Mobile register and journal., 1845-10-24
HAIRY BLUFF AND THE MEMPHIS CON
VENPION.

The last No. Of the Southern Literary Messen-
ger contains address from The pen Of this dstin-
goished writer to the convention We call auen-
ion to II, and particularly to TINT part which relates
to the warehousing system. ~
Harry Bluff presents new and curious theory
tie ascribes the loss Of the direct trade Of the South
to the effect OF Dr. Fankln's discovery of the gulf
stream Upon The course fthe navigation between
this country and Europe, and proceeds to show how
the South may recover its lost trade by means Of a
properly regulated warehouse system
Under existing arrangements all goods entering
| thecOuntry, whether for re.exportation consump-
ton, are required on being landed, 10 pawn so much
| INTO The custom house, in cash. Though they are
TO be reshpped from the country the next day, still,
the pawn ia cash for The custom house must be
forthcoming. The exporter is entitled TO receive,
drawback, or debenlure, the amount thus pawned,
IT Is true; but il may be saddled with cOmmlss IONS
OF various The custom house itself levies
commission of "a per cent upon it, and retains ii,
without interest, for rs 80 days after the goods
| leave the country.
snow, since the loss of this trade, Charleston and
the southern ports have become the great recepia-
Giles OF the very elements Of commerce. They give
10 it those vast quantities of surplus produce, and
those raw materials, which induce the greatness
and Constitute the wealth of the country. Instead
Of exporting their 2S2 ba les of cotton year, as
they did then. they send out ten thousand
| times that quantity. States, islands, and cities,
rich with the materials of commerce, and offering
good markets, have sprung mp in and about the Gull
| OF Mexico These are without shipping, without
the means 10 fetch and carry for themselves, and
are dependent upon others To do their trading for
them. Charleston and other southern ports are the
half way houses between them and Europe, and are
The natural entreports for their trade Vessels rOn
| EurnDp. AZ m lDr would
gladly divide frrights with you. and bring so far on
its way, the merchandise for the Gfsil markets; but
present regulations of doies and draw back for
bid. As though II were to keen closed this channel
Of trade, togaie has been erected, by federal e-
eisation, at the bar Of Charleston harbour, and a
tariff of hung up, informing traders from
the seas, if they do but touch there with the mer-
chandise board for the Mexican or other foreign
markets, they must pay cash tolls, in one-thlrd OF
the value OF the cargo, 10 the collector. II is there
fore, surprising that Charleston has ceased To be
an enreport Of commerce?
''SuLpose a bodp OF rapacious law-g iVers were To
enact such tariff for Memphis, and hang out a
statue on the bluff, requiring all the river craft. as
they touched there, their way to the markets be-
low, 10 pawn with the city, for thirty days, one-third
the value of their cargoes in cash. The downward
boats would regard this beautiful city as n plague
spot upon the banks of the river and, W. they hove
in sight, would put their helms apori, and pass by
like Leyites
"Tols and taxes, like in themselves, may become
oppressive by the manner in which they are levied
but, however they become oppressive, Oppressive
tolls have the effect upon the commerce OF the
sea, that they have upon the trade ol rivers or the
lind; and tolls levied in an oppressive manner are
,. the most efectual all the means by which rapa-
cious legislation has conrived 10 injnre the business
Ola city, or sap the prosperity o IA country In al
the vessels crossing the Atlantic in ballast last year
for The produce ofSnulh Carolina, only 3 697 worth
Of foreign merchandise touched Mt her ports on Ills
way other markets. Mobile Jared worse; oI
with an export trade of $l0,00OO00, only 81 Ass
worth OF foreign merchandise touched there. Off
cia return acquaint us of these iacts. How do vo,
account for them7 Our system of duties and debt.
