May 30, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
We see, from the newspapers in various quarters, indications of dissatisfaction with the people of Charleston, in consequence of the foreign commerce carried on by her merchants. The running of the blockade – exporting cotton and importing goods – is regarded as unpatriotic, and injurious to the interests of the Confederacy. By this means, it is said, we supply Great Britain (who refuses to enforce the laws of nations touching blockade) with a necessity, which, if kept from her, will at least make her feel our power and her dependency. It is said to be even worse than this. We supply our enemy with cotton, and consume many goods in return; for who in the Confederate States can control the trade at Nassau, and determine that the Yankees shall not purchase our cotton when sold there, or return as their goods in payment therefor?
The State of Georgia, doubtless actuated by such reasons, has taken action upon the subject, and we find in the proceedings of the Senate in Congress the following statement:
SENATE – MONDAY, April 27, 1863. – Mr. Johnson, of Georgia, presented a preamble and resolutions adopted by the Legislature of Georgia, in favor of the passage of a law to prevent the running of the blockade, either by land or water, during the existence of the present war by any person whatever, except under the direct control and for the exclusive benefit of the Government of the Confederate States.
The resolutions were referred to the Committee of Finance.
Now, we beg leave to submit a few facts upon this subject. The people of Charleston, at the opening of this war, were as much opposed to the exportation of our great staples to foreign nations as any people in the Confederacy. Indeed, they exhibited their opposition in a way that we believe no other people in the Confederacy manifested. They objected to permit a ship loaded with cotton to leave her berth, and induced her owners to unload, until it became distinctly understood that the Messrs. JOHN FRASER & CO. intended to send all their cotton to Liverpool, and to import regularly and heavily for the Government arms, powder, saltpetre, ammunition, medicines, soldiers’ shoes, cloths, &c., only completing their return cargos with other goods. To this day these gentlemen have followed strictly their intention, and their blockade running has been of immense service to the cause of the South. But to this day the Government has put no limit or restrictions to exporting cotton and importing Yankee goods, notions and luxuries. Other parties have not been so particular, and some cargos entirely of assorted goods have come in. It is known that the matter was considered in the Provisional Congress, and that that Congress, and every other Congress which has sat, has refused to prohibit it. In the Provisional Congress a bill was reported from the Committee on Foreign Affairs distinctly prohibiting the exportation of cotton, tobacco, naval stores and other commodities for private purposes. The Government, and the adherents of the Government in that Congress, opposed it, and defeated the effort to take it up and consider it. When the Executive Council of South Carolina undertook to prohibit the exportation of cotton from the ports of South Carolina, the Secretary of the Treasury promptly interposed, and denounced the act as unconstitutional, because Congress had the […..] to regulate commerce.’ Whether the action of the Council was within their legal competency, we will not now consider; but we do not hesitate to affirm that the State of South Carolina can put upon her citizens any penalty she pleases, for contravening any policy within her limits she deems injurious to her liberties or safety, the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury to the contrary notwithstanding. The Council repealed their order, and nothing has been done in Congress to regulate or prohibit this trade.
The cotton trade, even in Yankee goods across the Rio Grande in Texas, was at one time prohibited by military authority. We are informed that Gen. MAGRUDER obtained instructions from Richmond to repeal the prohibition. Consequently a great business is going on steadily there.
How then stands the matter? It is the law of the Confederacy that cotton shall be exported, and goods, English or Yankee, ad libitum, shall be imported into the ports of the Confederate States. This law embodies the policy of the Administration and of the majority in the Congress of the Confederate States. The people of Charleston have been opposed to it; and some of their Representatives have striven in vain in Congress to alter it. They have failed in their opposition. The fixed policy of the Government is the exportation of everything, and the importation of everything.
If blame or censure is due anywhere, is it not due to the Administration of the Government, and the majority in Congress who support the Administration in adopting this policy? Why do not those who disapprove of it, turn on the Administration, or on their Representatives in Congress who ordain it? Why assail the people of Charleston, who do no more than carry out the laws, and the policy of the Government, distinctly declared, in conducting the war? Let Congress overthrow this policy and nowhere in the Confederate States will there be a more prompt and cordial submission to its behests than in the city of Charleston. Our views of unregulated blockade running in our great agricultural productions during the war are known. If it is the prevailing notion which possesses the country to support whatever measure or policy seems good to the President, and without criticism to approve his direction of the legislative power of the country, then let all now endorse and sustain as much exportation of cotton and as much importation of goods as can be carried on. At any rate, let not Charleston or the merchants of Charleston be made the scapegoats of sins according with the impeccable policy of the Government.
As to the extent of the exportations of cotton, we have obtained from the Charleston Custom House the following figures in round numbers:
Bales of cotton exported in year 1862……23,000
Bales of cotton exported 1st quarter 1863…9,800
We are also told that all the steamers running the blockade at this port have willingly agreed, of late, to import for the Government one-third of each return cargo.
The proportion of cotton going to Liverpool and that sold at Nassau, we have not ascertained. But many of the purchases of goods made at Nassau are paid for in sterling exchange.