Year: 1861

1Hc iiepupiiSdH pdily Is HoW beSlHuluS 10
realize the difficulties which surround it, and the
trouble which it has brought upon itself and the
country at large, by lis obstinate refusal to guar
antee to the South her Constitutional rights
Deny as it may the doctrines of States Rights and
the right of secession, utterly subversive of the
principles of our Government, and, unwilling, as


1t is, to acknowledge the establishment of South
ern Confederacy, it still fully appreciates and is
at last forced to admit, the embarrassments of the
situation. 1t has already discovered that it is
practically impossible for Mr.. LINCOLN to carry
out the policy he has proclaimed, until an extra
session Of Congress clothes him with additional
powers. 1t does not deny that the further holding
OF Fort Sumter is, strategically considered, at
least impolitic, and that the PRESIDENT must yield
to the necessities of the case and order its evacu-
alton. But even these perplexties, distasteful as
they are to the great body of the Republican
party, cause the people of New York far less con-
cern than the difficulties which are likely to arise
from the transportation of large amount of goods
from the Southern ports into the Border States,
upon which there is, practically, no way of COL
lecting revenue.


The rates of duties now charged throughout
the country, both North and South, are nearly
the same-the tariff of 1857 having, with a
few notifications, been temporarily adopted
by the Southern Confederacy. But the new
tariff, lately passed by Congress, with its in
creased rates and complicated system of collec-
tons goes into operation on the first day of April
next. The difference in the duties on many arti-
cles will be even then more than sufficient to in
duce shippers to enter their goods at Southern
ports, from whence they can easily be distributed
over any part of the country; but this difference
will be still more considerable after the first day
of May, when the tariff lately adopted by the
Southern Confederacy, reducing still further the
rates of duties, is to 60 into operation. The New
York Journals are already alarmed at the tempta-
ton and encouragement which will be held out
to importers to enter their goods at Southern
ports, and cannot see how this can possibly be
obviated except by establishing Gordon of Gus
tom houses on the line between the two Confeder-
acies, for the purpose of preventing smuggling
and even then, they are forced to acknowledge it
will be exceedingly difficult to collect the revenue
As matters at present stand, it would be not
only difficult, but impossible to collect it. There





goods across this border in clandestine manner
Our Government still insists upon it that the
States Of the Southern Confederacy are a part OF
Union and consequently they entitled to all the
rights, privileges and immunities guaranteed them
by the Constitution. Goods thus once safely
landed in q Southern port, whether they have
paid duty or not, are not liable TO be levied on
for duties while in transitu. They may be
seized upon and confscated as contraband, if it
can be proven that they have been smuggled into
the country or entered Illegally but as the Govern
ment could hardly provide this proof any unscrupu
lous dealer, native or foreigner, would have no diff
Guilty in distributing his merchandise-entered in
Southern port at a low rate of duty-either by
land or by water, to other portions of the country.
This prospect is an exceedingly alarming one to
New York city, which has hitherto been the great
absorber of the import trade, and the depot Of
distribution for the South as well as of the North
and West The collection of the revenue is to
her, indeed, matter OF secondary consideration.
Her object is, by some means, to prevent her i'm.
mense import trade from being transferred bodily
to other ports. The whole imports, ending July
1859, were valued at about S34O, 0OO, 900, Of
of which only $4,000, 900 were entered in
Southern ports. A large proportion of the
balance, about S22s, ,Ooo,O 900, was entered
at New York, and from there distributed
over the country. Any change that would carry
to Charleston and Savannah, not only the imports
required by the South, but also those required by
the West, to which they could be sent by
the different roads branching off in every direc-
tho IIol
Memphis and the Ohio River with the sea-
board, would naturally initiate very seriously
against the trade of New York, and this fact is
evidently considered by her as of much greater
Importance than the collection of reve-
nue.. With laudable care, however for the
interests of the Central Government they are fully
impressed with the necessity of enabling the
PRESIDENT TO sustain the dignity of his position.
They now propose that extra session of Con-
gress shall be called, for the purpose of investing
the PRESIDENT with extraordinary powers, and
also of closing the Southern ports as ports of
entry. This, if submitted to by the South, and by
foreign powers, would have the effect not only
of enabling the Government to collect all the reve-
all goods intended either for ourselves or for
the Southern Confederacy, but would also force the
greater portion Of the mportations into New York,
Tor distribution, and would compel the South,
nolens colens, still to contribute to her wealth.


The appearances at present are, that an extra
session of Congress will soon be called, for the
purpose of meeting the exigency above referred to.
If we are to Judge by the conduct of the Congress
which has just adjourned, we cannot hope that any
thing will be done TO better our condition.