Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-05
THE TOBACCO TRADE.

THE TOBACCO TRADE.
To the Editor Of the Wing:
The State of Virginia being largely interested in the
growth and manufacture OF Tobacco, which forms one
OF the principal articles of export from this country
may not be Inappropriate, at this me when, through
YOUR Convention you discussing the future policy
and position of your State to lay before your readers
few facts bearing upon so important an interest
From the statistics Of the Government it appears that
in 1859 the products of the country exported to foreign
parts valued at in round numbers s2i5 900 OOO
The casifcatoRs and amounts of those products were
as follows Of the Sea- 81 100000. of the Forest, Sl4
400 900, of Agriculture, siO,4O0OOO OF Tobacco S24,-
400 0OO and of Cotton s6l 100000 showing the rela-
tive Importance of tobacco, which is mostly the growth
of slaveholdng States in the exports of the country
Besides the large quantity OF POI 900 900 pounds which
produced in Europe the annual Importation into Europe
is 100000 pounds, OF which l4SOOOOOO pounds are
derived from the United States Upon this Importation
by far the largest portion of which is obtained from us
and the home valuation of which, has been shown, is
s24 100000, England derives annual revenue OF
SIG 267 900, France annual income OF s2i,OOO,OOO
auI the aggregate annual revenue derived from this
source by the various European governments reaches
the enormous of $40 sos 900. Notwithstanding this
excessive taxation, the consumption has increased and
it is obvious the duties reduced in foreign coun'
tries the increase of consumption would be in proper
tionate degree.
The efforts of our Government hitherto to obtain
reduction of duties levied by foreign States upon our to-
bacco, have been by means commensurate with the
Importance of such a result TO home planting and
manufacturing interest In full possession of treaty
making power, our Government has signaly failed to
exact in behalf of this product fair reciprocity and
the tobacco interest still struggles along with its national
expansion impeded by the weight Of a most extraordi-
nary and illiberal, not to say unjust, taxation.
While the tobacco planters aud manufacturers of Vr-
GINA aud other Southern States have been neglected by
tba it's i'm
every way to assist and build up the manufacturers of
the North To this end Virginia and the other tobacco
growing States have been compelled freely to contribute,
through the action of protective tariffs, by paying higher
prices for goods of which they stood in need the benefits
of which have be poured into the pockets Of the North
and have been the MEANS in small degree, OF creating
the very power which is turned against those who
have been made its tributaries Had this large tobacco
interest been located in Massachusetts, instead of Virginia.
their people would have ceased their camors until
their tobacco had been admitted into foreign countries
upon terms more nearly reciprocal.
Throughout the Western portion Of our country the
manufacturing of tobacco is rapidly increasing, and
Canada With an abundance of fugitive negroes brought
up in the factories of Virginia. is also fast progr sang
in the industry, and the time is not far of when
both of these sections will supply their home demand
from their own manufacturing resources The operation
of the relative duties imposed upon leaf and manu-
featured tobacco in the Confederate States will necessa
riY be to stimulate manufacturing in those States and
still further affect inurousy the interest of Virginia
4 due regard for their welfare should arouse the
manufacturers and planters Of your State to the mpor-
lance of preparing markets for an extended con-
sumption of tobacco abroad before the old markets fail
them aud the immense fields for this extension which
would be opened by proper policy on the part OF the
Government would before many years, absorb readily
the maximum crop which Virginia is capable OF producing
The exuortation of manufactured Tobacco has increas
ed from 81 300 OOO in 1856 SO 1872 900 in 1860 and
6 oh MD i w
portant production is left uncared for by our Govern
ment it is plain that reduction Of duties abroad would
operate most favorably and lead in few years to de-
mand of the extent Of which your planters and manuc
turers have no adequate idea.
OF 60 to $1,000 hhds which about the average crop
of Virginia. nearly 40 600 hhds required for the
purposes of the manufacturer and it readily be seen
that the quantity exported in manufactured state
forms only small part of the entire quantity manuac
tured That this large interest should suffer severely
at this time, from the spasnodc action to which trade
is subec. in this country producing runous crisis Pc
rioi;caly is not to be wondered when the almost
tire dependence upon home consumption is consid-
ered but increase the consumption abroad and the man
uacurer will longer experience this trouble TO the
same extent for, while market may be depressed it
hardly be expected that the depression will ever be
general.
Already the manufactured tobacco Of Virginia has
been introduced into every known country of the world
but its extensive in those countries is prevent
ed, has been shown, by the enormous taxatien to
which it subjected. IT. in the past, the tobacco inter-
est has been neglected by Government, what be
expected of the present Administration the
meut of which is signalzed by increased tariff upon
foreign goods With what prospect of We
ask England France reduce their excessive impost
upon this article Of production, while, at the very
time we are increasing the duties levied by upon
tclcs produced by them? As long as connected
with the North aud compelled foster their interests
the neglect aud at the expense Of our ownas long
we are associated in body polite with that section Of
he country which only hope to compete with the
low labor system OF Europe, by The help OF protective
tariff can we expect that this paramount interest Of Vr
be made the scape goat? On the other hand place Vir
GINA in Coniederacy which be sustained by max
mpost of 10 per cent on the goods of France Eng
land aud other countries and with some degree OF pro-
prety ask in return for our own liberal policy
a corresponding liberaly.
The power and Influence OF cotton is well understood
and appreciated if Cotton is King, Tobacco Premier
and the prime object of this communication is TO call
the attention OF your people to this power which
they unconscious OF possessing. Upon what other
article of commerce could such duties be levied as
to supply European governments $7GOO0O00 of their
revenue and how would France and England view any
policy on the part of the North which would deprive
their treasures of this fertile Of supply? Unite
the Cotton and the Tobacco interest and would those
countries-coud they see our Cotton and Tobacco
helds pOugneu Dy cannon merely 10
selfish and Overbearng policy of the North?
The popular mind of the Sonth is reaching that
point which the comprehensive intelligence OF Calhoun
arrived at years ago and it not strange that looking
beyond the hackueyed negro questonw should discover
that the union Of the South with the North has failed to
be of equal benefits to both sections. The South has
been made the tributary of the North and while the
sources of the latter have been actively developed those
of the South have been permitted to lie Dormant
have been made subservient to the cupidity of our
Northern allies The North has pocketed the benefits
of the Government while the South has kindly been per-
med aud is still expected TO adore the symbols of the
Government the Star Spang banner and the glorious
Eagle.
While we are asking ourselves the question whether
this Government does best promote prosperity and
happiness as a people, the Northern pocket feels the
pang and the Northern press cries out treason, and
holds up to our renewed alteration and reverence the
symbols OF Government which no longer accomplshes
the object for which all Governments, according
bill of rights brought into existence But the gov
eminent has ceased exist-not by the action Of Vr
gina but by the separation of seven States from the
Conederacy and the nterSat ereations being changed
by this act the question is not OF preserving that
which has ceased TO exist, but one OF reconstruction
the formation in part, OF nationality How this
can be accomplished as best to promote the happi-
ness and material interest of the people is the question
which your Convention is called upon TO answer
In the solution of this problem, let not Virginia forget
that Cotton is King and Tobacco is Premier. ID.
BALTIMORE, March goth. 1861.
LATER FROM HAYTI.-Protest against Spanish Us,r-
paion-The attempt of Spain to seize St. Domingo
cites the lveest interest in Hay graudioquent
4 n,a,, ~, H.