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SPEECH OF HON GEOHGE T BAENES OF
EICHMOND.
On th» Biil to ibe j*»le and Exporta’inn
of Ctrn, Wn Mea , Flour, Busan. ana
Atber anicioH j>ro laaoa in ibe State of Georgia,
and kept fir anle therein DrUrertd in me
Ujus* or K ipreseotatirea of the (ienrala I*eg *-
iature, on Friday erening, the 17th of April,
19*3.
Mb. riretain : I trill ende t >r to o mdenae wha’
I tarn to M y on *’i,s sur.j-c:, as much an
great loiportauee rill perait . lA’i'b the ohj cis
of the bill 1 here mil arm pa or. 1 aeeK» t-* re.-
press the ex rarigent spirit ol speculation n .w
rife in the UuJ, and in create anundance, irh -re
real or •nppnsei sctrcity nnr exi»is. Wr.-ifier u
will accomplish these ends, or other and vere cite
lerent results wnl f Ho* trom its passage, are
q esuons which I propose to answer in the coarse
of tny argnmeat. The conn ry, toeday, sir, occu
pies the posit'on of a sick min lying upon his
bed, languishing with pain and suffering Kind
friends wiih the best intentions are around on
either side, recommending, oae, this thing as
panacea, an «ther, something as a temporary re*
iiet, and s*ill another, anotoer thing as a certain
cure. It is the duty ot the Leg stature, like a
skilltul phy-ician, to examine carefully eucn
of ineac remedies, and see that no noxious me ti
cine is administere i to the bod politic. Toe
bill upon your table proposes a remedy of a iw <
fold character. It proposes that i.o person ex- I
cept the producer or miller, shall .-ell certain ar- ]
tides, such a- floSr, corn, bac.n, Ac., wi’hou. ;
first oaluiutqg a license from the Inferior Court I
of the county, and making an affidavit that be I
will not c targe m ire faun til' eeu per ceut. upon j
tne cost, and secondly, that certain articles ir j
■romiun, therein enuuierat-d, such as bacon, |
meal, salt, Ac., shall be exported trim the State
without a license.
The first remedy creates a Icgil monop- ly. The
favorite few of the Inferior Com t are ru nion po*
las all the trade a:id,c iiitue itj ol ihe Suit;. This
*in ltscll is obiectionable, because compe i ion,
which always reduces price-. i! left free to exist
among producers, will e auie the dealer to u ; -
cheap, but it not permitted u exist among dealers,
vyi'-l enable the dealer to sell at high prices to the
consumer The bill seeks t.» remove this injec
tion which ex sts against all monopolies, by .ixt&g
the profits allowed the monopolist at a certain
rate per cent.
Sow, 51r. Speaker, I undertake to say that this
will not only aggravate the evils under which we
are suit bring, but will actually hold out mi
inducement to the dealers to pay as high a price
as possibe to the producer, in order to increase
the profits made out of the consumer. 1 lay it
down as an indisputable proposition that tne
profit allowed the merchant, beiug fixed by law
at a certain rate tier ceut., ihe higher the price tie
pays for an article of merchand.zt, the greater
the gain he will realize when he sells it. f will
prove it beyond the power of argument to refute
’ u. I will demonstrate it by mathematical figures:
If a merchant buys a yard of calico at lo cents
per yard, aud sells the same at 12% cents a yard,
what profit does he m .ke ? Why, certainly, you
answer 8% cents a yard—2s per cent, profit, if
he pays one dollar per yard lor the same caiicu,
and yon allow him a profit at the same rate per
cent, he w.ll sell it at $1 25, thus making a profit
of 25 cents per yard. If he paid #IOO, and you
allowed him 25 per cent, profit, he would sell it at
$125, thus making a profit of $25 on the yard.
The sum realized has increased from 2% cents
per yard in the first illustration to $25 in me last,
and yet the rate per cent, is the same in all.
This truth, Mr. Speaker, is fully exemplified in
the practical operations of that clause in the Exemp
tion Act of Congress, which limits certain purties
therein exempted from conscription to a profit of
75 per cent, on the cost of the production of cer
tain articles. They have not been slow to learn
that the greater me cost of production to them,
the greaier would be their gain. And this, sir, is
one of the reasons of the high prices charged and
obtained by exempts from conscription. Hut
this truth was also forcibly illustrated in toe ens
forcemeat of wnat were known as thesuppletueu*
tary seizure resolutions of the Inst cession of the
Legislature. By those resolutions we all owed
the merchant a profit of 10 per ceut. on all urtis
cles seized. No me'chanl at thal time, so tar as I
am informed, was making so great a profit on any !
of hie goods—l apeak especially ot diy goods— !
as that allowed by those resolutions. They.were
making more than they bad ever dene before, j
probably two, three or four times as much on '
some articles, but those resolutions, by fixing the
profit at a certain tale per cent., enabled ihein to
make tire, six uud seven times as muen.
