New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-09-30
France and the Confetitracy.

The following editorial we extract from the
Richmond Examiner of Thursday last:
1t is known that the French Government, through
its accustomed agents, and in its accustomed man
ner, has been engaged for some time in purchasing
its usual supplies Of tobacco in this city Its pur-
chases have been going on for almost the Whele
period Of the existing war, and very large guam
tty OF tobacco is undoubtedly now held, on French
account in Richmond.
The importance of obtaining its usual supplies OF
tobacco is very great to the French Government,
which permits no importation or sales OF tobacco
in France except by itself. 1t monopolizes the
trade in the article and its revenues from tobacco
amount to thirty-eght millions of dollars per an
mum. Owing to its extraordinary revenue from
this article, it afford to adopt very liberal
policy with respect to its general foreign trade.
1t will be recoected that, some time ago, the En-
peror Napoleon announced a commercial policy
which went far towards inaugurating free trade
with the rest of the world. 1t compelled very
important relaxation of the commercial policy Of
Great Britain, and was hailed opening the way
for general system OF free trade among the ma
tons of the earth.
With revenue of thirty light millions of dollars
| to start with, derived from the monopoly OF a
| single article, and with thirty-ive millions OF
wealthy people and their property to tax France
could well afford to throw open her ports to foreign
trade. 1t may be supposed that she IS not willing
to lose this fine aud comfortable revenue from to-
bacco and it is not at all singular that the pur.
chase of her supplies of it in our market has been
persisted in, notwithstanding the pendency Of the
war and the existence of blockade.
France, however, has postponed her recognition
of the Southern C0nfederacy. She may continue
| to do so; and she may, moreover, undertake tt
negotiate with the Washington Government to in
duce it, by conniyance or open permission, to re
lax its blockade in regard to herself, so far as tC
permit her to fetch away the property she has pur
chased of us. There is no doubt that if it coult
thereby defeat postpone the recognition of th(
Confederate States by France, the Washington
| Government would submit to. any arrangement OF
this subject which the Emperor might DESIRE
| Moreover, it cannot be doubted that the grea
| naval expedition fitting out at the North, and par
of it already under sail, is intended to be directed
| against some port in the Southern States, weakly
| guarded and having q good harbor with view K
opening an outlet for cotton and tobacco from thu
Confederate States. II this scheme should sue
ceed, the hope, no doubt, is, that by furnishing
| England with cotton from this port, and France
| with tobacco, those two countries may be induced
| to defer the recognition of our Government.
| The circumstances and facts which we havt
stated bring us face to face with the question: wha
policy will the South pursue towards those power
with regard TO her great staples if they persist il
postponng recognition of the Confederate Gov
| ernment?
The recognition can be extorted if the South dt
| but choose to resort to compulsory measures
There is no great advantage to be gained by re
| cognition that the South cannot afford to foregO
But, if any foul play should be resorted to by tn
| European powers, such as that of inducing tn
| Washington Government to conuiye at the ship
meuL OIL our staples from Specid pOitS tHen IL lld
become necessary to have resort to the prope
measure of correction
That corrective measure is an embargo upon tn
shipment of our staples from our own ports.
would never do to allow the commercial interest
of the Confederate States to depend, in any form
upon the suiferanCe of the North Nor could tn
idea for a moment be tolerated of foreign powe
seeking admission into our markets through an
sort of arrangement with the Government OF til
North. Dependence in this form would be d.
| pendenCe in the most degrading of all forms, an
would have to be resisted by the most summai
measures.
But an embargo, especially upon tobacco, ma
become necessary with reference to another grei
question Of policy The tariff levied by the Britis
: Government upon tobacco is at least seventy.tiy
cents per pound which, upon the lower qualitis
of the staple is equivalent to a tax of a thousan
per cent ad vaiorem The effect of the Frenc
monopoly is to lay tax upon the consumption
the article equivalent to several thousand per cen
The policy of the British and French Governmen
, towards this great article OF southern producto
is but little, if anything, more illiberal than th'
of the European Governments in general.
1t is plain that this enormous taxation great
enhances the price of tobacco to the consumer
Europe; and this enhancement of price great
curtais the quantities consumed. 1t may be safe
| said that this enormous taxation bears MOI
, heavily upon the culture Of tobacco than any to
| in all the commerce OF the world, is known to be-
upon any great industrial interest of the worl
But for this taxation the cultivation of tobact
would be the most profitable agricultural emplo
ment known under the sun. It would be great
!, more profitable even than the cultivation of cotto
The removal of the tax is, therefore, Of great pee
O mary importance to the border States I; it is all
pregnant with political importance; for it mi
already be assumed that either the tobacco Cutu
1 must become more profitable, or else slavery mu
r soon cease to exist in Virginia, North Carolin
. kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and Maryland.
Under the old Union, the Federal Governme
never could be induced to demand of foreiE
, powers relaxation of their policy with regard
4 tobacco. The North was too anxious for SLAYER
= to become extinct in the border slave States, ev
/ to interfere in this matter for the benefit of t!
o tobacco interests: and the Cotton States cou
G never be brought to see the vital political stal
involved in the question.
The Confederate Government, however, will
Q compelled to devote the gravest consideration
# the subject; and it is more than probable than t
q existence of large quantity of French tobacco
. the warehouses of Richmond will lead to dscr
n sion in the Confederate Congress, upon which W
s hang less an issue than the continued eXlsten
e of slavery in half the States of the South.
4 SUPPLIES FOR SOLDIERS. Moody, at the corn
Of Canal Streets stock Of
ter undercothes, suited for campaigning purposes See his
2 vertis6neat.