The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-06
TIE SOUTH AND DIRECT TRADE.
An English View.
IErom thc LIycrnool Courlcr.l

From the Liverpool COurlcr.l
AS it is impolltlc in domestic economy to put
all tho household eggs In one baskct, SO IL Is
inadvisublc in national policy 10 be dependent
on one customer or one friend. The monOpO-
list of trade or friendship may turn his G,vors
into u new channel, In which event serious
dctrimcnt may result to the discarded victim.
Great Britain and ihc United States, however,
appear 10 be putting Themselves within this
peril In the mode Of conducting their respcc-
tive trades. The commerce of the two coun-
tries flows through one channel, In which there
happen to be numerous distractions, serious
leakagcs, and not q little palpablc hostility.
The whole seaboard trade OF the United States
Is concentrated In New York-thithcr the raw
cotton of the South Is transported for shipment
TO LivcrpOol; the manufactured goods oil Ian
cashlrc pass through The same hands en- route
to the American consumer. On the eastern
const New York enjoys monopoly of Amcri-
can commerce, and it is clearly to the interest
OF this country TO break the exclusive power,
lest 1t bc welded against us 10 the national
detrlmcnt.
On the practical ground Of economy, too,
there are reasons why u wider and frccr inter
course should be fostered between the two
countries. The Southern States, now stead
lily rccupcratinS, will soon again become tllc
great cotton field Of the world, and it Is i'm
porant that the raw material should find its
way TO British mills burdcncd with rs few i'm
poSIs as possCWe Ms War The prevailing system
market, and adds needless charges to the
grower and nlanltftcturer. But the policy of
New York and the rest Of the North is aniag-
Onistic 10 free trade. Massachusetts and lis
congencrs desire 10 foster local manufactures
by high protective tariff; they would drive
foreign competitors out of The field by differ
enlial taxes, and give non-natural stimulus
to their home mills until they are strong
enough 10 stand on their merits. This couii-
try has already felt Tho evil effects OF this re-
presslyc policy In the diminished exports of
manufactured goods.
Nothing can 6c done, we are afraid, 10 ullc-
yiate the burden of the protective tariff until
Ihc Americans recognize the fact that imposts
levied upon the foreigner. VINO produces more
cheaply than the home manufacturer, arc On
ira charges upon the retail consumer The
system compcls the public to pay more for
goods than they would DC required TO pay u
the cheaper commodities Of Foreigners
WORK under more favorable aisDiccs-wcrc atl-
mittad freely into the market. The Americans
arc really taxing the community for the ndvan-
been made clear to their understanding The
North Is chiefly, perhaps solely, favorable TO
THIS fnllncios principle, its interests being an
lagonistic to those OF the South. Tic former
Is manufacturer 'lesirous oil securing the en-
elusive right OF supplying the people, and seeks
to promote this policy by subjccsing foreign
rivals Il burdcnsomc charges. The South, be-
ing grower OF raw material, is interested in
obtaining manufactured goods at the lowest
possible price, Irrespective of hc locality OF
their production; but The North, FOR the ''pro-
tection' tee OF its own interest. lcvies Il tliieren-
| tlal tax on foreign goods which falls with TN
due severity on the South.
| This stute OF things cannot be altered at
present, but its existence Is another strong
reason why needless charges should be avoid
ca OH trade with the cotton growing districts.
There is ITO possible reason why raw cotton
| should be exported, and foreign goods import-
cd, through New York. IL is circuitous
route, Involving waste Of Time and needless
expense. These may be avoided by the cslab-
lishmcnt of direct trade between Europe ana
The South. Let the raw cotton be exported
direct from New Orleans, Savannah and
40
and the Liverpool brokers deal direct with
these ports, on, better sill, with the planters
in the country. And in The same way the
sumption NJ ;lc Southerners should be landed
ut tho nearest port, not shipped to New York,
and then rcshippcd to their destination. Ali
this unnecessary handling Of articles of trade
enhances their selling price, and ultimately
fnlls on the consumer