The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-06-15
WHO is THE GREATEST GAMER BY
SLAVERY?

Our Northern friends exult III their COM
mon schools, and it is safe to conclude that
they can solve the above question and calcu-
late who gains the most by slavery. Let them
sit down with slate and pencil and sum up the
amounts which Northern commerce derives
from the Navigation Laws. Let them make
a calculation first, of what the planter OBJ
tains for his produce, then of what the North
ern shipowner obtains for freight, and lastly,
of what passes into the hands of the North
ern factor, marine and fire insurance stock
holders and other capitalists. They Will ind
that the North derives the round sum OF about
thirty seven millions per annum from the ar
ticles of Southern cotton, tobacco, rice, naval
stores, and breadstuffs. 1t is possible that if
the fugitive slave law is regularly nullified,
the South, in looking round for some mode of
retaliation. may light upon the Narigat'o"
Lars, which are in fact and effect the great
est of all prohibitory tariffs. Under those
laws which bear so heavily upon the South
ern planter, constituting him to employ Anne
rican coasters for the transportation OF his
produce coastwise, at price more than dou-
BILE, and sometimes four times, as great as TO-
reign vessels would carry his freight for the
great shipping interest of the North has been
built up, at an expense to the planter, for
brokerage insurance, freight, primage, COM
missions, and other charges of thirty-seven
millions a year. Scarcely has the cotton
arrived at a condition when the planter can
dispose of ii, before the Northern capitalist
Jumps at it as pike does at fat bait, and
between the Northern shipowner and the
Northern merchant, and other capitalists, the
poor planter has but precious small share of
the profts-about enough to keep him alive.
Now, if the fugitive slave law bears hard on
Northern consciences, the Navigation Laws
bear equally hard on Southern pockets. Sup
pose then that, while the fanatics of the North
are practically repeating the Fugitive Slave
Law, the South should combine her energies
for a repeal of the Navigation Laws 1t is
rather hard case is mt it, that when a South
ern planter, wishing to ship his cotton coast
wise, from New Orleans to this or any other
cotton consuming port, goes to the dock and
finds an Englishman, or a Swede, who, be-
cause their ships cost less in construction, la
Dor, wages and supplies of seamen, can carry
for half or even a fourth of the charges of
Northern vessel, he must nevertheless en-
ploy the American vessel! That's about as
hard, is Mt it, as sending Tony back to his
master!
On looking at the reports of the Secretary
of the L. S. Treasury, exhibiting the quantity
and value of cotton exported annually from
s2l to 1853 inclusive, we find that in the last
year mentioned, there was exported from this
country, LII $40, $40 pounds of cotton, val
ued at Sl09, 456, 404, at an average price of
nine cents, eight mills and a half per pound
full one-fourth of which-and we challenge
denial of twas paid into the hands of the
Northern shipowner, factor and other parties
already named. Thus, from the article of
cotton alone, the North annually derives the
comfortable sum of S27 1896, col. When we
consider the amount of capital invested by
the planter, the support of himself and his la
borers, and the other elements which go to
make up the cost ofproducing cotton, it may
be questioned whether, with cotton at the
rate of nine cents pound, the planter makes
more than one and half cents per pound
profit on it. From the same authority above
quoted, it appears that l59, s63 hhds. of tobac-
co, valued at S1l,3l9,3l9, were exported in
the year 1853. During the same year, there
were exported o. o7 tierces of rice, valued at
Sl,657,65s.
The total value of breadstuffs and provisions
exported in 1858, 1--WE give in this as in all the
others home valuations was S32,985.3 1922
about 20,000,0o0 of which, in round numbers
were supplied by the South. Omitting naval
stores, such as tar, pitch, turpentine, rosin.
etc, for the production of which the North
IS entirely dependent upon the South, and
without which the government could not
have navy nor the North send shin
to sea, the gross exports, products of slave
labor OF 1853, amounted to $l42, 433 3s1
Including naval stores, which, we have no
doubt, would raise the above amount 70 at
iea" lou millions, the North derives profit
III freight, commissions, &c, of one fourth of
'he "hoie' amounting to S37, SOC, 900. These
exports allowing for their increased value
III iofelgu ports, more than pay for all the i'm.
pof's 10 the United States. We have NOT 70.
n men ,n'o the calculation of the Northern pro.
n's Tue freight back on goods purchased with
Tue proceedS OF our exports, such as railroad
iroh' "iie' Silks cotton and woollen goods
and other articles, but suppose II nus.
to at least one-fourth of the freigbt ON. -.
Horace Greedy figure up the exact a,nor.. =.
dollars and cents, which Northern conar"-. ~
would lose, in the event of the dissolu,;o,, -
the Union, for which he is so anxious or os
another mode of retaliation within the nowar
of Congress, and perfectly constitutional, the
repeal Of the Navigation Lars.
II would not be the commercial interest.
Of the North alone which would be injured
by that repeal. Beginning with the man who
fells the timber in the forest; then extending
to those engaged in transporting it to the
ship-yards then embracing the ship earpen-
ter, by whom the ship is framed then his as
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