I have in my hands an extract from the books
of a leading mercantile house in Augnsia, which
show ot what prices sales were made just before j
and utter the passage of those resolutions. They i
show a constant advance subsequent to the se'Z-'
lire And it is well known tbut as soon us the
Government allowed a profit of 10 per cent., all
goods thus effected rose in value.
1 trust I nave said enough on this subject to
show the utter tolly of Government in fixing any
rale per cent, us a profit on the sale us goods, und
I hasten on to the consideration of the second
remedy which the bill proposes.
This remedy is to consist in prohibiting the ex. !
portali n of certain articles named m ihe oill Irotu |
the State, except on conditions therein prescribed,
and as a consequence, of alluwmg at' others not
named lo be exported Ires Ironi restriction. My;
first objection tu this portion of the bill now under
consideration is, that it iscleurly unconstitutional.
The 3d paragraph of the Btb section, Ist Arti*
clo of the Constitution of the Confederate Stales,
declares “Congress shall have power to regulate
commerce with foreigu nations, and amoug the
several Slates and with the Indian tribes.’’ This
is an absolute grant of power, without restriction
or limitation. The opposing and conllicing regu
lations of the States on the *ubject of commerce
under the old Articles of Contedeeration hud
proved one of the main inducements lo the for
mation of the Constitution of the United States.
Vindicated and sanctioned by the wisdom und
experience of nearly three-quarters ol u century,
it was again incorporated into our own Constitu
tion. Fortunately judicial investigation has not
left us in doubt as to what we are to understand
by the term “Commerce,” or the word “regu*
late” ns applied to it under this Conetimtion.
C. J- Marshall says, in it Wheat, 182, “ihe coun
sellor for the appellee would limit it (that is com
mence) to tratlic, to buying and aelling or the in*
terchange of commodities and do nol admit that
it comprehends navigation. Tots would restrict a
general term, applicable to many objects, tonne of
its significations. Commerce is undoubtedly tral*
lie, but it is undoubtedly something more; n is
intercourse. It describes ihe commercial inter
course between nations in all its branches and is
regulated by prescribing the rules for carrying on
that commerce.” Now, what does ihis bill pie*
scribe? Does it not declare virtually, if not in so
many words, that certain articles mav be exported
from the State without license, and that others
cannot be, except with license; does it nol pre
scribe Ihe rules by which a citizen of Georgia in
In the course of his coinmer ial intercourse with a
citizen of Souih Carolina nmy interchange cer»
tain commodities and cannot otherwise ? If this
bill is not a regulation of commerce among the
States, then 1, for one, cannot conceive what a
regulation of commerce can be 1 will not insult
the intelligence of this House by seekiag to an
swer these questions. 1 feel that to every imelli*
mind, Ihe mere statement of the case must
prove an argument as clear as a sunbeam
The only attempted relutution of this constitu
tional objection is lo be foupd in the illustration
furnished u» by the gentlemen Irotu Cobb, (Mr.
lister). He inquires if the prohibition by Slates
(a power frequently exercised) against the intros
duction of slaves from other States is a vie lation
of this clause of the Constitution. 1 answer that
the exercise of this power by the States has not
for its object the regulation of commerce. It was
a mere police regulation, like the laws m reference
to pilotage, quarantine, eto.
But this bill is equally opposed to another
clause of the Constitution, strictly prohibiting Ihe
States from exercising any sueh power as we are
now called on to vest in the Inferior Courts. I
refer to the fid paragraph of the 10th section,
same article of the Constitution which is in these
words, “No State shall, without the eoesentwfthe
Congress, lay any imposts, or duties os imports
or exports, except what may be absolutely neces
sary for exoeuting it* inepoetioa laws.” “Why,"
imposing these duties ? Plainly he.au*., Jn the
general opinion, the inierests of all wou.d be best
pro mot id bv placing the whole subject under the
control of Congress- J> Now, Mr. doe*
n th’® bill pr'iooee to place this •abject tinder
th» cmitril of ihe InVnor courts, and *oo?d no:
this bid if pus ed, be violative or the very ob
j*»c « for whirh thi* clause *n*e r **-d in the
bill a no’abon •? tto separate china** r * ( ’he
Constitution, I hun ea on t«* say teat i rear-ird ital
so s iviwHe and impolite, hs it is ifi .-oafctVu
t ona».
I» •*!’! beget, *t cannot bn* bege*. retaliatory
'egislati n on the part of <»:b«»r It wiii
c-eufe bad f-elintr between the S a es »n *h-ir cir
r orite capacities; it will create bad feeling be
tween individual c.’iz ins of the States. It produ
ces eery, jealousy and hatred, where we outfit t
have the u’most harm my and concord. Mich ar
a enr of ihe many objections to the peculiar lea
tar ns ot this bii».
