, 1863-07-18
Trade with the Kn%urrecfIonnry
States.

Trade with The Ku%urrecflonnr'y
States
Tie Missouri Democrat Of Thursday last
eontains the following letter from Secretary
Chasc, IN reference to petition of the St.
Louis merchants. The letter explains the
character Of the petition:
TREAsuTr DEPARTMENT, July s, 1853.
eR:-Your letter Of the 18th of June, to
gc.hcr with the memorials Of the Union Mcr
chspts' Exchange Of the city Of St. Ionfs, and
Of many respected merchants md ulanufactu-
xcss Of that city, have received that attention
which was due both to the personal and rep
resentatiyc character oft slgners.
I~@s source Of qualification to me that
III respect to the semf-month1y sales Of aban-
doned or captured cotton at st. Louis, had
been anticipated by the Immediate counter
1pana, 80 soon Us tho Intelligence Of them
reached me, Of all orders contemplating
transfer OF those eales to Cincinnati. The f4ct
business men ut St. Louis had been comm.
nicated to me In any form, will be received, I
trust, as sufficiently clear proof that no Inter
est in st. Louis, which can be ut all affected
by my action, will ever be willingly affected
Otherwise than beneticlally.
The other subject presented by the memo.
1ia1s, namely. the regulation OF trade with in
1upplies could easily be forwarded to tho in
suTgente, is one Of more difficulty. The plan
Of Intercourse proposed BY tho signcrs is Ger.
tainly entitled to great consideration, aud I
maye been much Impressed by the force Of
the arguments urged in support Of it. The
proposition, in substance, is thar the chip
mcnt Of all articles not absolutely prohibited,
should be freely allowed, and that tho super
vision necessary to prevent supplies to the
rebels, should be exercised at tho place
- aaff frG nT ha MIA rf
This plan would be moro convenient in
some respects to ehippers, and probably
much mora convenient to the ofilcefa Of tho
Government, than that now followed, but I
am not satisfied that the great object Of all
regulation, which is to prevent illegal iatef.
furnishing Of supplies to the rebel enemies
Of The Union, would be rs certainly accom-
plished.
Being extremely deeirous that the eSccu-
ton Of the law shall bear as lightly as poasl~
| ble on Legitimate business, I hare forwarded
| 7Tislpg special agent for the first agency,
| which includes the Mississippi Valley above
! Vicksbu1g, with instructions to give the plan
| and Suggestions Of the memorials . fair and
thorough h examination, and, inter full con.
ference with them, to report to mo what
the existing regulations, With View to meet.
ipg their wishes, Is far Us practicable without
det1iment to the public interests.
| Permit me to add that recent events seem
TO Justify the hope that tho rebellion mag
soon be entirely suppressed west Of the Mis-
| slssIppf> and that commercial Intercourse, uu.
restricted by any regulations made necessary
by insur7ection, may be speedily established
throughout that region, from the Missouri to
| the Gulf
| The loyal merchants, manufacturers and
business men and people Of st. Louis have en-
| titled themselves to the admiration and graft
tuae of the whole country, by the inyinclble
courage and determination with which thcJ
have maintained the adhesion Of their glori
ous city to Liberty and the Union. con
graduate them on the downfall Of the rebe
Stronghold, which opens to them the pleas
ing prospect Of eaely deliyeranee from all
commercial embarrassments and Of the res
tor:ation Of that remarkable prosperity whict
has attracted towards st. Louis the wonder o
men. Yours rery truly.