Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-02

the suggestion for the consideration of those who
| direct affairs The attitud. If suppliant has
gained US nothing. Perhaps b2l1"r conduct ght
avail something.
n He fact that the general laws ~h are supposed
| Il 10 govern the industry and Il dc ola country
are ifno in allegiance, at least subject to certain dis
turbing influences during state Of war, is no
where hotter illustrated than by the arguments
urged by the President in defence OF the restrictive
legislation adopted at the last session OF Congress-.
Without attempting 10 aualyze these disturbing in-
fueuccs, il may be- sufficient To state that whereas
during peace the simple Development Of industry
and OF trade is considered Of primary Importance,
and is secured by the application of certain we'll
known principles OF political economy, during war; on
the contrary OF, at least, such war that in which
We are engGed the object to which all others must
bend, is the preservation and independence OF the
country The President well expresses the point
| when no says, in his recent message to Congress :
In word. the two acts were an exercise OF power
10 regulate As to make It subserVient To
The success Of struggle, by prohibiting the impor
tatiOn or expectation OF merchandise cr produce
Tor any other purpose than national defence and ne
ce5sary subsistence until these vital objects should
be placed beyond the reach Of danger" At the time
alluded TO- our cotton tobacco aud nalhl stores
being drained from US, and We receiving, in re-
Turn carg0ea OF liquors, wines and articles of luXu-
~. The goods thus imported were sold at cxorbi-
| tlnt prices, and the profits in Confederate money
were invested in gold ior expectation, or in foreign
exchange and thus the whole course of Trade, how
ever it might have enriched the individually engaged
z 4 1 II L
the enemy. II was 10 remedy these evils that Con-
gress adopted the restrictive measures of the last
session. The President, after some months of eN-
pertinent, Is satisfied Of the wisdom Of those mea-
sureS and thinks that they have contributed to en-
large our war resources, and consequently to
strengthen our means OF defence. One cminently
suggestive fact is stated in the message. 1t will be
remembered that, at the time the blockade running
regulations adopted, great deal of opposition
against them manifested by persons engaged in
the Notwithstanding traffic. Some OF them, whilo
urging the Government to relax the regulations,
went so tar 10 10 declare that the terms imposed
SorS So onerOuS to render impossible the cOntinu-
auce Of the business, and they actually laid up
their vessels for long period But the Govern
ulent persisted, and its tirmness amply justified
obtain increased advantages, the vessels resumed
their voyages; their number has been largely in
creased, the ability to export produce and import
supplies has cen developed to a far greater exteut
than had been anticipated, and the credit Of the
Government, We are told, has been so far improved
in foreign markets that the quotations for its loan
have rapidly advanced.
In regard 10 the question whether the regulations
have caused any dimiuution in the number of vessels
engaged ia foreign commerce, are assured that
directly the reverse is the The number Of YES
sels arriving at the two principal ports othe Confcdc
rscy between November and December 6, was AZ
and that the shares OF the companies engaged
ia the trade have largely increased In value, shows
that the profits quite large enough to tempt invest
mont The shares of one company, originally of
Il 900 each, were selling several months ago at
S2U OO0 and nov command $50, 900. Those ofanothcr
have IN live months advanced from So 500 to sd OOO
Ia conclusion, cannot do better than To quote
the following remarks OF the President
H1.eso laws aud regulations have enabled the Gov
ernInent not only To provide supplies 10 much
greater extent than formerly, and IL furnish the
means for meeting the instruments ON ats foreign loan,
but To- put an end to wasteml and ruinous contract
system, by which supplies were obtained before Con
gress determined 10 exercise control over the imports
and exports.
Instead Of being compelled to give contractors
large pIuht the cost OF their supplies and To make
payment IA cotton Our ports at six pence per
pound purchase supplies abroad by our
agents cost Ia the foreign market, and pay there
la cotton, which sells ut net price of twenty -four
pence per pound. When all the elements of the cal
cuatlOn are taken into consideration, IL is by no
means n eNaggeration 10 say, that one hundred bales
OF cotton exported by the Government will purchase
abroad the same amount and value of supplies, that
six hundred bales would purchase, delivered to con
tractors IA tine Cdncderacy. A reference to Tie re-
port Of the Secretary OF the Treasury Shews II
IL 1g6 bales OF cotton shipped since first July last,
bat 1879 were lost hot quite eleven per cent. Ii
this be taken fair average, and IT is believed to
be So out OF six hundred bales OF cotton exported,
i've hundred and thirty -four would arrive abroad and
yield forty pounds per bale, 42l 1850; while the
game six hundred bales delivered ON payment at a
home port at six pence per pound, would yield less
than 10000.
There other advantages derived from buying
abroad, rather than contracting with blockade run
ncrs OF small magnitude but the foregoing state
ment will SHOW the enormous profits that were made
by them when the government forced to contract
instead OF purchasing for itself and will suggest n
motive for the strenuous efforts they have not ceased
to make to get rid of The regulations and procure a
change in the policy of the government. Ii il to the
law and regulations that the government owes its
ability 10 command freight room, and then buy and
sell tor itself instead OF being forced To make con
tracts 30 extrayagant those above described. 1t
requires little sagacty To perceive that with tempta
ton 50 great, the owners OF vessels wuud spare no
pains TO obtain contracts from the several States If
allowed to do SO by law, with the view o, again with
drawing from our use far as possible the tonnage of
their vessels and thus compelling a return 10 the
TuinonS contract system.