The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-24


e copies matted to one address $500
- Office Of corner OF and
North streets, Baltimore
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As enterprising American merchants are con-
stantly the lookout for neglected fields of Com
merce, and as they are. as general thing, prompt
to seize every opportunity for pushing their ven
lures in directions that promise profitable return
for the risks incurred, it seems somewhat surpris-
ing that they should permit England to almost
entirely nlonopolize the lucrative trade with Libe-
ria Actuatcd by the purest spirit of philanthropy
we founded, at great cost, negro colony on the
West Coast of Africa, and after having nursed it
through the earlier stages of its growth furnished
it, during period of forty years, with fresh sup
plies Of enigrants; appropriated, through our
State Legislatures, large sums of money to pro-
mote the object in view; encouraged donations
and taken up collections for the same purpose, we
abandon TO other nations, but more especially to
England, valuable commerce that is rapidly in
ereasing in magnitude and Importance, and
which from our past relations with the Liberian
Colonists, we could have readily made our own.
1t must be admitted however, that our merchants
Government 1t has not been thought beneath
the dignity of England, France, Prussia, Belgium,
and even of Brazil to recognize the nationality OF
Liberia; but the United States not only evades
an acknowledgment Of its independence, but de-
iberaely forces its trade into other channels, by
refusing to admit its vessels into ports at the
same rates of duty are imposed upon American
vessels in Liberia. We are perfectly aware that
to enter upon treaty Of amity and commerce
with negro Republic, which owes its existence
to the American Colonization Society, would
prove an exceedingly delicate matter, and would
be especially repugnant to the people of the Slave
States, because involving the question of Consular
and other diplomatic appointments. But as the
Liberans are willing 10 waive official recognition,
and simply ask TO be permitted TO trade with us
upon the same footing as they allow our merch-
ants to trade with them, the policy which rejects
these overtures is certainly short-sighted and nu-
dicious. How deleteriously it has already opera
ted upon our commerce the following facts will
show. Not many months ago, as we were
reminded by the New York Commercial Id
gertiser, the Liberian brig. E. ". Roye arrived
at New York, from Monrovia, for the avowed pur-
opening up a regular trade between the two ports.
The cargo was valuable one, consisting chiefly
of cam wood and palm oil, and was brought direct
to the United States, under the impression that
the principle of reciprocity would govern the rates
of duty exacted. But such was not the case. On
the contrary, the duties imposed were so heavy as
to preclude the possibility of prosecuting this
branch of trade to a profit and the consequence
has been that the E. ~ Roye, repulsed from our
own ports, now plies between Liberia and Eng
land. The cargo with which she left the port of
Monrovia for the latter country, in May last, very
accurately indicates the nature of the trade we
have lost. 1t comprised, among other products,
"thirty-seven tons of cam wood; twenty-five thou
''sand eight hundred and orty-fve gallons of palm
coil; four thousand eight hundred and fortyeght
''pounds of sugar, and five hundred and eighty
Zone ounces of gold dust" Now, rs cam wood |
and palm oil constituted by far the greater bulk |
of the cargo, shall have to incur the increased
expense of importing these articles from England,
and. as they are both in large demand with u.s.
it is evident that the enhanced cost of obtaining
them must effectually preclude us from competing
with England in the sale of the commodities into
which they enter-the profits on our part being
swallowed up by the difference between direct and
indirect importation. The schooner Noses Shop
pard-so named in honor of who for
many years well known citizen of Baltimore,
and liberal friend TO the colonization cause--was
also, at the last advices, taking on board cargo
for England, and had already slowed away flour
"teen thousand gallons Of palm oil, twenty tons
''of cam wood and four hundred and ninety-eight
'pounds of ivory But these Illustrations
though pertinent enough so far as they go-whe
they show how carelessly we have sacrificed lu
crative commerce and driven it into other chan
nes, by no means exhibit the extent or variety of
the productions of Western Africa. The quantity
of palm oil, which is exported from Liberia alone
amounts annually, at this time, to over seven hum
dred thousand gallons. In addition TO this, its
exports consist of cam wood, ivory, gold dust, cof-
fee, rivaling in quality the best Mocha, and ground
nuts The latter are shipped chiefly TO France
and, in part, exported subsequently TO the
UNITED STATES in the shape of what the French
manufacturers are pleased to denominate, and we
TO creduously accept, as ''olive OIL The value
of The trade Of England with the West Coast Of
Africa, inclusive of Liberia, amounts in the ag-
gregae to thirty millions of dollars annually;
whilst that Of the UNITED STATES, taking in the
entire circuit of the Coast, is less than two mil
lions and half. Yet the chief exports are
exactly those which we could best supply-the
heaviest items being cottons guns, gunpowder,
slaves and tobacco. 1t has been more than once
suggested that line of ocean steamers between
the UNITED STATES and the West Coast of Africa,
with the latter country, and under proper man
agement would be found profitable investment.
We see no reason to doubt it, in view of the
diversified employment to which such line could
be put But as we have already surrendered to
other countries the steam navigation of the North
Atlantic; we receive commercial letters
from Brazil by way of England, and as we have
failed even in promoting the organization of a
line of steamers to make the circuit of the ports
on the Mexican Gulf it can hardly be expected |
that we can establish IA steam ferry between
the UNITED STATES and the Gulf of Guinea. |
What we might do, however, is very clear We |
might encourage the Liberians to trade with US, |
by exempting their cargoes from onerous duties;
and we might, under proper regulations, establish
regular commercial communication with all parts |
of that Coast by means of sailing vessels that
tviU not take out with them the materials for a
double deck, slaves for water casks, and choice
assortment of manacles. The Liberians would
infinitely prefer to trade with US if we would only
offer them that encouragement which they have
right to expect at our hands; but if we continue
to behave as illiberally towards them as we have
done heretofore, they will naturally turn else
where. This estrangement has already COM
menced. If it be suffered to continue, the sorrow |
that comes upon the loss of valuable commerce |
will be ours not theirs.
We publish elsewhere the communication of
GRAFTON L. DULANY, Esq, to the Second Branch
of the City Council, explanatory of his action as