The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-16

such circums tances, we should inevitably be
thrust to the WALL If we still retained any trade
with the South, it would only be in such commo
dities as would bring US into competition with the
Confederate States themselves, and with all the
advantages in their favor of the protection afforded
them by their tariff. In either case we could only
hope to succeed by reducing the rate of wages
paid to our mechanics and operatives below that
which is paid either at the North or the South
But it is not only in our manufactures that we
are, and shall be, injured by separation from
the South. Our commerce must snffar to an
equal extent. Our imports, from winch we de-
rive portion of our material prosperity, are dis
'rlou'ed' IN great measure, through Southern
markets. With the adoption of system of d.
rect trade b5 Southern ports, we shall lose this
valuable custom also. This loss of commerce is
necessarily loss of wealth, and loss of wealth is
loss OF means to provide employment to our me
chanics' and artisans. Everything that tends to
retard the development of our commerce, is
blow struck at the prosperity of our city and of
her people. When the commercial classes are
prosperous, the city is prosperous When the
city prospers, her mechanics prosper likewise. A
single illustration of the changed relations which
now exist between us and the Confederate States
may be cited. By the Southern tariff. coffee is
only permitted to enter free of duty when it is i'm
ported from the place ofits growth. Ifimported in
directly-as, for instance, through this city, which
has long been one Of the most important markets
for cotee-it pays duty Of fifteen per cent,
which is equal to one cent and half per pound
This duty effectualy puts stop to any imports to
this port of coffee in the future for distribution in
the South; and New Orleans, already a larger
market than ours, and Mobile, will be the
commercial centres to which coffee will here
after be sent which would otherwise have
come here. Some arrangements have actually
been made 10 transfer the trade in Coffee to those
ports. This.is, however, but one commodity CT
which we have the sale. There are numerous
others that we have been accustomed TO sup
ply which will hereafter be imported direct
to the South to our serious injury French silks,
English goods, and German wares, are all taxed at
the South, if passed through this or any other
city not forming portion of the Southern Con-
federacy. This tax, no matter how small it may
be, is sufficient TO divert our commerce into more
Southern channels, and consequently to affect, to
an incaculable extent, our trade and industry.
Nor can we expect that peace will remedy this
evil. Southern Statesmen have for years opposed
protective tariff, but not q revenue tariff The
South will continue to have tariff with revenue
as the principal, and protection the incidental oh
ject in view. There are interests which will re-
quire this moderate protection Louisiana will
need it for her sugars, and if it be found that
Georgia, who has already made rapid strides in
her manufacturing industry, needs some protection
to them, that protection, if Maryland also were a
member of the Southern Confederacy, would be
still more beneficial to her manufacturers and me
chanics. The smallest advantage over the North
in this respect would be sufficient to enable us TO
command the Southern market in regard to many
of the most important articles of American manu-
f3cture