Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-30

%HAAAA1 49, $500
ports Of the people is to be made up by the sup
plies purchased abroad for the Government. The
Treasury viii need all the money for the war.
and the troops viii eat all the surplus food.
The contradictions in each of these extremes
are easily seen, but il would take too much space
to expose them in detail. In the one case IL may
be remnrked that if we import nothing but gold.
the importing trade, at least. will not be very
prosperous; and that it is certain we can not do
without many articles of foreign production and
manufacture. Also, that the constant supply in
food and clothing of over half a million nos pro-
ducers, with the accompanying waste, will tax
productive industry severely, and. Of course,
mercantile business must bear its proportion OF
this burden. In the other case, and as opposed
to the other extremes. it is evident that the great
falling off in the demand for luxuries, and espe-
cially for extravasancies in dress and adornment
having no necessary connection with bodily com
fort, must effect an important saving in per-
sonal living, and therefore diminish in u
large ratio the cost Of national sup
port. The purchase of government supplies
abroad is an important item, it is true, but
does not bear as heavily upon the amount to be
imported, as it does upon the interests of nome
manufactures. There will be developments in
this connection not at all creditable to parties who
have advised the Government to undertake these
importations. We have never favored what is
called protection to home industry, i. e. tax
ing the whole nation for the benefit Of a few pro-
ducers; bat we have favored the encouragement
of domestic manufacturers by giving them raw
materials tariff free. and allowing a revenue tax
upon imports to make up for the difference be
tween the cost OF labor here and abroad. But
these advisers of the Government have now turn
ed the scale, as we understand, the other way.
To prevent any undue advantage being taken by
native manufacturers of blankets, aannels. &C.,
they have sent agents out to Europe to purchase
a partial supply of these necessaries abroad.
Even here, however, our producers need not be
alarmed. The agents sent, as far as We know
them. are not likely to spoil the hose market by
any cheap purchases in Europe. Not only are
they grossly ignorant of the fabrics they are to
order, but the machinery through which the
movement is effected is such rs to render a cheap
purchase impossible. The transactions. however,
to which we especially object is the contracting
for made garments. not only the kerseys but the
clothes themselves to be of foreign manufacture,
with the stipulation that the supplies shall come
in duty free. or the amount of revenue paid shall
be added to the contract price. Ii this is true, it
is a style of protection" to native industry for
which those who have undertaken it should draw
out a patent ut once.
However impolitic this system of purchasing
may be, the aggregate Of such supplies as ON
pared with the whole volume of trade must be
inconsiderable and need excite no alarm. To come
down to plain figures, we find that the import and
export account of the country carried OH outside
of New York is nearly even. Massachusetts,
has imported a little more than her exports, but
the difference is not large. and is nearly ON
pensated for by the gain in exports ut other
points. The balance OF trade is therefore
to be decided at New York. Few persons
not accustomed to examine the figures. are fully
aware of the change which has taken place there
the current year. In 1860 there was imported at
that port Sl03,927 100 of dry goods, sl25 ,4Sl,-
| OOO VI EtlcIdl luciCuhiuulSct dHu SO,CO~tJoO III
specie; while we exported hence to foreign ports
Sl03, 492 $50 in produce and merchandise, and
$40. l9l Ill in specie. In other words. there was
brought in then, besides specie, two hundred and
thirty million dollars imports, and sent out only
one hundred and three millions in return. This
year the imports and exports, exclusive of specie,
have been meek and neck" On the 18th inst.
these two totals stood Mt almost exactly
the same figures, the total of each being a frac-
ton over one hundred and one million dollars.
Up to the 18th inst, the total exports since JAN
uary LIST were a little ahead, and had reached the
,chOLe amount (say one hundred and three mil
lions) shipped for the twelve months of 1860;
while the imports we're only one hundred and two
millions, or a falling off from the total for the
same time last year of ninety million dollarsl
The specie movement is also reversed, for instead
of one million imported and forty millions ex-
ported, as mt this date last year, there was over
thirty six millions imported and only three mil
lions exported since the beginning of the year
The total exports are now rapidly gaining on the
imports; since October LIST there was imported but
tour and Il half millions at this por:, and export
ed seven and a half millions, and that ratio may
continue for some time to come. We see it
stated in several of the papers that four million
bushels of grain are now aioat on the canals
bound for New York. This amount should be
doubled. Since the first instant, over six mil
lions wheat and FIVE millions corn, together about
twelve million bushels grain, cleared from Buff
Z 4 - 49, = ~.
of which have reached their destination. There
are nearly FIVE million bushels of corn now held
in New York and but little wheat. but all will be
needed. With the supplies there and Cd the way.
and with more still following actively and fair
prices my be expected in the sea board markets
to the close of the year, and there need be but
little fear that the balance of trade will he against
the country. The only difficulty in the way Of
western producers obtaining fair prices for agri
cultural products, is the limited means OF trans
~portation eastward. The increased rates of
freight owing to this cause will cut down the
profit of the farmer. but at the same time other
sources of industry will reap the reward.
Another Outside Pressure.
We commend to the attention of the quill and
steel pen warriors the following sentence from a
Washington letter:
A General like Mcclellan man who has