Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-07-28

onerous as to render it impossible the continuance of
the business The regulation manned unchanged, for
was satisfied from examination OF the subject that
this complaint untounded, and that the Withdraw
al of the vessels was an experiment, by combination
among their owners, the ftmness Of the Govern-
ment. Tue result proved the correctness Of this view
Tor after various attempts to obtain increased advan
ages the vessels resumed their voyages their numbers
has been largely Increased the ability to export produce
and import supplies on Government account has been
developed to greater ext Mt than had been anticipated
and the credit of the Government has been SO improved
In foreign markets that the quotations for It's loan nave
rapidly advanced.
1t is proper here to observe that among the efforts
made to induce change of the regulations was
ing given Cfices of the Government that the own
ers of vessels could make better bargains with Cover
of States than with the Confederate Government,
and that 1t the regulations were not relaxed in their
favor they would transfer their vessels the Executives
of the several States and thus withdraw them from the
operation Of the regulations.
Rever;ing to the terms OF the act of 9th February
1864 it is to be observed that by the 5h section it
provided that nobing in the act shall be construed
prohibit the Confederate States any of them from
exporting any Of toe articles herein enumerated their
own account Holding in view this expression of the
legislative WILL the regulations authorized by the Law
were framed, and ate now in force based substantially
on the following policy
ls That every vessel owned by private persons shall
be consdre every voyage chartered to the Con-
federate Government for onahaf Of her tonnage, out
| verbs ard inwaEds.
I'd That all private owners of cargo exported from
the CoDeieracy shall bring in return supplies equal to
| one half OF the proceeds ri their exported cargo
Sd. That the several States shall remain at liberty
charter the other hat of each vessel and shall be free
to carry bring bsck cargo that half without
| being subject to the regulations
1t will De perceived that the policy of these regua
tons placed tie several States equal footing with
the Confederate Government so far as is possible, the
only difference being that while the ConfedeTacy i'm
| EnIf
own favor it has authority to do for the States
than leave the other halt subject TO their use by char
ter obtained h7 consent of tie owners.
When these regulations excepted by the owners
of vessels they emounted in substance to agreement
on their part half of their tonnage to the
Confederacy every voyage at the rate stipulated in
the regulations.
Now the bill which return TO the House .nlkes
three provisions:
Frst-That cargo shipped by the States shall not
be subject to the regulations aud to this there be
no objection. 1t merely rel rms the law it stands
Second-That Uessels owned by any State, and EN-
ployed tor the exclusive OF the State, shall net be
subject to the regulations; and to this objection il
made, it places vessels owned by any State The
same footing vessels owned by the Contedera'
Icy.
1hird-That vessels chartered By any State for is
exclusive shall not be sui ct to the regulations
and this is The provision to which objection made
because it is liable to construction which would
thorze the States instead Of charterng from the
OF vessels in the trade ouy that half which remains
at their disposal under the regulations and thus preser
wing equality with the Confederate Government 10 THU
matter to charter thu entire tonnage of the vessels thus
depriving the Conederacy of a at its dis
p)sal, and without which very serious barrassmen
to the public service would eusue. When it is remem-
bered that the number of private vessels the scrvc
is limited, that the profs of exporting produce
very large, that tie temptation to engage the bust
ness will be great, it is easy tG perceive how grave
might become The consequences of sanctoning system
under which the several States AID the Confederate
Government would be competitors for contracts with
the owners of vessels engaged in this commerce. anc
how mmneLt the risk that the Conederacy would be
deprived o. this Indispensable of carrying the
war.
trust therefore, that the House will concur in the
opinion that the words or chartered should be
ricken of the closing sentence of the bill, that
clause should be added providing that ing il this
law shall be construed to affect the right OF the
Confederate States, under existing regulations, to the
one-he OF the tonnage of vessel engaged 10
The trade except such Owned exclusively BY q
State"
| (S:gned) JEFFERSON DAv1s.
| Richmond, Va, Jane 10 1864