New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-07-23
9eh Orleans Duly Crescent.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
MONDAY MORNING, JULY IS, 1890.

For the fiscal year, ending the 30th of June, the
imports from foreign countries at New York city
amounted In value to two hundred and thirty-fo
millions of dollars. This Is large sum for one
single port but it must be recollected that we
receive the bulk of our imports at New York.
That city receives more of our importations from
abroad than all the other cities put together.
This is thirteen millions in value more than New
York ever before imported in one year. Notwith-
standing the commercial revusion of three years
age, we have enlarged our imports at one single
point thirteen millions of dollars. When we add
the increased importations at this city, at Balti-
more Charleston, Norfolk, and other cities, tho
aggregate wIll foot up much larger sum, We sus
peet than most people suppose.
Nearly enc-haf of this large importation at
York was for dry goods alone. IL consisted
mostly, we suppose, of French laces, silks and
other articles of dress wherewith onr beautiful
American ladies' bedeck themselves. The re-
mander consisted of groceries and general mer-
chandise Our exports, for the same period, from
New York city, increased twenty millions in Valu",
in articles of produce and merchandise, and nearly
twelve millions in specie.
The question naturally suggests itself to every
mind, how is it that we are enabled te import and
pay for three or four hundred millions Of foreign
merchandise every year? Comparatively little of
1t is paid for by specie shipments. The SPECIE we
export does not much more than pay the interest
on the money which various railroad, State
and municipal corporations owe to foreign capital
ISIS. The answer to the question, however, is
obvious. We are enabled to pay for these heavy
imports with the agricultural productions Of our
country; and mainly, with that article which is
the exclusive product of slave abor-the cotton of
the South.
For the year ending June 30th, 1858, our total
imports were two hundred and eghty.three mil
lions-very little more than the imports at New
York city alone for the year past. But this was
the year after the panic, when our commercial
operations were considerably restricted. For the
year previous, ending 30th Of June, 1851 our i'm
ports were three hundred and sixty millions in
value. ALI traces of the commercial distress of
'57 having now disappeared, it would not surprise
us if the value of imports at all points for the
past year footed up, in round numbers, four hun
dred millions ofdollars. r@..
Our imports for 1855 amounted TO three hun
dred and fourteen millions. The value Of cotton
exported that year was one hundred and twenty
eight millions considerably more than one-third.
For ls57 our imports three hundred and
sixty millions-yalue of cotton exported, one hun
dred and thirty millions. Thus it will appear that
the single article of cotton alone pays for nearly
one-half Of our imports from abroad. And this is
exclusive Of the cotton consumed at home for
domestic purposes, and that used by the manufac-
turing establishments of the Northern States.
When we add to our cotton other articles of ex-
ports which exclusively Of Southern produc.
tion-such as rice, hemp, tobacco, turpentine,
ETC., and the breadstufs, which are the growth of
the South-we produce an aggregate which ex-
plains at once how it is that we are such heavy
importers from abroad. The productions of the
North are nearly all consumed at home. They
have little or nothing to export. 1t is tue product
Of slave labor, aided by climate and soil un-
equaed in the world for varied and valuable pro-
duetions, that enables this country to obtain so
many of the conveniences, comforts and uxuries
of the Old World, and to advance with such giant
strides in the race of population material wealth
and civilization.
We saw it stated last year, on some reliable
authority, that this country in debt to Europe,
in various ways, nearly six hundred millions of
dollars The debt is for money borrowed by rail-
road corporations, and by State and city govern
ments. The money is due to private capitalists,
and the interest must be annually paid. Here is
about thirty millions of dollars every year that we
have to pay, that is apt to be overlooked in our
estimates Of the balance of trade. In 1850 we
exported fifty-four millions of dollars value in
gold and silver coin and bullion-in 1857 we ex-
ported sixty millions. Wonderful, indeed, are the
resources of a country, which, with about thirty
millions only Of people, is able to conduct so ex-
tensyc a commerce, and TO spare much in value,
after feeding and clothing the entire population.
Another question that arises is, why the bulk of
our imports should be conducted through New
York city, when it is manifest that the exports Of
the country without which we would have no I'M
ports-are nearly all the product Of the South /?
Why does not the region OF country which fur
Dishes the exports also conduct the business of I'M
porting? Why should Louisiana, which sends off
from her principal port over hundred millions
of value every year. permit New York to reap all
the profit OF an import BUSINESS of two hundred
and thigty millions per aanum2 These are ques
tions we have asked beforehand they are questions
which the people of The South are beginning to ask
themselves. The result of the inquiry begins to he
apparent already. 1t is apparent in the steady in
4. tease of our Southern importations They have
= yet reached the mark they ought to reach, and
= S3ill be some years before they will. But il will
p0 done sooner or later, and it is only question
Of time. When our export and import business
comes to amount to thousand millions of dol
lars per annum each way, and the Southern States
reap all those benefits of both to which they are
justly entitled, we may expect such change for
the better i'll their condition will put to shame
those ignorant libellers Of our section who pro-
nounce our domestic institutions incompatible with
the very highest social civilization, and destructive
of the wealth. power and comfort of the people.
SENATOR SLIDELL's PORTRAIT - Mr. Pervy'S
Near Pdistting.-Tho friends of art and the admir-
ers Of Mr.. Sdell will find on exhibition at Jacobs
Art Gallery, 70 Camp street. painting, interesting
equally to each class. We refer to a recently
finished portrait of Hon. John Slidel, by our
tslented townsman, Il. w. Perry, Jr. 1t is pro-
noanced by competent judges an excellent like
ness, and cannot fail to strike any eye as splcn-
did painting. Apart from the cooring of the face
and hands, we have not heard the slightest criti-
cism against it as a Worll of art. The subject is
represented in his public capacity addressing the
Senate. The desk and the books, the earpeting
and surroundings, are represented with natural
ness truly marvellous and fidelity that Will prob
ably give correct idea Of portion of the Senate
chambert to those who have never seen it.
There have been some objections made 4o he