Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-08-13

pOrtS OF foreign ulcICIldlulSc lcCeiNeu III INcW
York amounted, in the aggregate, to nearly
secen millions Of dollars-a million of dollars
a day The imports during the current
year, compared with the same in '57 and '5S
are as follows:
1s51............ .......... .....$l47, SsS
1859. 1852 1872 ,Os6
The goods imported at such an enormous
cost, may be divided into three classes: 1st
Articles of luxury and necessity which can
not be grown or produced in this country -
I'd. Articles of luxury with which the coun-
try could dispense; and Sd, Articles which
ought to have been produced here. The last
are by far the greatest in value. We do not
propose to advocate any prohibitory or sump-
tuary laws to prevent the use among our peo-
pie of foreign brandies, wines, cigars, silks,
satins, velvets, and jewelry, in which they SO
lavishly indulge; but we may urge the i'm
portance, nay, the imperative necessity, Of
some legislation which will tend to the devel-
opment Of new, and the revival with new
prosperity of the old branches of American
industry, to the end that the long invoices of
the common textile fabrics of wool, cotton,
flax and hemp, of manufacturers of iron,
copper, lead, &C., which now figure in the
Custom House return, may hereafter be
sought for on the books Of our own artisans.
We want to see the producer of grain and
the manufactures of all articles of necessity
brought together on this side of the ocean, in
such q way that the distance from the farm
er's door to the manufacturing town in which
his wheat and corn, beef and pork, may be
consumed, will not be so great that fifty per
cent of the entire value of the products of the
soil will be eaten up in a long and costly tram
sit to market That legislation, called by what
ever name it may be, is the remedy for the
commercial evils which increase day by day,
and which threatened to overwhelm the man.
ufacturing industry of the country, while
they reduce the wages of agriculture to STAR
walton point. With wheat in Chicago at prices
that will impoverish all who grow it /; with
little prospect of foreign demand with a
constantly increasing debt incurred for what
our own looms, FORCES, mines and mills might
furnish; with enormous and rapidly growing
expectations ofgOld which is needed at home,
what sodden Democrat will not admit that
the time has come for a modification of our
commercial policy
The country is flattering itself that the
hard times which set in two years ago, are
about to succeeded by period of great pros
perity. But what is the prospect Shall
we export any breadstuffs ? The abundant
crop in all the grain-growing districts in
Europe and the low prices which rule in all
the European markets, forbid that suppose
ton. Shall we send abroad our beef and
pork {? Yes, in ininitessimal quantities COM
pared with the stocks on hand. But our Cot
ton remains. So it does. Europe will take of
that staple an amount equivalent to 81 30, O00,-
600. All our other exports, grain, meats,
manufactured articles, &C., will not exceed
10000, 900 to $50, OOO, OOO-leaving the mu.
nificent sum of 500, OOO, 900 in the shape of
debt to be paid off with bullion and CON- Does
this exhibit look like the restoration of con-
fdence and the revival of business at home?
Let our merchants be warned in time
Nothing but disaster can come ofinportations
like these now going on. 1t is for Western
dealers to say whether they will be involved
in the crash or not.
How SHALL WE GET OUT AND KEEP OUT
OF DEBr?-There has never been time in the
history of this country when the growing
crops have been watched with more interest
or the coming harvest season been anticipated
with more anxiety than the present. We
are now entering upon the harvest with our
warmest hopes realized, and it is now a good
time to consider our condition and prospects
as community.
With returning prosperity and increased
means to extricate the country from embar-
rassment, will come new temptations and in
creased facilities for getting into debt We
are now oppressed with heavy foreign debt,
the result of over importation and sending
abroad for things that should have been man.
ufactured at home Or done without The west
is heavily indebted to the east. Cities, towns,
villages, counties and individuals are largely
involved 1t will take all our surplus to re-
trieve our independence and place us on
sound basis.
Necessity has taught US economy, and
learned US that we can forego many things |
which were deemed almost Indispensable BY |
adhering to the policy which necessity has |
US to adopt and steadily refusing to |
get deeper into debt; by living within our |
means and foregoing indulgences; by relying
upon our own present resources, without |
drawing upon the future for the supply of i'm |
aginary existing wants, we may discharge the |
heavy obligations, the results of over trading
and fast living.
Our western merchants should buy goods
sparingly and cautiously, and should incur no
debts depending upon heavy trading and cred
It sales to liquidate. Our citizens should rig
dly refuse to listen to the Establishments Of
lealers, and buy nothing but what they can
pay for. Our energies and purposes should
Ill be directed to the one point of getting out
If debt. The time is approaching when the
vest should be the creditor of the east, and
when the balance of trade should be in our
avor
The imports for the present year have
been far beyond the real wants of the coun-
ry. The New York importers appear to be-
controlled by a reckless, not to say an insane
pirlt of speculation but the West is under
10 obligations whatever to become partakers
IT their folly.-Nadison, Wis, Journal.
So WE Go.-Two millions of dollars were
hipped to Europe last week, from New York
lty. The importations, during the same pc.
lod, were about five millions, of which four
Millions were dry goods.
The importers and the consumers of for
ign fabrics and luxuries are rapidly getting
ur country into condition for another dis.
strous financial revulsion. .... ........ 70. A:
Sending off So, 100000 of specie to paw
Id debts and at the same time buying 81
90, 600 worth Of imported trash, all in one {
,eek, is doing business out of pocket by sew
raj degrees too FAST for this g hard up' ,
ountry to afford. So it strikes us, at all
vents, and men of sense will probably con-
lr in our opinion. '.-.
As things are now going on, the s-,-'