The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-03
THE SOUTH AND DIRECT TRADE.
An English View.
From the Liverpool Courier.l

From the Liverpool Courier.l
As it is impolitic in domestic economy " p9s
oil tho household eggs in one basket, so IL IS
inadvisable in national policy 10 oe dependent
on one customer or one friend. Tne mOnopo-
list of trade or friendship may turn MS lavors
;nto rSe % q naW channel. in which event serious
detr;ment NAV result to the discarded victim.
Great britain and the United States, however,
snnear to be putting themselves within this
neril in the mode of conducting their respec-
five trades The commerce OF the Two coun-
tries flows through one channel, IN which there
happen to be numerous oostructi9ns, I:t selIous
leakases. and not little palpable hostility
The whole seaboard trade OF the United states
is concentrated in New York-thither the raw
cotton of the South is transported for shipment
to Liverpool; the manufactured goods OIL Lam
cashire pass through the same hands en- route
to the American consumer. On the eastern
coast NeT York enjoys monopoly OF Amerl-
can commerce, and 1t is clearly to the interest
OF this country to break the exclusive power;
lest it be welded against us to the national
detriment 49,
ON the practical ground of economy, too,
there are reasons why wider ana Ireer lIlel-
course should be fostered between tnc TWO
countries. The Southern States, now steaa, o
ily recuperating, will soon again become the
great cotton field of the world, and 1t is Inn
5ortant that the raw material should lind its
way to British mills burdened with as lew I'M
posts as possible The prevailing system
makes the New York middlemen rulers OF the
market, and adds needless charges to the
grower and manufacturer. But the pohcy OF
New York and the rest of the North is antag-
onistic to free trade. Massachusetts and its
congeners desire to foster local manufactures
by a high protective tariff; they would drive
foreign competitors out Of the field by differ-
ential taxes, and give q nOn-natural stimulus
to their home mills until they are strong
enough to stand on their merits. This coun-
try has already felt the evil effects Of this re-
pressive policy in the diminished exports Oh
manufactured goods.
Nothing can be done, we are afraid, TO ale,
yiate the burden of the protective tariff until
the Americans recognize the fact that imposts
levied upon the foreigner, VINO produces more
cheaply than the home manufacturer, are ex-
ira charges upon the retail consumer. Inc
system compels the public to pay more lot
goods than they would be required to pay II
the cheaper commodities Of foreigners-Who
work under more favorable auspices-were ad-
mitted freely into the market. The Americans
are really taxing the community for the advan-
tage of class; but as YET tne lolly mas M. no.
been made clear to their understanding. The
North is chiefly, perhaps solely, favorable 10
this fallacious principle, its interests being an
tagonistic to those OF the South. The former
Is a manufacturer desirOuS OF securing the eX-
elusive right of supplying the people, and seeks
to promote this policy NY SuUlectlnS Iore!~ii
rivals to burdensome charges. The South, be-
ing q grower of raw material, is interested in
| obtaining manufactured goods at the lowest
possible price, irrespective of the locality OF
their production; but the North, for the "pro-
lection" of its own interest, levies dl1ieren-
| tial tax on foreign goods, which falls with I'M
due severity on the South.
This state 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. 1t is circuitous
route, involving waste Of time and needless
expense. These may be avoided by the estab.
lisbment of direct trade between Europe and
the South Let 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, or, better still, with the planters
In the country. And in the same way the
manufactured goods required for the con,
| sump ion Of the Southerners should be landed
at the nearest port, not shipped to New York
and then reshipped to their destination. AL
this unnecessary handling Of articles Of trade
enhances their selling price, and ultimately
| falls on the consumer.