The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-06

81 po7 500 10 SOB go w 272'l1
Do exclusive OF specie SOS e36 6lto AT l,747 oso
To one who calmly examines the above state
ment, it will seem almost incredible that the de-
Grease Of consumption and the increase of exports
which il reveals should be cotemporaneous with
commercial distress unparalleled in our history
since the days of General Jackson. 1t seems from
the above that while we are retaining among Us al
Che gold we receive from California; thing we
have never done before since gold was first ais
covered in that State-we are exporting more
than twice as much produce as we did az this
time last year, and more than three
times as much ga we did in November,
1858. II further appears that the pending com
nercial distress, which may be said 10 have com.
menced a month ago, has not yet materially inter-
Sered with the foreign commerce of The port. Not
withstanding the difficulty that has been expert
enced in the sale Of bills our exports have been
unprecedentedly large; our imports, which were
based upon orders sent abroad before the present
difficulties arose do not Of course reflect the eX-
sting state of things. Our next monthly
table will in all probability tell somewhat
different tale. The prospect is az present, that
our import trade for the next three months will be
unusually light, as, whatever happens, the South
ern markets are lost for the present II is proba-
BILE, however, that the aggregate OF our total im-
ports will not fall far below that OF corresponding
months in previous years, as the import OF specie
will make up the deficiency in that of goods.
The contrast between the aspect OF commerci al
Affairs at the present time and the aspec. they
year ago is very striking. At this time last year
Congress had Just assembled, and the long contest
Cor the speakership just beginning. Sill the
public mind was not excited and business was
going on rs usual. Notwithstanding the heavy ex-
port Of specie throughout the year 1859, money
was easy and the banks were comfortable. The
rate for demand loans was about 6, and some very
choice aceeptances were current at he same rate;
FIRST class paper generally ranged from c. 10 T.
Foreign exchange was dropping; butbankers were
getting 100 a ! Tor their sterling, and 5I3; for
francs. The movement Of merchandise was quite
lively, and the prospect fair for age foreign
and a very profitable domestic trade. Cotton
was coming forward very freely, and though the
Southern planters were investing more money in
new land and negroes than was deemed conserva-
tive by their friends here, all were generally in
good humor with the prospect. We need not dwell
on the contrast presented by the present condition
OF affairs. Business paralyzed everywhere, mer.
shandise not saleable at New York, industry
brought to a stand in New England the fruits Of
agriculture gone in the West, cotton unsalealc and
incapable of being moved at the Southern ports,
the banks suspended from Pennsylvania TO the
Gulf of Mexico, terrible famine impending 10 Sc.
veral OF the cotton and some of the Southeastern
States, money worth two per cent month here,
stocks declining, real estate falling, every man
gloomy, 'desponding and ready for revolution.
Such is the effect Of political agiiations on com.
uerec.
We sabjoin our usual comparative tables for the
1aya