Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-10-03
[B'T REQUEsT.]
export Of Cotton.

To the Editors of the Charleston Courier:
The object OF " a Citizen was-frst to ascertain
the fact il regard to the rImor that export of Cot
toD on Individual account from the port Of Charleston
really intended aud, secondly, to direct public at
tent5on to the fact, if it found to exist
The reply of " Mercator," in The MERCURY of the
Esd IS as apprehend. an admission that such in-
tention does exist and if the communication of Mer-
Gator does not arrest public attention, nothing will
The object of "A Citizen has thus been accomplished
and reply is perhaps superfous bat the positions of
"Nercator" extraordinary that "a Citizen can
not refrain from a word or two of comment.
Mercator " asks when, and by whom was it settled
the policy of the Confederate States to export not
one bale OF Cotton until our ports were opened ?"
first, the policy is settled by the existence of
the war; that to send to the Enemy neither Cot
ton, anything else Who be sure that the export
Of Cotton begun, portion at least will not find its
way to the Enemy? If Mercators policy is adopted,
we are to encourage Cotton shipments the more the
better. Can any one doubt that New England would
get her share well as Old England The New York
Herald informs that brisk trade has been going on
between Nova Scotia and our QuGndam brothers. in
Naval Stores, shipped from North Carolina. And we
know that Cotton has been imported from Liverpool in
to New ork Ii the export of Cotton is tolerated,
what is to hinder that it should be sent to Liverpool on
individual speculation fM KS Uerp pun pose If such
an object were known Lncolns feet instead of proving
an mpediL1ent, would encourage the enterprise.
"Mercator," [ think, quite mistakes the policy of
Great Britain from her supply of cotton. This Incl
dent OF the blockade is no more object sought than
the other incident of the blockade namely: the cutting
off the supply of his own people 1t was to cut of
OUR supplies that the blockade was instituted and
provided this can be accomplished Lincoln would be
well pleased to accommodate Great Britain and his own
people by allowing our whole crop to pass out
But "when and by whom" asks "Mercator,' was our
policy settled"
We answer secondly, that the Congress of the Con
federae States has forbidden cotton to be removed
from any OF the Confederate States except through then
seaports This enactment was reply to the blockade
It meant that Lincoln had himself closed the seapors
| the Confederate States would prevent the export O
cotton altogether, by themselves cutting off all ohe,
means of export. Thus, | conceive, the policy O
transportation has been settled by Congress itself
Congress may perhaps, have desisted from Legislative
action, to the ports, to avoid interfering with
exceptional cases. such might arise from disregard
the blockade by foreign vessels. If, for instance,
British vessel which has already introduced supplies
should desire return freight of Cotton my opinion
| il might, under certain restriction, be permitted. Will
this limit etOn that the vessel asking the cargo shonC
first have run the blockade, and have brought cargo
from abroad equal IN Uatte to the Cotton asked for, AM
possible abuse of the special privilege could scarcely
exceed in injury, the benefit of the Importation Tn
design of the legislation of the Confederate States ha
been AMY to withhold Cotton from those who want
ed it, so long they withheld from supplies which
we wanted.
| But in reply TO Mercator's" inquiries, {" how ant
when the policy was settled 2? would, lastly, refer t.
The expression of public opinion in the South, presented
in various and manifold ways. What the CIRCULAR
addressed to the Planters of the South by the Factor
and Commission Merchants of New Orleans, Mobile
/ Savannah aud Charleston -? The circular issued by th
Factors of Charleston" contains the following para
graphs, to wit 1t has been suggested that foreig
Governments might interest themselves sufficiently t
induce the United States Government to relieve th
blockade at of the Southern ports only to pei
NIT the export of Cotton from that port. We kno1
/ that the Planters of the Confederate States haV
patriotism and love of the common cause too near
heart to permit their Cottono be exported under sue
circumstances"