The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-11

over, and our importers of Foreign fabrics are
forming their preliminary arrangements for the
fall trade, would it not be well for them to con-
slider the propriety of making all their importa-
tons direct? There are many reasons that might
be stated in favor of this course whilst there are
very few objections that can be urged against it
with even fair share Of plausibility. To make
New York our port of entry, instead of shipping
from Liverpool, or Havre from Bremen South
ampton, or London, Immediately to this city, is
to subordinate ourselves to New York in a matter
in which it is of primary Importance TO our COM
mercial standing that we should act independent
ly. 1t is to acknowledge that our sister city pos
sesses facilities which we have not and this may
be certainly true to some extent at the present
time, but the reason that it is so, rests upon the
fact that we have given the preference to sea go
ing vessels arriving at that port, instead of offer
ing them sufficient encouragement to load and dis
charge their freight at our own wharves Every
cargo which we import through any other city tends
to build up that city at the expense of our own
commercial prestige No great centre of trade such
as Baltimore has undoubtedly become, can ever
enter squarely into competition with rival markets
until it evinces rigorous spirit of selfdependence
If by importing indirectly, time and expense were
saved that fact might be alleged in justification of
the abandonment of our local facilities in favor of
others that are superior. But every importing
merchant is aware that the trouble of passing
goods through the New York Custom-house: the
fees paid to agents who are charged with the duty
of receiving and transmitting them to their point of
destination; the delays that are interposed by the
constant struggle for precedence between those
agents and the New York importers; the losses that
frequently occur, both from transhpment and from
other causes and the difficulty that attends every
effort to arrange amicably any claim that may be
made for damage done to the goods themselves
all these risks and contingencies not only render
this mode of importation more costly but far more
uncertain, as to time than shipments that are made
direct. 1t is not unfrequently the case that three
weeks or month elapse after the arrival of a
vessel at New York, before that portion of her
cargo comes to hand which was destined for this
market, and, in the meanwhile, the same species
goods may be exposed for sale in New York,
to the manifest injury of the distant
importer who finds his market for them already
anticipated. In our opinion the time has come
pend upon its ability to establish a system of d.
rect imports and EXPORTS not in the desultory and
uncertain manner which has heretofore governed
this class of mercantile operations but fully and
completely, and with vigor and determination
equal TO that which we have displayed in fostering
our great internal Improvements. There are more
over but few cities in the Union where the chief
branches of manufacturing industry could be con-
Quoted more cheaply and of course proftaby than
with US, and the remarkable progress which we
have made of late years in this respect is but an
earnest of what might be accomplished by offer
ing to skilled workmen, every where, inducements
to settle among US. Every bill of goods we buy in
the Eastern markets withdraws from US so much
capital that might be more usefully employed at
nome and renders US nervousy susceptible to those
periodical yistations, which are Familiarity known
as financial panics from the fact that large pro-
portion OF the promissory notes which are given
in payment for the commodities so purchased are
returned here for discount whenever the general
money market is affected by any unusual pressure.
There will be, of course, at all times certain ar
Giles of merchandise which we shall find it to be
our interest to purchase in other cities, for each
time, reputation for turning out particular arti-
cles of luxury, utility which come to be regard
ed as its speciality but for the leading staples of
manufacture, and especially for those which are
wrought by machinery-of which steam is the
motive power-we possess local advantages that
are superior to those of many of our sister cities,
and therefore enter with confidence, as against
them into the field of competition. In taking this
view of an interesting subject, we are far from
seeking to cast any word of disparagement upon
the merchants and manufacturers of New York,
and Philadelphia, and Boston, They are many of
them sagacious and energetic men, who very
properly deserve the position they have attained,
and all the business they capable of controlling
What we seek is simply to elicit the attention of
those among us whose interests would be benefited
commercially by extending all due encouragement
to system of direct communication with foreign
markets, and by generous promotion of every
branch of manufacturing industry.