Newbern weekly progress., 1862-11-08
Smuggling.

Some explanation may be aiserded Of recent
speculative movements in tobacco, by the lac
that this Southern staple has, OF late, entered
largely into the contiaband tade with tht
North, as an article Of exchange. tits known
that smugglers of goods across tho Potomac
have recently found it to their interest, ON ac
count Of the advanced prices Of coin, TO make
their returns in the shape of manufactured to-
bacco, which can be stored in small conpasses
as in trunks and boyes, for ready and convcn-
lent transportation across tie border
1t has also been ascertained, withing few
days past, that much of the tobacco purchased
in the Richmond market has been forwarded to
Fredericksburg for storage; the real design Of
this removal being to anticipate the recapture
Of that place by the Yankee forces, in which
event the tobacco would find ready market
at the hands of Northern spectators. This
device of contraband traffic with the ENEMY is
SO notorious, and to little disguised, that 1t
must have been perceived by our authorities,
unless they have chosen to wink al it.
1t is time that this vile con!raband trade with
the enemy, which serves no other object than
private avarice, and is doing an incalculablc
injury to the public interest, should be chokcd
and put out OF existence in the most summary
manner by this Government. There is silly
opinion that the smugglcrs are doing a public
service in supplying US with valuable goods
which, by other means we should not get
This but q poor excuse under any circlm'
stances, fora trade which is Illicit and d'shon.
oriDg, according to the common doctrines of
international law, and was expressly forbidden
by an act Of our Provisional Congress at
Montgomery.
The excuse, too, has nothing to sustain it
in point Of fact. Beyond the single article OF
medicines, these smugglers bring into the
South in return for our coin scarcely anything
more than small articles Of luxury, such as
silks, hoop skirts, jewrlry, and other expcn
siye Yankee "notons," all Of which we
might well dispence with. Indeed, At is our
policy to discourage the consumption Of these
luxuries by our people. A happy and Leauti
lul effect Of this war should be TO discard
frivolity from the mind OF our women; to
make them think less of silk dresses, hoop
skirts and other finery IN the lots Of Yankee
importations with which smugglcrs and extor-
TONERS tempt them. We can do without the,
little and Himsy luxurics the smugglers bring
us; it will be u healthy self denial; and the
sooner our whole people, men and women,
learn not to barter away self respect and pub
lie interest for Yankee wares in the shops of
Southern extortioners, the better it will be for
the cause ard honor of our country.
The bad effects Of this contraband traffic
compared with its small. and more than doubt
full advantages are plainly overwhelming 1t
has done more TO undermine our currency
than anything else; it brings US into demora
lizing intercourse with the enemy; it intro
duces into our country, men nho are either
spies or vultures; it plays into the hands of
extortioncfs; cultivates habits Of private ex
travagancc; represses the development Of our
own domestic resources, BY taking away the
necessity TO employ them; and, in return for
all these, gives us some trash for our fashion
able dry goods stores and ladies' bazaars.
Richmond Examiner Oct. 81.