Jhe bill, ho-vev-r, is wrong in i> ir.eiph*. I*. i».
a reversal of all ih- teaching* of history It is an
otter abne«a ion of all that w* htve neen accus
tomed to regard a* author ty to statesmanship. In
an eventful period ot En.’Ush history, when the
French revohrtou raging, and the gram crops
of England hid idled, h great statesman, whose
name tll'isir&'es and adorns tb* brightest
p*ges of history sttouip.tfd ‘ paper »»n
sc.krc:tv to Mr. Kitt. i mean FJtmind rttirik«
“Os ah ’.tjingß,” says Mr. hum-, “an in i?>
| creel ? am»»ering w;;h the trade of provisions -a
thewosi danger u i, und it is alwavs wmst 10 'tv
I ttm- w ien rn-n are most disposed 10 it; that is,
i in the time of scan ity. Becaase there is nothing
I on which the passions of men are so violent, and
J their judgments weak, and oil which there ex
! ists so much informed prejudice. The great use ot
| governmeht is a restraint: and tliere is no restraint
Which it ought to l.»e put upon others, and upon it
self, too, rather than that which is imposed on the
fury of speculation under circumstances of irrita
tion. Tiie num'oer of idle tale- spread about by the
industry of faction, and by the /--a! of foolish good
i intention, and greedily devoured by the mal%iuiit
! credulity of mankind, tends infinitely to aggravate* •
' prejudices which, in themselves, are more than
i sufficiently strong ”
I ae ■ ' forth'
| of all men, aud fully confirmed in the history ot
{ nations. The expedients daily suggested in this
| Legislature have been frequently recommended be
fore our time. For the truth of this assertion, I
, have but to appeal to the history of the French ;
( Revolution. In its progress, in times of scarcity,
t every thing was tried which human ingenuity
, c£uld devise or human fancy imagine. Confisca
; tion. imprisonment, the guillotine,ail,all were tried
in vain. Legislative resolves have not the merit in
, them which some men suppose. They cannot alter
the nature of things. Say what gentlemen will,
, the laws of supply and demand do govern : they
will govern. It would lie as wise to attempt to
i control them us to pass laws to regulate the circu
, lation of the human blood.
; Sir, I have but one question to guide in * in the
' vote which I may be called on to give on any meas
ure of this character. If it be a bill restrictive of
| the productive energies ofa people, I know that
l j it isw rung in principle : if it be intended to give
[ ! them a wise direction, 1 will consider it and vote
* : yes or no as my judgment may approve or disap
[ j prove. War is one jiteasure restrictive of the eir-
M dilation of -upply ; the blockade is another, and
1 now, upon tln -e it is proposed to • lperiinpo-e
1 | still another.of a legislative character. Instead of
: restraining the energies of your people, give them
5 j a wise direction. Restrain them and you cultivate
* j the worst feelings of our nature; hiding, deceit,
| hypocrisy, and lying ; wisely direct them and you
1 develop energy, honesty and nobility of purpose. -
* The country to-day is like a man who sits at the
* table, with his plate bountifully supplied, but with
j his arms cut off. Your legislation proposes to in
crease the abundance on his plate ; what he needs
1 j are arms ; furnish to the country information : de
. 1 velop ami encourage its iron interest: give it arms,
i Give it arms that it rnav reach out to Vicksburg
j and bring the supply of sugar and molasses to
! where the demand exists for them; that it may
11 reach out to Virginia and bring the flour and to
| bacoo to where they are warded; that it may
! stretch out to So nth-western Georgia and South
! ern Alabama, and bring the corn to where it is
j most needed. Act on this policy, and you will
! nerve the arm of the laborer at home, and fire the
i courage of the soldier in the field. I><» it, and the
occupation of the speculator is gone. Pursue it,
| and the day will again dawn “ when your woods
j will sing with gladness ; plenty will laugh in your
j valleys ; and commerce, industry and liberty Will
■ dance hand in hand throughout your cities.**
FLORIDA.
Tub Church Ri univo.— A letter from Jackson
vill»*, Fla., gives an a* count of the scene which
followed the barbarous burning of tl»e Catholic
Church there by the St a Maine regiment, fresh
from the laud ol convent-burning mo g ar.d‘llife’
inquisition committees. It says:
The two Irish companies having been out
! of the way on purpose the Maine regiment unrobed
j up to the Church, and after glutting their beastly
; miuds by desecratiug the House of God, cutt.ng
| and debasing the sacred symbols of Religion, set
j tire to the buildiug, destroying everything. The
clergyman's dwelling shared the same fate.
* Nought wa* respected, nothing saved.
i The news of these outrages having reached the
Irish companies, thev rushed to the scene of w,»n*
ton destruction, out too late to save. Many ac*
tuully wept because of their inability to do auy
good. Then, filled with hate at the doors of this
mischief, and unmindful of the disparity of numn
bers, thev turned upon the I) ovn Eisters, when a
tierce street fight ensued, which could only be
quelled by the ordering out of the entire Yankee
farce, whose united efforts were necessary to dis*»
arm the two cotnpauies.
