of Leaf in Virginia and Kentucky by unfavorable weather in the latter part of the season of 1852, prices of manufactured improved in our market, and on the closing of the last commercial year the market was very firm, with a good demand, and toward the close of September the finer grades were higher. In the Price Current of the 20th of October last, we stated that, from advices received from the different tobacco-growing States, the crops in Missouri would be one-third less than the year previous, in Kentucky one-fourth less, and in Virginia about one-half less, and all of inferior quality; and the sequel has proved that this statement was correct. About the 1st of November the market became very active for leaf in the leading marts; but manufactured continued only in moderate demand, and the stock gradually accumulated, and the lower grades being plenty, prices became lower. From this time until the first of May the market presented little worthy of note; the demand was moderate, prices of the finer grades, however, continued firm, but for the lower qualities were irregular. A renewed activity in the market for leaf, about the middle of May, produced a firmer feeling in the better grades of manufactured, but inferior was still offered at lower and irregular prices; particularly such as was not in a suitable condition to keep over the summer. About the 20th of June, owing to the very protracted dry weather which had already decidedly injured the plants, and made the prospects of the growing crop, both at the East and West, gloomy in the extreme, a speculative demand sprung up in all the leading markets for leaf, which was immediately followed by a similar movement in manufactured; and in the three last weeks in July fully 12,000 boxes manufactured sold in this market at a very material advance-the prevailing opinion being that in Kentucky and Virginia the crop would not, in quantity, be over one-half that of last year, and all inferior in quality. Leaf also materially advanced in all the leading markets. During the month of August our market for manufactured became inactive, but the finer grades were held firmly, at full prices, and at the close was dull, but firm. Below we give comparative prices, showing the extent of the advance in this market and New Orleans: 1853. 12 a 14 Sept. 1. 15 a 17 15 a 16 17 a 20 17 a 20 20 a 22 16 a 18 17 a 19 124 a 20 16 a 22 16 a 18 19 a 21 19 a 22 22 a 25 30 a 50 35 a 50 7 a 81 9 a 10 1853. Kentucky 6 twist COMPARATIVE PRICES OF LEAF TOBACCO AT NEW ORLEANS. The business in this department of our city trade has largely increased the past five years, as will be perceived from the following comparison of imports and exports of manufactured: WHISKY. The market for this article has ruled high and steady during the year. The lowest quotation, which occurred in October, was 164c., and the highest 21c., which was realized in January, and again in August. Average for the year, 19c. The imports and value for three years compare as follows:— WOOL. From the date of our last annual report, up to the close of the "old clip" year, the market was steady at slightly advanced rates; and the market for the new clip opened at about the prices at which the old stocks were closed out. In the interior, however, there was considerable excitement, and large_purchases were made at prices five to ten cents above the present currency. The quotations on the 31st of August, for four years, were as follows:— COAL The consumption of this article has increased rapidly, more so than the supplies; and as a consequence prices have ruled comparatively high, and at no time during the year were stocks large, and they are now extremely light. The receipts during the year, according to the report of measurers and others, all of which may be relied upon as being nearly correct, comprised, in round numbers, six million bushels. This shows an increase in six years of over one hundred per cent, the receipts in 1846-7 having been 2,600,000 bushels. In our tables we have placed the value at 9 cents per bushel, which was the average wholesale price, but the retail rate would average 14 cents. The total value at the former price is $540,000, while at the latter it would be $840,000. Thus we see that the citizens of Cincinnati have paid out during the year for this article of fuel fully three-quarters of a million of dollars, notwithstanding the exist ence in our State, and on the banks of the Ohio River and its tributaries, of the richest coal mines in the world. But time and capital alone can effect a change in this business. Our population and manufactories must continue to increase rapidly; and in a still greater ratio will the consumption of coal increase as wood, which has been a staple article of fuel, is becoming scarce; and this causes a great demand from steamboats, and also increases the requirements for the use of private consumers. In order then to reduce prices to a fair average, supplies must be greatly increased, and this cannot be effectually done until railroads penetrate our coal-fields, and this cannot be accomplished immediately, but it is, nevertheless, certain to be done. Already a branch of the Hillsboro' Railroad is being constructed to the coal regions, and unless promises fail, supplies will be received from that direction within the ensuing year. The retail price of coal is now 16 cents for Pomeroy, and 20 cents for Youhiogheny. Stocks, as already remarked, are very light, there having been no receipts since April last. LUMBER. The demand for sawed lumber has increased fully 75 per cent within six years. The receipts in 1846-7 were 40,000,000 feet, while during the past year 75,000,000 feet were received. For these figures we are compelled to rely, in a great degree, upon estimates; but we are confident that the actual supplies are over rather than under our figures. The current rates a few years ago were $800 and $16.00 per M for common and clear Alleghany lumber; while during the last year the bulk of the purchases were made at $12 00 and $24 00. The rapid increase of our city and of the surrounding country causes a greatly increased demand for this commodity; but another cause of the increase is the establishment here of extensive manufactories for building materials, whence the South and West and the interior of our own and adjoining States are supplied, to a great extent, with sash, doors, blinds, shutters, base, molding, flooring, &c., and even frame-houses are constructed here for the South, and shipped by flat boats, all ready to be put together. This business has been established entirely within six years; and now we find the annual shipments alone amount to $140,000, of which a single establishment, noticed particularly in our annual report for 1850, shipped $80,000. Michigan lumber is received to some extent, and its consumption must greatly increase. Its cost is about the same as that of the Alleghany. The receipts since the opening of canal navigation have been: Feet...... 1853. ... 