= edness embarrasses trade. but yields no revenue
worth collecting. 1t requires the importer only 10
pawn so much ready money with the custom house
which he re-draws again less p per cent by ex.
porting the goods Is not this toll 0ppressvply
I levied at the gaies-of commerce? Were il not lol
the embarrassmen;s ii : created, the political cond
ton of most of the + rations is such, that this
very condition of ITSELF would force the channel %
: their trade through If southern ports. Take Mex
leo and Il supposed case, by way of example. A
merchant has in store, at Liverpool, cargo ofgoods
for the Mexican market, worth $500 900. They are
waiting for advices and an advance of prices; he is
afraid to risk them in the custom house of Mexico
for The condition OF The country is guaranty foi
Their safety. A revolutionary party, or band Of
robbers, may break INTO the custom house and plum
In
! or Mobile, they would be perfectly SAFE their
market place, and, in case ola demand. might be
the hrst 10 Office. They are paying storage in Lv-
liverpool, at all events; and perhaps storage in N
Orleans is cheaper than in Liverpool. Here is >
vessel going over in ballast for cotton, and would
take them al very low rate Of freight. He, there
fore, examines our custom house regulations. but
hnds, 10 his surprise, that before this cargo could he
landed in New Orleans, Mobile, for this purpose,
his agent there would have to raise 100000 in
cash tor tha cusioms that the commissions 10
his agent IN this transaction would be heavy; that,
rs long as the goods remain N the country, and
thirty days longer, he would be out Of the Of his
money; and that, when he gets his drawback, it
would be further taxed with 81 per cent in deduc-
ton. Such Drawback is therefore felt 10 he in
superable difficulty in the way of making American
ports the entrepots of such trade; and the empty
vessel, that was coming over for your cotton and
other produce, is suffered come in ballast Thus,
that cotton and that produce alone have pay freight
, both ways.
1.-THE average rate of duty upon ilnporiations is
about III per cent, one-third their value. The
duties are always in cash, payable the landing OF
the cargo, whether It he for consumption, or supply
for transportation Hence, none bur men of large
capital can enter into the importing business; and
hence. under this oppressive system, the commerce
OF The country is virtually monopoly, and no OPP
pressive one too, in the hands Ola few natives and
foreigners OF overgrnwn capital These latter come
among us. remain "A few years, aniass wealth, and
retire with il 10 enrich "fatherland." Here there
fore, is IA continued drain upon The country, which
falls chiefly upon the South and West.
81 do not mean 10 inveigh against cash duties; on
the contrary, would have the duties cash, by Il
means; but would have monopoly in trade, and
as few restrictions possible upon commerce. The
present system makes the importing business of the
country monopoly Of the most odious kind. In
stead of exacting the duties when the goods vera
landed. would let them 60 into bonded warehouses,
properly protected and secured, and exact the dutie
only when the goods leave these warehouses for con-
sumption nj home With such an arrangement,
men OF small capital could 60 into the importing bus
mess, competition would become more active, and
goods cheaper; consequently an Increased demand,
increased supply, Increased abilities to buy, lar
ger consumption, greatly increased revenue--all
would follow.
"The merchant having capital of $500 900,
would not then, now, have to keep one-quarter Of
il by him, in cash. ready for the custon-house, and
| make So do the work OF "a; for the country mer-
chant, coming to Law in his assortment, would find
it cheaper 10 buy the goods in bond from the import
er. get the transfer the warehouse office, and pay
duty himself if he reside near, or, if not, remove the
whole under bond-say to st. Louis. or Cincinnati
re-warehouse them there, and pay duties he
wiheraws them for consumption BY this course,
he would save the commission and interest, which
the importer now charges for paying the duties for
him. And thus the consumer would buy cheaper.
How many of my readers caa tell how much lie
paid in duty for the coat on his back? But give us
this warehousing syslem, then let the counlry iner.
chant and cross road e-keeper go 10 the importer
and pay him for the goods, and then go TO the
house himself and pay the duties them Each Of
them. when lie rcinrns and opens his stock, gay
To his customers, 80 much Of my price on this
icle Is for the importers cost, much for duly
| Nj word for it, the nroDle would soon find out WIN