The Irishmen were carried on board the gun
boats in irons, still defiant, and swearing yet to
wreak an ample vengeance upon the slab suded
sons of Maine. An Irish officer assured me be
and his men were amply punished for fraternizing
and fighting with such dastards as these Yankees
and although now in a minority, they would yet
land where other Irish troops would hear their
story,-and the tight would be renewed until satis*
faction was had.
The Mississippi Raid.— Our advices from the
West are still meagre and unsatisfactory. The tel
egraph is working from Meridian to Jackxon,
hut at the former place we suppose tliere is no
press reporter. The Mobileand Selma papers con
tains special dispatches which indicate that the
railroad and telegraph line has been cut at Newton,
and seven miles of the railroad track torn up.
The town is also said to have been burned. This
is confirmatory of the press dispatch, of the 25th,
from Jackson, which stated that two freight
trains had been burned. The next morning they
paroled their prisoners, declaring their purpose
to be in Meridian that afternoon. This was the
24th. Dispatches from Jacks >n on the 25th an*
nounced “communication with Meridian open/’
and the regular press reports came through on
the 26th. It is probable, therefore, that instead
of coming to Meridian they proceeded to Enters
prise, where we had accounts that they demanded
thesuirender of the force, tut we'e met by Gen.
Loring, and retreated. This was Saturday afters
noon, 2x»ih. Since that time we have no advices
which indicate ’heir whereabouts Enterprise is
about -5 miles below Meridian on the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad.
Much anxiety is felt to know the extent of this
tandalic movement, and the prospect ot putting a
stop to it. The enemy is overrunning and devas
tating the most fertiie portion of Mississippi, and
thus far uo adequate force his been dispatched to
meet him.
Dr. Joseph Jon?s, of Glecnville, Alabama, is
proposed as successor, in Congress, to the Hon.
James L. Pugh, who, it is understood, will decline
a re-elect:on.
6
‘ T>
Wheal, Meat, Flour, Bacon, Sail and other arti- j
ciea.prodoced in the fcßate *>f Georgia,'or k#p» j
for sale therein.
Sec. 1. The General Assembly of Georgia do j
enact, Thai from end after the publication of tbs
act, it shall cot be lawful for any person or per
sons, except producers aad miiiers. to sell apv
coin, meal, gr.ts,rr hominy ; wheat, fl ;ur, seconds
or shorts; bacon, pork, beei or mutton, iitb°r
salted or or on the leet, without erst obtain
ing a license frftn the Justices of the Inferior
CoorPof the conciy in which said articles are to
be sold; which license shuil authorize the person
or persons to whom the same is granted t-» seii m
“aid county und no other, for one year from the
date of the same, and at a probt of not more
than fifteen per cent, on the price paid to the
producer and actual expense in transporting
to aud preparing the same for sale, ex
clusive of the license fees and taxes on the same:
but no license shall be granted unless the applia
cant fi-st make and subscribe an affidavit in writ
ing before said Justices, that he will not sell any
ot said articles within one year from the date of
said license, at a greater rate of profit than fif
teen per cent, on the prioe paid to the producer,
actual expenses incurred in transportation and
preparing the same for sale, included, exclusive of
the license fees and taxes on the same, and will
sell only in the county ;n which said is obtained,
which affidavit shall be tiled with the Clerk of the
Inferior Court for said csentv; Provided that this
act shall not apply to one farmer or producer sells
ing as agent bona fide for a producer or farmer
without profit or commission.
Sec. 2 No mi ler shall sell any article in the
first section enumerated, unless he be the producer
or has received the same as toll, without obtaining
license under the first sect.on of this act, nor
shall he sell any to:, at a greater rate than the 1
usual market pr.ee, where the same is offered f >r !
sale.
Sec. S Justices of the Inferior Courts ot
this State shall keep- a list of the persons so
licensed to sell in i .eir counties, and furnishing
! a copy ftf the same to eae t Grand Jury that may
1 assemble iu said county thereafter, on the first
| day cf their organization ; and ail such persons
I 1 so licensed, shall cause a sign or mark of their
license to be posted conspicuously ut or near
their place of selling.
Sec. 4. That any person cr pers ns who shall
j be gu.lty of a violation of any of she provisions
j of this act, who has obtained such license, or an j
■ persons except the producer or miller, who shall
! attempt to sei! without such license, as required in
the first section ot thi9 act, shall upon conviction
[ thereof m any of the Superior Courts of this
{ State, be imprisoned in the Penitentiary of fhis
. State not less than five years nor more than ten,
und fined double the amount so sold or attempt
ed to be sold, to he paid to the informer or pros- i
, cutor.
S c. 5. That from and after the publication of
thisact, it shall not be lawful for any per sou or
. persons to export from this State, except by per«
. mission of the Justices r.f the Inferior Court of
[• the county from which the same is proposed to
; be exported, any article or articles in ihe firs’.
