The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-01-31

Notwithstanding the alleged ceaseless vigilance
OF the Yankee navy in watching blockade runners
on the Atlantic and Gulf coast of the Confederate
States, their close attention has amounted to com
paratiyely little. Setting aside all that has been
imported on State and indiv idual account, the pro-
ceeds to the blockade has been very great The
restrictions imposed upon foreign commerce BY the
Act Of Congress Of last session, prohibiting abso-
lutely, during the pending war, the importation OF
any articles not necessary for the defence of the
country-namely: wines, spirits, jewelry, segars,
and all the finer fabrics of cotton, fax, wool or
silk, well as all other merchandise serving only
for the indulgence of luxurious habits, has not had
the effect to reduce the number Of vessels engaged
10 blockade running; but, on the contrary, the
number has steadily increased within the last year,
and many understood to be now on the way to
engage in the business.
The President, in a communication to Congress
on the subject says the number of vessels arriving
at two ports only from the 1st of November to the
9Th of December was orty-three, and but very
small proportion of those outward bound were
captured. Out of ii ,796 bales of cotton shipped
since the 1st of July last, but 1872 were lost-not
quite eleven per cent. The special report of the
Secretary of the Treasury in relation to the mat
ter, shows that there have been imported into the
Confederacy at the ports of Wilmington aud
Charleston since October 26th, 1868, 1892 900
pounds OF meat, l,5OI, ,OU0 pounds OF lead, 933
900 pounds of Saltpetre $4,000 pairs Of shoes,
$4,000 pairs of Blankets $40 600 pounds Of coffee,
$4,000 rifles, 81 packages of revovers, 2639 pack
ages of medicine, 43 cannon, with large quantity
of other articles, of which we need make no men,
tion. Besides these many valuable stores and
supplies are brought, by way of Northern lines,
into Florida, by the port of Galveston and through
Mexico, across the Rio Grande.
The shipments of cotton made on Government
account since March l, 1864, amounts to 5,296, )
COG in specie. OF this, cotton, to the value of
Sl,5O0O 900, has been shipped since the lst of July
and up to the lst of December:
1t is matter of absolute iwpossibility fer the
Federals to stop our blockade running at the port
of Wilmington. If the wind blows off the coast,
the blockadiBg feet is driven of. IF the wind
blows andward they compelled to haul off to a
great distance to escape the terrible sea which
dashes rocky coast without harbor within
three days sail TIE shoals on the North Caro-
lima coast are from FIVE to twenty miles wide; and
they moreover composed of the most treacher-
Gus and bottomless suIcksands The whole coast
is scarcely equalled in the world for danger aud
fearful appearance, particularly when strong
eastcrly wind meets the ebb tide.
1t is an easy matter for good pilot to run a
vessel directly out to or into port but in the
stormy months, from October to April, no block:
aiding vessel can lie at anchor in safety on the
Carolina coast. Therefore supplies viii be brought
in despite the keenest vigilance charleston
Mercury.