
ply for Incorporation. Hence, none but men of
large capital enter into the importing business;
and hence, under this oppressive system, the COM
merce of the country is virtually monopoly, and
an oppressive one too in the hands of few natives
and foreigners of overgrown capital These latter
come among u.s. remain few years, an1ass wealth,
end retire with it to enrich ''fatherland." Here,
therefore, is continued drain upon the country,
which falls chiefly upon the South and West.
~ do not mean to inveigh against cash duties; on
the contrary, would have the duties in cash, by
all means; but ! would have no monopoly in
trade, and as few restrictions possible upon COM
merce. The present system makes the importing
business Of the country monopoly Of the most
odous kind. Instead of exacting the duties when
the goods were landed, l would let them go into
bonded warehouses, properly protected and secured
and exact the duties only when the goods leave
these warehouses for consumption at home. With
such an arrangement, men of small capital could go
into the importing business, competition would be-
come more active, and goods cheaper; consequently
an increased demand, an increased supply, increased
abilities to buy, larger consumption, greatly in
creased revenue--all would follow.
"The merchant having capital of $400, 900, would
not them as now, have to keep onequarter Of it by
him, in cash. ready for the custom-house, and make
SO do the work OF A.; for the country merchant,
coming to lay in his assortment, would find it
h,,v The in bond from he