* section of tbis act mentioned; and any person so
expo'ting or any one aiding in the same without
- such permission, shall be guilty of a misde
. meaner, and on oonviction, to be fined double the
l amount in value of the thing so exported or at
• tempted to be exported, and imprisoned six
months in th * common jail of the county; the
i amount or said tine to go to the informer or prosi
editor.
Sec. b. This act shall be given in charge to the
i Grand Jury at raeh term and published by the
Governor in all toe papers of this State, and be
■ in force during the war with the abolitionists.
Sec. 7. The Clerks of said Courts shall be eni
titled to receive tor each license issued by them,
and according to the affidavit, from each dealer,
the sum of two dollars.
Sec. 8. That the dealer shall disclose to the par
ty proposing to purchase or purchasing any of
said enumerated articles, if required so to do by
him, the name and residence of the person or
producer fiom whom such article was purchased
and the price paid by turn for the same, and the
costs and charges ou such article, and the name
of the person to whom the same was p«id. His
refusal so to do shall be deemed a violation of
tbi« act. and subject such dealer to all the pains
and penalties fourth section of this act.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
A refugee from St. Augustine bas recently
given the editor of the Savannah Republican the
following facts in reference to the historic town
of Beaufort;
There are ut Beaufort three »egiir.ents of whites
and two of blacks, all of which were encamped
near the town. There are no gunboats at the
town or Dearer than Hilton Head. The ironclads
are still at the latter place undergoing repairs.
The Yankees manifest great disappointment at
the result at Charleston, and swear, in tbe r bit
terness, that the place shall yet be taken, even at
the cost ot their last man. The privates of the
army, though, are thoroughly disgusted with the
war, and anxious to see it closed on any terms.
Our informant heard them speaking ireelv of
their loss on the iron clads, which they said wts
very heavy.
The negroes make but trilling soldiers; they
invariably run in a fight and often shoot each
other at the posts through awkwardness or mis
take. At Jacksonville, alter the first fire they
came running back into the town at a long trot,
and were halt frightened out of their wits. Some
twenty of them were killed in the engagement
with Fiuegan’s men.
Beaufort now stands on a common, all the
fences and outdoor improvements having been
destroyed, together with the ornameutal growth
of the place. It is kept quite clean und in a
wholesome condition. The bouses are occupied
by bota whites and blacks, many of the latter be
ing installed in theatately halls, over the seat ot
fashion and refinement.
At ’em Again. -On last Thursday night Captain
Stephen Elliott, Jr., proceeded, with a select party
in two boats, to the neighborhood of a barque-rieg
ed vessel-of-war and a revenue cutter schooner,ly
ing in close proximity of Otter Island, at the
mouth of the Combahee aud A she poo Rivers. Ac
cording to arrangements made by that enterpris
ing. shrewd and skillfull officer, a torpedo was ex
ploded in the darkness of night, aboutl-2 o’clock,
and at daylight the barque only was visible. The
cutter is supposed to have gone to the bottom.
» It is stated that under flag of truce on Saturday
> intelligence watt received [from the enemy at Part
. Royal Ferry that the schooner was destroyed. with
the lo»ss of four lives. This may or may not be au
thentic. At any rate, we shall soon hear the re
■ suit through the Yankee newspapers. We trust
this expedition will be followed up by systematic
j and successful efforts to rid our waters of the pre
sence of the hateful invader.
* Speaking of hag of truce, we learn that Lieut,
t James Lowndes. A. A. G. of Gen. Walker, on
j Thursday last declined to hold communication with
, Colonel Higginson, commanding one of the so-call
ed South Carolina Regiments on Hilton Head. This
* Yankee Colonel was "accompanied in his boat by
» one of the non-commissioned officers of those troop's
• who are not to “go in promiscus/’ hut to be put
in the forefront of the battle, like Uriah the Hit-
tite of old.— Mercury, 2
1 Casualties at Suffolk.—A correspondent cf
the Atlanta Confederacy, writing from Suffolk,
’ gives the names of the following brave soldiers,
1 who fell as a soldier should, in the discharge of
1 their duty to their country bud their God :
1 Private I). J. Culpepper and Corporal J. It.
1 Short, of Lane’s Battery, were mortally wounded
Seageant Wn . Young, company K, Bth Georgia
s regiment, severe flesh wound in left leg and arm.
He is doing well. «
■ Private D. B Morgan, company K. S’h Georgia
regimeut, wounded slightly in ieg by shell. He
was struck by the shell before its explosion, thrown
some distance, aud bruised from head io n ot, **et
he is by no auans dangerously wounded.
Private L. A. Norwood, company H, 9:h Georgia
regiment, killed by a shell.
■ Capt. J. K. M. Turner, a native of Sumter coun
ty, Georgia, and a graduate of the Georgia Mili
tary Institute, was mortal y wounded. He was in
c ommand of a company of the sth Texas, and was
a gallant mao.
