The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-23

Fort Sumter by the South Carolina revout onists
was daily expected, and comment upon the Cover
nors invitation was unnecessary. Now that tae
authorities of that State seem to have abandoned
their intention OF assailing the only remaining fort
of the United States in their harbor, it may notSbe
amiss to devote few moments to the very extra
ordinary appeal made by Governor Pickens to our
mercantile GLASS. 1t il the interest of the ship
owners and merchants Of the North to establish
and maintain commercial relations with every part
OF the world 1t is especially their interest
to maintain such relations with States. like
South Carolina, which produce cotton, rice,
accommodates largely dealt in here-aad
which consume dry goods and general
merchandise such as we have for sale.
If, therefore, obstacles lay in the way Of trade
between New York and Charleston, our ship
owners and merchants would need no invitation
from the Governor to send vessels to Charleston.
But the fact is that there are obstacles, and very
grave ones, in the way of any such trade and
until they are removed it will be vain for Charles
ton to expect trading vessels either from the
Northern States or from any other country. In
the first place, the harbor Of Charleston-a bad
one at best-has been rendered peculiarly dan
gerous by the removal Of the buoys and the extin-
guishment OF the usual lights. The steamship
Aarion-a regular liner between New York and
Charleston, piloted by the most experienced pilot
ON the coast-ran aground on her last trip and
steamer belonging to the Statethe only vessel she
met-positively refused to render her any assist
ance. The chances are ninety to one that
sailing craft ia the position Of the Marion would
have been lost. Since then, we learn that two or
three sailing vessels have been sunk in the chan
mel leading to the port Of Charleston, so. as to
block it ehectually. Every one who knows
Charleston harbor is aware that the Ashley and
Cooper rivers carry down to the sea quantity of
vegetable matter, earth and sand. which is de-
posted at the first point Of resistance, forming
bar or shoal. 1t may be safely assumed that the
sunken vessels already embedded in a new
bar, and that the channel is absolutely closed.
How did Governor Pckens expect vessels from
outside to get over this difficulty? Did he wish to
see them wrecked on the Pickens bar, But If
none Of these obstacles existed, and there were
no ri * of the gunners on Morris Island mstaking
trading craft for vessels bearing food and coal to
the beleaguered garrison at Fort Sumter, fatal
objection to trade would still exist in the fact that
there il no United States Collector at Charleston.
Mr.. Cocock. the last Collector, was dismissed
some weeks since. Mr.. Mcintyre, his successor
has not yet been confirmed, and is probably at his
residence at York. Pennsylvania. How could a
vessel sailing to Charleston enter regularly at that
port? To whom could she pay duties any du-
table goods she might have on board, From
whom could she obtain clearance when she
sailed, What guarantee would her captain have
that on sailing she would not be seized by the
United States for smuggling, or by any stray
IL
No prudent shipowner would run these risks for
the sake Of prospective profit on voyage to
Charleston; and, until Governor Pickens can salts
fly shipowners and merchants that South Carolina
clearances will be recognized by all mercantile
tons, and that the United States will suffer
goods to be entered at Charleston without
payment of duty to some United States
official his invitations are not likely to be
accepted. The only trade between Charleston
and the outside world il now carried on
in the four steamers owned by Messrs Spofford
& Tieston, of this city, and their associates.
These gentlemen wish to have it understood that
they are running their vessels at loss, from
philanthropic repugnance to throw gu. of employ
mcntthe two hundred men to whom they furnish
work. Such acts of selfdcnal. in this merccnary
age, call for general applause; it must be crafty
ing to the owners Of the Charleston steamers to
know that their self.sacrifcing iberaty il appre-
cated highly here it is by the shippers Of the
cotton, rice, &C., which they are bringing from
Charleston. II may be questioned, however,
whether these gentlemen should be suffered to go
on running themselves as they say they doing,
for the sake Of the two hundred men they employ,
when the stoppagc Of the Charleston line might
yield decided political benefits at the present time.
1t is always ungracious to chill the generous inn
pulses Of warm hearts; but if the Charleston peo-
pie will not permit us to send coal and food to
Major Anderson, should we suffer these steamers
to carry supplies to thems
We understand that Mr.. Baylor. an agent Of the
Southern planters Of Georgia. South Carolina,
Alabama and Mississippi. is In town cndeavoring
to make arrangements for the movement Of the
cotton crop. Ii seems that the recent political dis.
turbances at the South have disarranged all the
machinery Of trade; the planters have sent Mr..
Baylor to New York to cndeavor to induce our
bankers to make the advances which they used to
make in former times. As il, the planters can
not get dollar advance on their cotton or even
insure it. and their needs are urgent in the ex-
IRENE.
The following il NELL Brothers statement of the
lst September last, compared with the five pre-.
ceding years.
--Reoofss -, Exports for Pds weet--
H Tss s,s9 s s"Ss rs r. =, I, S Ss,,,
1856. 81 600 SIT 900 $4,000 I5Oo0 10 600