The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-03-21
2itb1tnnh 4ispatth.
WEDNEspAY MoRNINo. .MARCu n. ,do.

~
WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH u, 10
what they have net dsne.
Under the justly indignant feelings excited
by the raid Of BkowN, by Che extensive sym.
patty with him manifested at the North, and
by the development Of the HELPER iniquity
people In the Stase everywhere urged upon
the Legislature the Institution Of some com.
meretAl system which would discourage trade
with the North, and encourage domestic man.
ufactures and a direct foreign trade This
city was not behind the rest Of the citizens O,
Virginia. They met, appointed committees tc
memorabilia the Legislature on the subject
and these committees labored assiduously in
the preparation Of q general scheme for the
promotion Of these objects This was elabor.
ated with great care and presented to the
Legislature in several papers. A select COM
mistee on direct trade, &c, Of the House OF
Delegates, at the head Of which was MI.
NEWTON. Of Hanover, presented very able
report, which recommended most OF the mea-
sures advised by the Richmond memorials.
Our merchants saw that no one thing would
accomplish the revolution desired but that a
series of measures, looking to the same result,
were necessary Not one Of these has been
adopted. They were:
, list. A discriminating tax against Northern
manufactures, which, it was suggested, ought
10 be made dependent upon the cooperation
of other Southern States with which we have
commercial intercourse. On this point we
have the one per cent. tax, not depending on
the action Of any other State. and involving
determinations against Southern produce
What the Senate will do with it, remains to be
seen.
ID To invite capital back by diminishing
the tax upon it,
I'D. To prohibit the discounting Of bills pay
able in any State north Of Virginia by our
banks after a certain time, ir order to keep
the capital Of the banks at home, and not allow
il TO be used in effect in lending money tc
Northern merchants.
ith. That all promssory notes payable at a
particular time and place be put on the same
footing as negotiable paper. This paper our
merchants cannot now use, and the change
proposed would very much increase their
means for extending their business. Such a
provision prevails in all the great commercial
States Of the Union.
9Th A modification of the Usury Law so rs
TO place negotiable paper not having longer
than eight months to run, on an Independent
footing, that it might be sold, as the merchan-
die it represents is sold for its value In the
market; or, at least to extend the rate of in
terest on such paper to eight per cent. This
was proposed to invite back our capital, a
large part of which, now abroad, yields that
rate, and it could not be brought back for less
Our merchants needed some greater freedom
in this matter to increase their ready means.
In all the Northern cities, especially New
York, Usury Laws are practically ignored,
and paper is sold for its value according to
its own worth, or the cheapness or dearness
Of money. The petition was a reasonable one
9th. A modification of the Inspection laws
especially SO that flour could be shipped with
or without inspection, at the option of the
shipper. At present our law is rigid, compell-
ing all flour to be inspected. Our standard is
higher than those of Baltimore and New York
heir superfine being no better than our cross
niddiings. In competing with those cities in
he British markets our brand would be fatal,
the quality of our flour is
equal to theirs. Therefore we can ship no |
ow grades Of flour from James river directly |
o a foreign port. 1t has to be shipped coast |
wise, to receive a new inspection and a new |
,rand. Obs like these are fatal to our |
chemes for Foreign trade In December we |
lad a cargo Of such -four and could ha We loaded
he first vessel of the Richmond and Liverr DOL
inc, but for this difficulty. She was sent to
charleston! Much of the -four Of commerce
put up in bugs, and it was desirable that the
liller should have the privilege of shipping
is flour in this style. There is hope that some
Of the law may yet be obtained
eth. To encourage ship-building in Virgi
ia, that a small bounty should be paid of 81
er ton, or thereabout-the difference in the
ost of building here and in the North being
,timated 1t Sc per ton. This bounty to be |
aid for a short time only.
sth. That Virginia vessels and Virginia
,mmerce should be further encouraged by
roper amendments Of the pilot laws, includ.
g exemptions of such vessels-and proper
for towing by giving vessels
e option of pilot or a tow.
These with some other less important re.
have been brought promi-
nifty before the Legislature; but, as yet,
Il one has been matured; and save one. we
lticipate that none of them will be favorably
ted on. 1t is now too late, if there was a
sposition. 1t is proper to add, that the
pers generally presented by the mer. ,
ants, dwelt upon the injustice of the
esent mode Of taxing their business, aud =
ced the importance Of putting their class
ION an equality with others in the State =
none of these measures are to be carried 7
d the Legislature relies entirely upon I'm. ,
sing heavier taxes upon the merchants, we r
rtainly cannot expect that commerce will 4
ceive any forward impulse from the present q
,gislature. The one per cent. tax, where it h
imposed on a fabric that has a rival i'm a ,
reign one, has still the advantage of the duty i.
lposed by the Federal Government upon ),
at rival: duty of not less than twenty per u
NJ. Scat the worst, the discouraged fabric :,
3 nineteen per cent the advantage. =
t is only by strengthening our merchants =,
It they will be able to 60 into direct trade.
d that we can encourage home manufac- :.
res. We must have large Cities abundant :,
,ital, and wealthy merchants and capital =.
) and our revenue system is unfavorable :.
all Of these!
The Masonic Statue of Washington. b.
his exquisite work Of art has received much | w
5 attention than it ought to have done n,
CO 1t has been here. People took up an idea. h,
ause it was exhibited at so much a head. Fl
t IL was mere humbug, gotten up for h;
". Nothing could be farther from the a,
IN. Ii is great work Of art, executed by
OF the most celebrated Of living sculptors. 70
has been exhibited only to make M the til
e engaged to be paid for 1t by the Masonic sis
lse OF Fredericksburg. The Lodge is weak tn
numbers and the IA n M n IN ~ r;dpal vrar. | IN