POWDER WORKS
! Tee reticence of the local papers in reference to
| the extensive government works near this city—
; ’.hough observed in deference to the wishi*a ot
! 'hose in charge of them, and tor the purpose of
preventing the from profiting by guch in
formation—has been of little avail; for we ob
serve that some more favored representative of a
foreign jourral has been faruidbvd wiih all the
particulars in reference t« the rise, progress, and
capacity of 'he Powder Mil s, even down to the
cost of the powder per pound. It is a little sin
gular, however, if the co9t of the powder, when
manufactured, is only four cents a pound, aa this
writer av-jrs, and the supply is already “more
than the Confederacy is likely to require for
years/' that it is so grudgingly hoarded, and
doled out at the fabulous prices obtained in the
trade.
As inquiry has often been made of us, for in«
formation in reference to this enterprise, we
publish the account to which we refer, from the
London Times, as we find it in the Cincinnati £a*
quirer. We confess to some mortification at be
ing forced to such a source for information cons
cerning a public work at our own door, in which
our readers all feel so deep an interest, and if
permittee to do so, will take pleasure in corrects
ing some omissions, which we have reason to be
lieve exist in the narrative, and do full justice to
all the skillful and efficient officers connected
i with the works. The Enquirer saj3:
! The London Times of March Bth, ha? another
| aired correspondence from the rebel States, dated
Augusta, January 2fiih. It is written in the usual
style ot the Cn ft derate correspondence of the
Time?, more eulogistic of the rebels than ereu
the rebel papers are themselves. The following
account of the powder mills established by the
Confederate government contains some valuable
information:
The cost of this powder, m spue of the costli
ness of the saltpeter which has been introduced
through the blockade, is about tour cents a pound,
which 13 about the same as It England.
The mill has now been constantly at work for
many months, and, coD-equentlv, more powder
than the Confederacy is likeijr to require for years
to come has already been produced. There is
another gove:nmeat powder mill at Columbia, in
South Carolina, working, I believe, to supply the
wants (not very large as yet) of the Confederate
navy. But all the gunpowder issued for the ser
vice of'the Confederate armies of Virginia and
the West, and also for the defense of Charleston
and Vicksburg, has come out of the rm i at Au
gusta; and it was stated to me by an orcnauce
officer in Charleston, that the powder which he
had recently received there and tested, was very
nearlv. if not entirelv, up to the standard of the
finest English manufacture.
When, upon ihe 13th of April, 1861, Fort £um«
ter surrendered t>> Gen. Beauregard and the Coni
federates, not a single pound of gunpowder was
anywhere manufactured m the Confederacy. A
rigorous blockade of the sea ports of the South
was immediatelv commenced, through which the
principal ingredienkof gunpowder (saltpetre) had
to oe largely sucked in. At this juncture it seem
ed advisable to President Davis to intrust to Col.
Raines, formerly an officer m the United States
army, the responsibility of planning and building
a large Government null for tne manufacture of
gunpowder. For this post Col. Raines possessed
eminent qualifications. He had been professor
oj chemistry at West Point, and for .some years,
since leaving the army, he had beea at the head of
some iaige iron works at Newburg, on the Hudson.
Augusta, in Georgia, was selected aa the site of
the intended mill, aud nt-ver, both as regards the
person and the situation pitched upon, was hap
pier sagacity evinced by the President. Follow
ing, so far as he was acquainted with it, the plan
upon which the gunpowder mill at Waltham
Abbey, belonging to the English Government, is
built, Col. Raines proceeded to construct the
works necessary for his purpose; and the success
which has attended his efforts has been such as
could never have been believed before the pressure
of war and privation had awakened Southern in*
genuity and enterprise. The result is that, at the
cost of about £20,000, one of the most perfect
gunpowder mills in the world has been produced,
which turns out five thousand pounds of powd-r
per dav, aud could produce double that amoutj’,
if worked day and night, and much more it
worked under the exigency of a pressing demand.
The extreme deliberation with which the Con
federate Government has engaged in many large
and costly undertakings, requiring long time for
tbeir completion and much ingenuity in their dei
sign, is the best earnest of the quietness and con
fidence with which they have from the very com
mencement looked at their independence as a
thing which they could not fail to obtain. These
Government powder mills at Columbia and Augus
ta are by no means the sole achievements of the
Confederates at home in support of their soldiers
in the field, it iray be noticed in the North, al
though the necessity for the erection ot a Govern
ment powder mill has often been represented to
the War Department at Washington, no such mill
has ever been erected It has been found that
private interest have been too strongly represented
in Congress to admit of the withdrawal of the
Government patronage from ihe gr at private
firms in Connecticut and Delaware, between which
ir ts, I believe, divided. In hundreds of matters
that necessity, which was thought by the North
certain to crush the Southern Dower of resistance,
has but developed an eneigy for which the world,
and especially England, was very little prepared.
