Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-04-12
Finance and Business.

AViN W SF@ue pay uIShI w N"'''Si ~
making their importations through the
ports of the Cotton States, and gave
some reasons to show the fallacy and the
certain failure of all such schemes
There has been q great deal of talk, pro
and con, in business circles this week
upon the same subject, and the general
opinion seems to coincide with our own.
1t is understood that the Collector Of
our port has given orders to keep a
strict watch upon all vessels from South
ern ports, and that all articles of foreign
merchandise thus introduced will be re-
ported. Should any merchandise be
discovered which has not paid duty to
the United States, we have no doubt
that the question of liability to pay will
at once be put in the way of settlement,
and it will be wise on the part of our
merchants doing business with the ports
of the Cotton States, to advise their cor
respondents to accompany shipments of
foreign merchandise with proper evidence
that the duties have been SO paid. It
viii also be wise on the part Of the ship
masters taking such goods on freight to
see that such evidence is obtained. 1t
will hardly do for them TO swear, as they
are obliged to, that the duties have been
paid according to the best of their knowl-
edge and belief, and expect to 60 clear
on the ground that they have 10 knowl-
edge nor belief about it, because they
did not choose to ask question.
But the newest "wrinkle of the time
is the protest made by some Of our lead
ing merchants against paying any duties,
because, they say, the Constitution pro-
vides that sail duties, imposts, and ex-
ciscs shall be uniform throughout the
United States" and "no preference shall
be given by any regulation Of commerce
or revenue to the ports of one State over
another" and therefore, inasmuch as the
government is at the moment prevented
by force from collecting the revenue in
certain Southern ports, so il is restrained
by law from collecting it in all other
ports. We would not advise our friends
to invest a great deal in these protests,
or in the legal opinions, if such have
been given, upon which they are based {,
we predict that it will turn out to be so
much money lost. We do not pretend to
much knowledge of law, bat it seems
hardly compatible with common sense
that violence, fraud, and theft Id New
Orleans can release men from their obi
cations in Boston. And if such a curl
GUS decision is ever arrived at by our
courts, they may, quite as logically, 60 a
step farther and say that inasmuch as the
consumers paid the duties, and not the
importers, who are mere agents between
the manufacturers and consumers, so the
latter must have the benefit of the refund
when il is made
The great financial feature of the week
is the federal loan. We are glad to per-
ceiye that the Secretary of the Treasury
has rejected such a large portion Of the
bids. There may be times when, to
bridge over soft spot, governments, as
well as individuals, are obliged TO submit
10 any terms money holders choose TO
dictate; but a government, or an indiyid-
ual, of undoubted ability, should never
submit to such dctation a moment longer
than absolute necessity requires; and as
no such necessity now exists, it is very
wise move on the part of Mr.. Chase to
let the public know that he is aware Of
that fact. Under such management the
stock Of tb@ United States will soon reach
par, at least.
Our own money market is quiet and
easy, without any feature worthy of note
or comment. The indications all favor
an abundance of money and low rates
of interest for months to come.
The present attitude Of the Cotton
States favors railroad transportation, and
before the existing difficulties are adjust
ed, the business heretofore done through
New Orleans from the West will have
found other outlets, which will render the
navigation of the Mississippi a matter Of
minor importance. Even cotton is find
ing its way North on cheaper terms than
by way of New Orleans. The Buffalo
Republican has the following interesting
item in reference to the movement:
For The last three days there has been
sent east from Buffalo to Boston, on an
average, twenty car loads Of cotton per
day, or eighteen thousand bales in that
time, and still it comes Thirty bales,
or about seven tons and half weight,
is readily put in each car. This is The
compressed cotton, as formerly about