THE CHICAGO AND MEMPHIS CONVENTIONS. 127 "10. That having regard to relative population, and to the extent of commerce, the appropriations heretofore made for the interior rivers and lakes, and the streams connecting them with the ocean, have not been in a just and fair proportion to those made for the benefit of the ports, harbors, and navigable rivers of the Atlantic ports; and that the time has arrived, when this injustice should be corrected in the only mode in which it can be done, by the united, determined, and persevering efforts of those whose rights have been overlooked. 11. That independent of this right to protection of commerce among the States,' the right of common defense,' guarantied by the Constitution, entitles those citizens inhabiting the country bordering upon the interior lakes and rivers, to such safe and convenient harbors as may afford shelter to a navy, whenever it shall be rendered necessary by hostilities with our neighbors; and that the construction of such harbors cannot safely be delayed to the time which will demand their immediate use. 12. That the argument most commonly urged against appropriations to protect commerce among the States,' and to defend the inhabitants of the frontiers, that they invite sectional combinations to insure success to many unworthy objects, is founded on a practical distrust of the republican principles of our government, and of the capacity of the people to select competent and honest representatives. That it may be urged with equal force against legislation upon any other subject involving various and extensive interests. That a just appreciation of the rights and interests of all our fellow-citizens, in every quarter of the Union, disclaiming selfish and local purposes, will lead intelligent representatives to such a distribution of the means in the treasury, upon a system of moderation and ultimate equality, as will in time meet the most urgent wants of all, and prevent those jealousies and suspicions which threaten the most serious dangers to our confederacy. 13. That we are utterly incapable of perceiving the difference between a harbor for shelter and a harbor for commerce, and suppose that a mole or pier which will afford safe anchorage and protection to a vessel against a storm, must necessarily improve such harbor, and adapt it to commercial purposes. 14. That the revenues derived from imports on foreign goods belong to all the people; and the public lands being the common heritage of all our citizens, so long as all these resources continue, the imposition of any special burden on any portion of the people, to obtain the means of accomplishing objects equally within the duty and the competency of the General Government, would be unjust and oppressive. 15. That we disavow all and every attempt to connect the cause of internal trade and of 'commerce among the States' with the fortunes of any political party, but that we seek to place that cause upon such immutable principles of truth, justice, and constitutional duty as shall command the respect of all parties, and the deference of all candidates for public favor." AMERICAN MERCANTILE BIOGRAPHY. No. I.*-STEPHEN GIRARD. Ar the head of this department conspicuously is the name of STEPHEN GIRARD. It has inscribed itself upon the pages of our country's history, and is identified with our earliest commercial progress. Where better could we begin in presenting the memoirs and the portraits of EMINENT MERCHANTS? Mr. Girard's history will require but little comment, being familiar to most of his countrymen. He was a native of France, born in 1750. Poor, uneducated, and friendless, his first occupation was that of cabin-boy and sailor. He passed to the West Indies, and then to this country. Here we find him the mate, then the captain and part owner of a small craft between New York and New Orleans. His first appearance in Philadelphia was about 1769, where all his future glory was to be manifested. He began a petty trader. In company with Hazzlehurst, Mr. Girard purchased two vessels for the St. Domingo trade. His trade, until 1776, was with New Orleans and St. Domingo. We find him soon after the owner of a small grocery and bottling house. He supplied the American soldiers, during the war, with claret and cider. After the peace, the New Orleans and French trade was revived, and Mr. Girard's prosperity began. The insurrection at St. Domingo, and the immense unclaimed deposits put in his vessels by persons who were massacred, opened his fortunes. He soon after began to build ships for the Calcutta and China trade. With the establishment of his bank, we are familiar; his conduct during the Philadelphia pestilence, his aid to the government during the last war, and his other acts of great and liberal public spirit. It is unnecessary now to speak of the peculiarities of his person and character. His appearance is said to have been that of an old sailor, with a hard face, and but one eye; his habits parsimonious. In sentiments he was an infidel. He died in 1834, of an influenza, being 84 years old. His will has been made a common matter of fame, and the misfortunes attending the great property bequeathed, amounting to many millions. To the Pennsylvania Hospital he gave $30,000; Deaf and Dumb Institute, $20,000; public schools, $10,000; Orphans' Asylum, $10,000; distressed masters of ships, $10,000; Masonic loan, $20,000; captains in his service, $1,500 each; apprentices, $500 each. To the city of New Orleans, 208,000 acres of land, with thirty slaves; and to Philadelphia the rest of his Louisiana property. To Pennsylvania, $300,000, for internal improvements; for the improvement of the Delaware, &c., $500,000, besides other important bequests to the city, &c. But the most munificent donation was that for the celebrated GIRARD COLLEGE, now in course of construction in Philadelphia. Nothing can exceed the magnificence of these buildings, or ensure more gratifying results to the country. Two MILLIONS OF DOLLARS was the munificent appropriation for this orphan charity. Mr. Girard is dead, but his memory will last and be cherished by thousands. Let us all imitate the bright features of his character, and avoid his defects. To our enterprising and rising merchants how fruitful an example! AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES SOUTH AND WEST. THE CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR IN LOUISIANA, We have lately been engaged in the collection of materials upon Sugar as cultivated and manufactured in our own and foreign countries, as also upon the SUGAR TRADE of the world. We entered into some considerable correspondence, replies