The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-03
TIE SOUTH AxD DIRECT TRADE.
An English View.
lErom the Liycrnool courler.l

From the Liverpool Courler.l
AS II Is impolitic In domestic economy to put
all the household eggs IN one basket, so il Is
inadvisablc In national policy 10 be dependent
on one customer or one friend. The mOnOpp-
list of trade or friendship may turn his favors
into u new channel, in which event serious
dctrimcnt may result TO the discarded victim.
Great Britain and the United States, however,
appear 10 be putting themselves within this
peril In tho mode Of conducting their respcc-
tive trades. The commerce of the two coun-
tries 1lows through one channel, In which there
Happen to be numerous distractions, serious
leukagcs, and not n little palpablc hostility
Tic whole scaboard trade of the United States
Is concentrated In New York-ththcr the raw
cotton OF the South is transported for shipment
TO I.ivcrpoOl; the manufactured goods oil Ian
cashirc pass through the same liunds en- route
10 Tie Amerlcan consumer. On the custcrn
coast New York enjoys monopoly of Amcr-
can commerce, and il Is clearly 10 the interest
OF this countryto break the exclusive power,
lest IL be welded against us 10 the national
uetrimcnt.
On the practical ground Of economy, too,
there are reasons why Il wider and frcer inter-
course should be fOstercd between the two
countries The Southern States, now stead
lily rccupcratlg, will soon again become the
great cotton field of the world, and IL Is i'm
way TO British mills burdcncd with us few i'm
posts as possible. The prevailing system
makes tue New York middlemcn rulers OF the
market, and adds needless charges TO the
New York and The rest Of the North Is aniag-
onistic 10 free trade. Massachusetts and lis
congeners desire TO foster local manufactures
by Il high protective tariff; they would drive
foreign competitors ont OF The field by differ
cntia taxes, und give a non-natural stimulus
to their home mills until they are strong
enough to stand on their merits. This conn
try has already felt The evil effects Of this re-
prcssivc policy in the diminished exports Of
manufactured goods.
Nothing be done, we are afraid, TO ale
.f
the Americans recognize the fact that imposis
levied upon the foreigner, VINO produces more
cheaply than the home manufacturer, arc en-
ira charges upon the retail consumer. The
system compcls the public to pay more for
goods than they would be required to pay II
tic cheaper commodities OF Foreigners
work under more favorable auspiccs-wcrc at-
mittad freely into the market. The Americans
are really taking the community for the udvan-
laSc OF u class; but us yet the folly has not
been made clear TO their understanding. The
North Is chiefly, perhaps solely, favorable 10
this inllnclolis principle, It's Interests being an
lagonstic to those OF The South. The former
Is manufacturer tlcslrous oil securing the cy-
elusive right OF supplying the people, and seeks
10 promote this policy by subjecing foreign
rivals t. burtcnsonic charges. Tile South, be-
ing grower OF raw material, is Interested in
obtaining manufactured goods NJ the lowest
possible price, Irrespective Of tLc locality OF
their production; but Tho North, FOR the "pro-
tcction'' OF lis own interest," lcvics Il tliifercll-
tinl lax on foreign goods, which falls with I'M
| due severity Oh the South.
This stnte OF things cannot be altered at
| present, but its existence Is another strong
| reason why needless charges should be avoid
ed on trade with the cotton growing districts.
There Is no possible reason why raw cotton
| should be exported, and foreign goods import
ed, through New York. IL is circuitous
route, Involving waste of time and needless
expense. These may be avoided by the cstnb-
lishmcnt OF direct trade between Europe and
tne South l&l the raw cotton be exported
direct from New Orleans, Savannah and
Charleston; let The Manchester manufacturers
and the Liverpool brokers deal direct with
these ports, on, better sill, with the planters
in the country. And in the same way the
manufactured goods required .pr the con-
sumption af The Southcrncrs should he landed
Mt the nearest port, not shipped to New York,
and then rcshippcd to their destination All
this unnecessary handling Of articles of trade
enhances their seliing price, and ultimately
falls on the consumer.