THE FALL OF PRICES.
The healthy influence of the Tax Bill, which has
just become a law. is already making itself felt in
the provision market. Since the leading features
of the tax have obtained publicity, the decline of
prices, in flour, rice and other articles of food, has
been steady and’unmistakeable. A variety of rea
sons are given to account for The fall : some attri
buting it to the sudden contraction of the curren
cy by the recent funding of so many millions of
our redundant currency in Confederate bonds; and
others alleging as a cause, the restrictions lately
imposed upon Inter-State shipments for the pur
poses of speculation. Both these circumstances,
doubtless, nave contributed, in a measure, to bring
about the reduction of prices ; but the agency that
has been mainly instrumental iu effecting the wel
come change is, in fact,the new Confederate tax.
At no time, we feel convinced, has there existed
any real scarcity of food in the Southern states.
But in every communitv, besides and disttnet
from*the speculators and extortioners, there have
been timid capitalists, who, investing their funds
in an accumulation of provisions, and refusing to
sell, rather with a view to security than profit,
have virtually withdrawn from the'market a very
large proportion of its natural supplies. An art>
tidal scarcity has thus been produced, while, in
truth, there was abundance in the land.
But, during the last three weeks, prices have
reached their acme, end there is a reason to bei
lieve that the decline which bas begun is not yet
ended. The nesfc wheat and corn crops promise
to be the heaviest ever known in the South, and
will, ere long, be pressing into the market. The
policy of imparting provisions in large quantities
has already been inaugurated, the well known
Charleston * firm, whose enterprise and tact bas
already, in other respects, conferred incalculable
benefits upon the country, taking the lead in this
last aud most important developement of the
blocdade trade.
With the prospect of this early and active
competition in the market, and with the certainty
of heavy tax upon hoarded produce, which
must be paid*early tu the summer, it is not
strange that holders should everywhere be cau
tiously relaxing their grasp upon their accumu
lated supplies. Nor need we be surprised to find
that, as those supplies, so long withheld, are
wisely yielded to the demand, there occurs such
a tumble in the price of lood, as will add new
nerve to the arms of our soldiers in the field, and
send joy and thankfulness to the hearts of the
whole people.— Charleston Mercury, 28 th.
Five Monitors are still larking in the waters of
the North Edisto.
Pnicts or Provision. „ 1
we stated that Kiev, whi'v. I" 0 . Saturday _ ~~ I
commanded 2**B2
Yesterday the article doV ulljt dials'" 1 11' 1
the outside range. Flour tJ
touched 475 a barrel, e^ n hkb “ f e« t^L 0 ' 3 *"
VfO&oo, though some hold®* k - P<trcW, i;
price.-. Sugar has
est point, and saadrv other *l? C * ,:o ni lh«
dined in a like ratio. i t j' bar?
flour has fallen g n^
correspondingly reduce thi n' ‘' ! > e bakers
will take the initiative step ° i-ol'breari. yjl'
Tub Tcmele in Price
says that the prices oftlour V,t l ’ e! » h IW
tides are tumblinc all»l o n. and ether f
Carolina Railroad. Ut l: * »lthe
is coming when it win be dan^T 1 * : ?hetia"
that has been ground iong-4, »u ? bold fl 0 *:
sour. And on the Ist of j u | “* l! be iiab'e -■
have to pay eight per cent bolder'. '
The Tallahassee (Fia.) 0 ' “ D . a '''■
per bushel, salt pork at 3o cenu *' lta a: t
and syrup at from 4: 3jto $1 » »< 30
i™ flallon.
Cotton.—The market has bee****’ A{,l: ' ls *
there is but little disposition J„'.'Mettve,
bU n ° r ael !' a U,dd!in S otton to
nollr quoted at about Sue. ■ Slil ‘ be
Corn ia seli’n* at *2 25<&2 50 w
wagons. 1 roa: store-,,,
Meal 42 50 from the C:tv V.
Pork—Whole hoe 5%c uer'n '-’r
Bacon per lb. i,h ® *i««.
Lard 906j»5c.
Beef, trom wagons, 85^10:
Sweet Potatoes scarce anti b:vo a- ..
Peas 42 25(*t2 50 from wac ri 4-
Sirup $7 per gallon.
Rice 20c. per 10. at retail.
Butter 41 Ss,per lb.
