Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-10-17


While great al is sad about cotton, aud it is
crowned with all the honOs of royalty little is said
about other products in which large population is
interested as in the production of cotton itself The
States of Virginia, Maryland Kentucky, Missouri and
The Northern aud Northwestern portions of North Car
Ona produce cotton for export, but they do raise
large quantity of tobacco, and cou: raise any amount
in addition that might be required.
Now, tobacco is as extensive 10 its range of consump-
ton, as cotton itself Its use is by more than
half the Inhabitants of the globe and besides it is year
y extending its empire. 1t has advanced to farthes
China. 1t ch, the Tartar in his tent, and soos the
Mosem 10 bis harem. It's smoke arises in pufs amid
the orange groves of the South warns the Of
the frozen dweller in the far North
And yet with all this extended and extending taste
for tobacco its export from this country has hardly in
creased at all for many years. 1t is doubtful
whether Virginia did not export good deal more
while in her colonial position than she does now 1t is
true that under the stimulus of high pces forward
movement took place in this State during the last few
years. bat of course this advance Las been more than
lost by the war. Indeed any going through many
of our western counties still where tobacco was
once cultivated many years ago, but where is cuva-
ted no more its abandonment not being at all due to
the exhaustion Of the SOIL as might he Supposed.
Why this is so-wty the export and consequently
the cultivation Of tobacco il this country has not in
creased in common with other things with the pro-
gress OF population with the fusion of its use, is
question easily enough to be answered lis export to
European countries is restricted by the intoerabe bur-
dens the crushing weight imposed upon it by the gov
ernments there.
In 1850 there we're raised in the whole United States,
1872 SAG pounds of tobacco OF which the great por
ton was raised in the Northern tier of the Southern
States Ia 1910, the amount raised was 219l63. 3l9
pounds showing that $40 exceeded 1850 by l9,4l0,-
673 pounds In 1910 the exports were 147,828 hogs
heads. In 1850 they were only 95,945 hogsheads,
showing still larger proportionate falling off 10 the ex-
ports than in tie production. 10 fact, there more
hogsheads of tobacco exported in 1871 than in 1850 BY
nearly six thousand. 10 1853 Virginia alone exported
10000 hCgsheads.
1t can hardly be expected that the export of this rt
Gle to foreign countries grow when it is borne in
mind that England and France alone levy upon it tax
equal to fifty millions of dollars the least, being
amount considerably exceeding the whole value of the
whole crop realized by the producers. In France to-
bacco is government monopoly. In England is taxed
several hundred PEI cent The result is before in tie
actual decrease in its export to those countries here
is no trade in the world budentd with such tremendous
dues-duties which would amount to perfect prohibit
ton were the appetite for tobacco that demands
to be grat6 d at almost any cost.
Give this busictss anything like fair chance aud the
border States would be prosperous than the
cotton States Tobacco would give more profitable
employment to labor than any other staple, while it is
certain that fairly managed it will not exhaust The soil
beyond the power of the planter to resoE all the et
ments which may bQ distracted by the crop.
The whole numerical policy of the Federal Urion
being shaped by the North for its own btnfl, no en-
ergetic effort was made or ever would have been made
by the United States to have the shackles removed from
the trade in this great Southern product and thus it
was compelled to anguish while bountes given to
the fishermen OF Cape Cod ard protection extended to
the iron-masters Of Pennsylvania.
1t is to be hoped that when the Confederate States
commence making treaties with foreign countries they
will not follow the example set them by the late United
ates nor yet allow themselves forget that although
cotton may be q considerable Individual, tobacco is
something that may be Sneczed but be
looked. With anything like chance, tobacco will be
worth very many millions to the border States bringing
them wealth and independence.