The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-06-05

COLO vi Jul SNi PCOpiOS uuN We VIII pei
haps best reach conclusion upon this
part of the subject by reference to the
operation of the same policy we'll known
and long pursued by a neighboring
State. 1t is, perhaps, fortunate for US
that we have,the experience of others to
aid US in our deliberations, and assist US
in arriving at correct conclusions, and
forming just judgment on the merits OF
this measure,
The State of Maryland many years
ago appropriated out of her public treas
ury S325,000 for the purchase of lots in
the city of Baltimore, and the erection
thereon of warehouses for the reception
apa ssssage & ssf t9beSeoi and hsr
the inspection, care and transfer of all
the leaf tobacco which might be received
at those warehouses destined for home
consumption or shipment to foreign
ports And the inquiry arises here,
What was the result of this Legislation
by the State of Maryland9 Let us see ::
1t has given her, in great degree, the
control of the tobacco market OF this
country. The property purchased under
that appropriation of S325,000 is now
worth in cash, in the open market, $3.50,
900. The State has also collected an
outage fee of 50 per hogshead on all the
leaf tobacco received at those warehou
ses from Ohio, since that time, amount
| ing to about $4,000 per annum; and
on our growth of tobacco now, averag
about 10000 hogsheads, the outage fee
alone will average about $4,000. She
has also collected fees for storage, dray-
age, cooperage, insurance, recondition
ing, per centages to her merchants, sales
of scraps, &c, &c, amounting to large
sums of money annually;a large part OF
which flows into her State Treasury, le-
imbursing it many times for the original
outlay; and the system also furnishes
profitable employment to large mum.
her of the citizens of that State, adding
largely to her wealth and prosperity and
all of it to our hurt and at our expense
This should all be changed: as far a,
least as relates to Ohio tobacco (; and un
der the operations of this bill, it they
are enacted into law by this General
Assembly of the State, it will be chang
ed under its terms this great staple OF
the State will, hereafter, be inspected by
our own officers within our own borders
the fees will be paid into our own State
Treasury; employment will be furnished
to many of our own citizens, whose
earnings will be disbursed in the com
mercial transactions Of our own people
and will largely augment the volume o
our State prosperity. q,
But, Sir, large amount of the lea
tobacco of Ohio now goes into com
merce at home and in foreign countries
also, with the official stamp of the Stat,
of Maryland upon it Why is this ?
Is it wise? is it right2 Think it is not
/ have no hesitation in saying that Ohit
is the peer. nay, more than the equal o
Maryland in all the elements which com
mand confidence and respect at hom
or abroad; the extent of her territory
the colossal proportions of her produc
tions, and their superior quality; the in
telligence Of her people, and her bound
less resources; why then should this i'm
portant product pass beyond our owl
border unknown, and take its place il
the commercial world with the officia
endorsement. of an inferior neighborins
State upon It'll Did the exhibit made b.
MARYLAND at the Centennial Exhibition
of the wonders of the world at Philadel
phia, last year, as compared with the ex
hibit made. by our own State, give any
promise or assurance that her certifcat'
Of quality and quantity, placed upon oul
products, will give them higher stand
ing in the markets Of the world than tht
official certificate of Ohio would secure
for them2 feel assured the members
Of, this House and q large majority o
the millions who visited that Exposition
and saw those exhibits will agree will
me that it did not, that it can not, ant
that it will not, give such higher stand
ing. 49, 49,
But there are other important consid
erations which urge with peculiar forci
the passage of this bill: The commits
sion merchants who reside in and do bu
siness in another and a distant State, ,ant
to whom this valuable product of our
may be, anG is, every year consigned foi
sale, are governed and controlled in thei
business transactions by laws and com
mercial customs which are probably, t
a great extent unknown to the consigno
and foreign to his interests; by the pas
; sage OF this bill the transactions in Ohil
Leaf tobacco will be governed and con
J trolled by laws and customs which tn,
, agent and his principal will both under
stand and in which they will both have
common interest; and also, should tn
, laws governing the traffic prove defectiv
our own Legislature can apply the RENE
, dy by alteration and amendment.
Again, the transactions where nov
, conducted are at point so distant tha
|, Lii the agent there should act fraudulent
, ly, the Ohio Granger who consigned t
, him the product of his year of toll mus
lose his claim entirely, or expend q larg
! part Of it in travelling expenses, and /
, large fees to attorneys with whom he !
! unacquainted and whose sympathie
) would naturally and probably be wit
his o,on neighbors and townsmen.
: The passage of. this bill will have
= tendency to place the Patrons of HUI:
: bandry, and all the other producers {
, Ohio leaf tobacco, in closer and NOR
: satisfactory relations with their agents
= What kind of political economy shall
, call it which, not perceiving our true il
terests so long, has permitted our wise
9 : sister Maryland to reap so rich harve'
. at our cost2
g Let US now for moment examine Ii
4 third proposition, the right Of Sta
and the duty of State, to provide
Q appropriate legislation, and foster /
material aid its great interests aud il
dustries; and here the question arise
, What is State and when this questio
shall be answered satisfactorily the fu
y ther questions present themselves. VIII
is are its powers and, What are its duties
n | suppose we all know what State i
IT and l refer to it now only for the pu
8, pose of argument. As defined by Coolt
n l.. 4 "a