TnE STATE TAXES 0? ;-c-
We are indebted to our courteous
trolier Tbweatt. for a e opy 0 f , he “
compiled by him, contain.ng
and information to thy Tax Receiver«'“-s C *
Payers. We deem it proper to p u b!i«h ».
that are to be administered on receiritg oT
turns. - “S
Persons making a special return ;a c ’, '
which they are not resident shall take a“,-I
oath as follows: r ”*
- Yob. A. E„ do solemnly swear that -on .
citizen oi the countv of tß< j ♦h»t ts,
you now give tn Is » just and true return
erty which, by the law. you are remlJl a^
and pay for the comity o: and* thjt dT * 1
worth, on the let of April in this yes- Li‘’,l" *
valuation vou have ati.u-: t, a . ~ !%;? S>K
Notes, to the best of your at ■ , , 7
help you Oo.l’’ ’
Persons making a general return must make .
lowing oath:
"You do solemnly swear, for atltrm > tha
count you r.ow give in Is a in-t and trust.,—'/
the taxable property, including x.lrc'-t ao o':‘' ‘
open accounts, or other ligations ~r * ; : -
sons in other Mates, or bonds of the ' eg...'".'.
or of ot'u.r States, or bonds of corp orationsoT !jiS
nies of othor States, Or shipping al'-eir. Which
possessed of. held or .■mimed on the first da/of a ■
last, or was Interested in, or entitled unto '
your own right or in the right of ar,v other'oaf?
persons whatsoever,as parent, guardian' ex. 1 -!?'
ininißtrator, agent, trustee, or in any'otfe r'm* ’
wltalsoever. and that the value yv«
a just and true valuation, on the first of A- gi
year, In Confederate Treasury Nates, to is • . '
Wour knowledge and t el: ■
by number and district, tothe best of ,
the wfild and unimproved lands j ■ ovuiatM- 1
So helf. you God."
The Comptroller thus matrucs ReccVßi —I
Collectors: , I
"In ull cases where p-rsnns are .'eceiv-s ... H
their debtors Confederate Tre.-..-::-y SotK o' ■ I
accf.nntsornoteßdiie.it is fa-r 'o believe o I
said ‘‘indebteaess" is not n orth more than C-H
federate Notes, if they so return them underc,uß
But where, in any case, a creditor re'ioes to
from his debtors Treasury notes, for d-bts a'n* ■«
due, ii is evident that said creditor valuesnfl
accounts or notes above or at a highs vain- ,
Confederate Treasury Woteg, and, trader
it then becomes your duty to see ihit he p
fair value on this property, the ssrne as unv •' H
property.” I
No man’s taxes will be increis-d by lue
HUtring the returns to be unde v.n the
basis of Conledera'e Treasury n Thib
ernor and Comptroller General an required t
a rate of tuxaimn that will raise 4 •bat.OWtsH
no more, and this thev will do whether the
gate amount of texsb.e property in the St»’«yH
$375,000,000 or $750,000,000, or any
Tax payers will see, then, that they lose noth: I
by honestly returning their property acew.-B
to the standard of value prescribed. I
The pamphlet contains the act exemptagtriH
a poll or any other tax every soldier whet
able property, according to ihe last returj,
not exceed SI,OOO, so long as he remains .5
service. This mtre statement of us provsittoH
sufficient. I
We have already published the locei;
bill which is also contained ia ill* pamphlet
fore us. I
SKIES BBIGHT2KING. I
There are cheering indications of as ittmu.M
degree of confidence ia Confederate cttrres'M
This is apparent in the decline ia pries*it a-'H
principle markets o' ’he leading articles as ■ H
as in the decline in goid and silver as
bank bills. The tux bill, which
is working out these good results, and
to think the good has but just begun. T:tt ■
will withdraw an amount of currency itea" v*
to that paid out, which will increase
m Confederate’securities and induce itber. I
vestments in bonds. The tithing fea’urt : I
tax will supply the army wtih food without res"' I
ing to seizing, and thus remove the ocean t I
speculation or hoarding. The result willr. •- ■
Ihe industry of the country «d more fc'«* •
its legitimate channels, confidence win w I
stored, inflated prices w: srbrtde—tifffb’S. ■
tides of luxury smuggled through »» -
which ca notbe too high—andasiite r --i ■
money that will be ;n circulation »■ * [ir
appreciated, no one will be injured by me ■
toe amount of money ieft, after paying
will be really worth more than 'he *-
would have been had not tb" tat be n -■
This is the view we lake of ;t, and l b' r '-
hope no one will grumble at the t-*> - 1
as a positive benefit as well as a uece-'
VIBGINIA-
Yanxsk Raid into Pknolstos-.Y
the people of Pendleton 10 forget the ,
litionists made anoth-r raid iy " ‘ l,i “ \. .
Tuesday week, taking Frank on,
in their eirenit nt vtvt.n ■»■ Tb^’ :
probablv 150 cavttrv. aaJ re*:» *.* • .g
short time. Their object seemed .0 p- ~s
rob the people, al'hotui. they carne. ■ .-
oners, three citizens ot Franklin. b to
carried ofl' a numbe; »( horses :
con. &=. These robbers came |* „ , ltT :
the direction of Norm h ’ rK - e ~" — o j
the counties included within the > ‘ —.g sg j
gus State of Western ■- - e t r * |
greatly exposed to these robb* -
less people of the mountains . . -g
aV citapAint (**•}“'»’' ,
The amount of Confederate aot j
per cent, bonds in Charleston, was
t
I s