to which have not yet been received except in part. It is our aim to take up the subject in every point of view, and spare no pains and expense in collecting everything that can be had in our own or in other countries. It is only in this way that this important branch of American enterprise can be successfully prosecuted and produce the highest results. As the material reaches us it shall have place in consecutive numbers of the Review. The reader will find many able articles upon this subject in our back numbers, which will be studied to great advantage. This will be followed up in a similar manner from other leading merchants living in every section of the sion. This enterprise we commend to the commercial classes. The Hon. E. La Sere has forwarded us according to request, several documents from Washington, from which much that is of interest may be digested. The first contains the replies of the proprietor of the Louisiana Sugar Refinery in 1832 to the interrogatories of a committee of the legislature. Question. How long have you been in operation? Answer. We commenced boiling on the first of February, 1832. Q. How many hogsheads of sugar have you melted? A. 330 hogsheads from the first to the eighteenth February. Q. Have you employed any foreign sugars? A. No; none whatever. Q. What prices have you paid heretofore for Louisiana sugars? A. Two and six cents, according to quality. Q. What are the present prices of Havana sugars in the market? A. White can be bought at ten cents, and we have been offered browns at six and three quarter cents. Q. Have you ever refined foreign sugars? A. I have been a partner for five years in one of the most extensive refineries in London, and have worked many thousand hogsheads of West India, and larger quantities of East India and other sugars. Q. At the present price of Louisiana and foreign sugars, to which would you give the preference for the purpose of refinery? A. At the present prices, I decidedly prefer the Louisiana sugars. The result from prime Louisiana sugar has been fully equal to that of any other descriptions I have ever refined. The second is the memorial of Charles Louis Fleischmann, 1839, which embraces history of the beet root-sugar; increase of the manufacture and consumption in France; condition of the colonies; progress in England; progress in Russia, Germany, &c.; importance of the new process, examined by a French author; chemical analysis of the beet-root; microscopic examination of the beet, by M. Raspail; results of examination; progress of the sugar manufacture in America; comparative price of labor, &c.; advantages in favor of the United States, &c.; sugar produced in Louisiana; importation of sugar in the United States, and the advantages of home production; sugar from the pumpkin; sugar from green corn, and retation of crops; the yield and profit of the beet manufacture; an ingenious apparatus for reducing saccharine liquids; reasons for encouraging this branch of industry in the United States; qualifications necessary for an agent, &c., to obtain the necessary information in Europe, relating to the manufacture of beet-sugar, &c. The third is the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury in answer to the interrogatory of Hon. Robert Nicholas, showing the export and import of sugar into the United States for the year ending 30th Sept. 1839, as follows: SUGARS EXPORTED FROM UNITED STATES, 1838-39. The fourth was a paper presented by Mr. Benton in 1840, showing $8,951,371 .968,131 .46 ...58 .5,026 SUGARS The fifth shows the amount paid in drawback on domestic refined sugar. 611,977| The sixth is Mr. Woodbury's Report, showing the imports and exports of sugai in 1840. SUGAR. SUGAR IMPORTED YEAR ENDING SEPT. 30, 1840. Brown Sugar,.. Loaf, Candy, and other refined,. Brown,. ... 131 107,089,013 lbs. Foreign cost,. ........ 12,984,610 " .1,623 " แ $4,708,162 838,241 ..167 White, Clayed, &c., .1,189,766 The Seventh is a reply by the Northern sugar refiners to the above papers, &c., in which they say: In a speech of the Honorable Mr. Benton, made in that body on the 16th March, we find stated, that in the years 1837 and 1838, "the whole revenue derived from the importation of brown sugar in the United States, and an additional sum besides, was delivered over, gratuitously, to a few dozen sugar-refiners." We are altogether at a loss to understand upon what authority this statement was made, as, upon looking at the public documents, we find the following to be the true account of the matter: In document No. 372, transmitted by the Secretary of the Treasury to the 25th Congress, 2d session, we find it stated: That in the year ending 1837, 30th September, there were im- Leaving of brown sugar to pay duty.......... ........ Which, at the duty of $2.23 paid that year, amounts to........ Leaves a net revenue on brown sugar accruing to the United ......... 120,416,071 lbs. 26,708,030 93,708,041 " $2,063,655 71 100,642 70 $1,963,013 01 In a similar document from the Secretary of the Treasury, No. 253, transmitted to the 25th Congress, 3d session, it is stated: That in the year ending 1838, 30th September, there were imported into the United States of brown sugar.. During said year there were exported of brown sugar. Leaving of brown sugar to pay duty.... Which, at $2.03 duty paid that year, amounts to the sum of.... Leaves a net revenue on brown sugar accruing to the United T'hus, in the years 1837 and 1838, the net revenue accruing to the United States, after deducting all the refined sugar exported, on which drawback was paid, amounted to the sum of $4,551,884 67. This will show you, sir, unless we ourselves are in great error, that Mr. Benton's information must have been entirely incorrect. The Eighth is a memorial signed by several hundred sugar planters of Louisiana, dated in 1842, praying an increase of duties on imported sugar. We make this extract: That the number of sugar estates, in 1828, amounted to 308. That from 1828 to 1833, the number gradually increased to 691. That under the tariff of 1816, the State of Louisiana was already supplying one half of the sugars required for the consumption of the United States, and was bidding fair soon to meet the entire consumption. That before the last 383 estates could be brought into full operation, the tariff of 1833 was adopted. That 156 estates have already been compelled to abandon their sugar works under the effects of this act. That its further action cannot fail to annihilate this important branch of national industry. That there is no branch of industry in our country which is not directly or indirectly benefited by a tariff judiciously laid. |