Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-26
HIOeIkade Running and Rebel sup

they have suffered during the war. But
there other features of the subject, that are
to be regarded as among the fortunate re-
suits of that victory. The British fest Of
blockade runners, in the building of which
there has been q vast outlay Of money,
have suddenly discovered that their occu-
patton is gone These blockade runners,
built in Liverpool and Glasgow, are chiefly
adopted to eoast-wise navigation, and not
very well fitted for ocean navigation.
The inevitable dispersion Of the block
ade running feet will carry dismAy to the
hearts of the rebel sympathizers, not only
in England and Scotland, but also in New
York, Halifax, into the West India Islands,
into the Bahams Islands and other places.
Four years ago Nassau was small ses
port town with 1000 inhabitants. Now,
in consequence Of being the rendezvous of
the blockade runners, it has over 10000,
and, in its way, has considerable trade.
Not only will these persons be dismsyed,
but the persons In England who owned
and chartered the blockade runners viii
also feel blank on hearing Of the destruc-
ton Of their trade. All ship builders that
have made enormous profits by building Of
these coasters, have come to grief. Such
are the fruits of sealing the last rebel port.
Such they will continue to be unless the
rebels find an outlet through Texas and
Mexico for their cotton It is even now
asserted that there is an enormous leak on
the Rio Grsnde by which vast quantities Ct
cotton are got out A writer to the New
York Times estimates the amount of cot
ton raised in Texas, Arkansas and Western
Louisiana at !, 100 900 bales, equal to AGO.
100000 of pounds. Taking away the ter
ritory we hold, and the amount of market
able cotton for sale and in rebel hands is
probably 2OO,OOOOoO. After stating these
facts, the writer in the Times quotes from
letter written from Nuevs Leon, in Mex
leo. The writer, referring to the caravan
trade from Texas through Mexico, says:
Owners of trains, who are employed on
the route, estimate that there are on this
side (Mexlcan) of the Rio Grsnde, the
most incredible number of thirteen thous-
and carts aud wagons, carrying cotton TO
Mstsmorss and supplies to Roma, Loredo
and Tiedrss Negras, Opposite Fort Dun
can, J and that six thousand other Mexican
carts, with an unknown number of Texan,
are bringing the cotton from Red River
and Lower Arkansas to the Rio Grande.
Probably one third of these numbers are
ten and twelve mule-teams but taking
the inside estimate of cspscity-that of an
ordinary Mexican cart, three thousand
pounds-we have the enormous amount of
thirty-nine millions of pounds of freight
carried on each trip of these carts. At the
very least four round trips are made year
ly, giving one hundred and ffty-six mil
lions of pounds each way per snnum. 1t
is certain that even this falls far short of
the true account, for it is rarely, I believe,
that there are not one hundred vessels off
the mouth of the Rio Grande, discharging
and receiving csrgoes. The port of Viii
mington which we are blocksding at an
expense of millions yearly, does not pro-
baby furnish near so large an amount of
supplies to the rebels as Mstamoras. But,
in another way, this latter trade is work
ing immense mischief to US and benefit to
the rebels. The greater part of this cotton
belongs to the rebel Government
probably four-fifths of it. This is hand
ed over to the grest contractors, on their
bonds, to return specified supplies to the
Government. These contractors sell, at
Tiedrss Negras and MatsmorAs, 10 the
smaller fry. for American gold, with which
to make their purchases in the East Indies
and Europe. Thus our gold is drawn
from New York to New Orleans to Msts-
morss in immense sums. 1 suppose that
twelve thousand of the twenty-six thous-
and bales carried monthly are disposed OF,
and at only forty cents per pound. 1t re-
quires 81, ,400,0 900 in gold monthly. Pro
bably another million added would be
nearer the mark"
The writer adds that powder, percussion
csps, &c, are concealed in the merchan-
disc, and introduced from New York
across the Rio Grande. After reviewing
the facts here stated, think that they are
not exaggerated, but that the great body of
cotton on the Red River and Arkansas
has been thus marketed through Mexico.
If this statement be true, here is an
enormous source Of income to the rebellion
snd it is to be hoped that active measures
will be taken to prevent it. Though the
rebels labor under immense difficulty in
carrying on their trade in Texas, they evil
IDENTIFY do accomplish it with much gain to
themselves;