Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-07-01

We have examined with much inter
est an able paper carefully prepared by
an anonymous writer, who is evidently
familiar with the manufacturing inter-
ests of the country. Its purpose is to
show the deleterious effects Of the pres
ent permit system Of the Treasury
Department. Its figures and estimates
seem to justify its conclusions that this
system has been an aid to rebels in three
ways:
1st., By compelling enormous quanti-
ties of cotton TO seek market through
the aid of blockade runners.
ID, By corrupting our officers and
agents, and leading them to connive at
illicit operations.
3D., By depreciating our currency,
first for want of cotton to manufacture,
BY which the manufacture and the inn
port of foreign fabrics might have been
largely reduced; and second, for want Of
any portion of our usual supply of cot
ton for export.
The writer shows by facts that cannot
be controverted that more cotton was
run the blockade in 1868 than the year
previous, and that during that year $780,
600 bales were available in England for
the Confederate government and its
allies. He goes on to demonstrate that
the rebels have realized in gold from this
quantity of cotton S26, 100000. That
officers and agents Of the government
are not only liable to be but have been
and still are corrupted is too true. In
this respect we regard the permit trade
as most damaging to our cause. 1t is
subject to the greatest outrages, creating
an army of favorites and ill will and dis
satisfaction among those who do not
obtain permits.
The only difficulty which seems to
meet us in urging free trade system
with the South is the return trade and
supplies The question may be serious
ly asked, ''if we permit cotton to be
brought within our lines and sold, will
not the rebellion be materially aided in
and carried beyond our lines? If this
be true, then we say stop all commercial
intercourse with the people beyond our
lines. Don't sustain system OF trade
that all classes and all people cannot
engage in. We believe that the permit
trade might and should be abolished
with benefit to our country and we also
believe that safe rules and regulations
might govern the return trade.
Suppose we prohibit all intercourse
with the people OF the rebel States-it
is clear that their cotton must and will
find an outlet, and that outlet through
coast blockade runners. Think you
they will obtain no supplies in return
If they do not get return supplies, they
will receive British gold, about which
Democrats entertain such q holy horror.
Wherein, then, do we better our own
or weaken the rebel cause? BY open
ing free trade in cotton we will open a
field for enormous profits-so that the
rascals who now seek to evade all the
regulations, will find it to their interest
to see that the rules governing the re-
turn trade are observed, in order that
they may be safe in carrying on the
"in trade" So, too, there would be no
necessity to bride officers and agents,
and they would the more vigilantly see
that the regulations relative to the re-
turn trade were faithfully observed.
We believe with the author of this
paper that the depredations of most of
the guerrillas would decrease, for the
reason that theyare set Of desperadoes,
who, in the absence of some other way
to make money, have adopted the pi-
rates life. Open free trade for cotton,
and they will prove among the most eff
ficient agents to bring it to our market.
How they will obtain it, is not our look
out. They are determined on stealing,
and we don't know but we would as
soon they steal cotton as horses.
That large quantities Of cotton are
now secreted in Tennessee, Arkansas,
Mississippi and the Red River country,
no man can doubt. Will it aid our
cause in securing it? No ono upon re-
Election can doubt it. How, then, can
1t be best secured? We reply, with
free trade for its purchase, but stringent
regulations over the return trade. If
this cannot be done, let there be no
commercial intercourse with the South.
Let them take their chances and run
the blockade. We prefer the other al
tentative, believing it the best for our
country.