1,212,413 1852. 1,359,692 The exports by the Miami Canal since the opening of navigation this season, from this port, have nearly doubled, and this is a fair indication of the increased demand from the interior. The figures are as follows:— For the value of imports, we refer to tables in another place. 1852. 1,103,628 BUTTER. This article has ruled comparatively high during the year, notwithstanding increased supplies. The lowest quotation for prime quality was 11c., and the highest 21e. The average was about 16c. The imports for two years past were as follows, in pounds : Pounds...... 1851-2. 3,412,600 1852-3. 4,029,900 The growth of the trade is exhibited by the receipts at different periods, as follows: FREEMAN HUNT, Editor of the Merchants' Magazine, etc. SIR-I was much interested in perusing the article in your last number, by Dr. Price of Alabama, on the subject placed at the head of this paper; but must confess that my faith in the gentleman's confidence in his own undertaking was much shaken on reading his prefatory remarks, wherein he pledges himself that any reply will pass unnoticed by him, through your columns at least, and intimates that your "proper course would be to forbid any article purporting to be a reply." How far such a suggestion, sir, may comport with your own sense of professional respect and dignity is a subject for your consideration; but were one to furnish an article upon the extravagant cost of slave labor, as compared with free labor, and advertise that he should not notice a reply, and ask that it be not admitted, who at the South, would not distrust facts, premises, and conclusions, and turn from its perusal, as published not to elicit truth, but to hoodwink inquiry; to force upon liberal and generous minds, subjects which are marked by their own author with distrust, and regarded by many readers as indefensible upon any grounds whatever? But sir, as your columns are open to the free discussion of all mooted com mercial questions, they are impliedly pledged to admit a reply, and as the article is only a re-cast of many old coins, or, in other words, is made the occasion and bond of uniting and presenting in a compact form all the arguments by which slaveholders seek to justify the institution, it is fairly presumable, that in this paper the like "apparent digressions will be made," and permitted "owing to the intimate relations existing" between the argument and a reply. Before noticing the propositions laid down by the author, it may be propper to take a hasty glance at these digressions. He says, "All experience has proven, and all historical authority is corroborative, that the speediest and only method which has succeeded, to any extent, in bringing the heathen proper into a state of usefulness, is by placing them into contact with and under the educated hand of civilization until their wild nature and slothful habits shall be worn out, and a capacity for self-government manifested, although it should require thousands of years to effect it." The flat absurdity of this paragraph cannot escape any observant mind. Speedy indeed would be that method, which should require thousands of years, and selfishness would have a long day of grace in wearing out the slothful habits of the "heathen proper." If slavery be meant, it is denied that experience and history prove what is claimed; and it is affirmed, that if the capacity for self-government be the rule when the slave may be dismissed from "the educated hand of civilization," then the subjects of all despotic governments may be captured and enslaved; and we have so far the author's logical license for kidnapping the inhabitants of polished France, of the once eloquent and cultivated Greece, and of correcting the slothful habits of the Mexicans and South Americans, all of whom, by his direct admission, have not attained that degree of civilization to fit them for self-government! The author continues: "This work of usefulness is to commence by the civilized countries permitting, by law, their own, and the population of each other, to obtain, by purchase or capture of the world's heathen, as many as they can profitably employ, to be perpetual slaves, with proper enactments for their treatment. There is very little doubt but the first governmental opposition to this once noble and praiseworthy license for doing good to the heathen, originated in the short-sighted apprehension that there would not be room in the civilized portions of the world for the well-doing of their own surplus population; but let them fear not. Science will develop employment as fast as population can grow in all time to come; and selfish considerations should not be tolerated with such an amount of good in prospect, &c." It will scarcely be credited that, in the nineteenth century, in the Republic of America, a man can be found who has the hardihood to advocate a return to the slave trade, stamped with such horrors that the Christian world have denounced it as piracy and murder; and it is a satisfactory reflection that the proposition bears on its own front unmistakeable evidence of mental aberration; for how, in the name of humanity and heaven can good be done to the world's heathen by holding them as captives in “PERPETUAL SLAVERY?" or who shall assume the right to declare what nations or people shall be subject to capture? I am a Protestant, and the Pope of Rome affirms me a heretic and a "heathen;" and I reverse the charge, and sustain it by "experience and history." The people of China, the children of the sun, affirm that we are "outsiders" and "barbarians," and we recip rocate the compliment by sending missionaries to China to enlighten the heathen! The author touched most tender sympathies when he painted, in such graphic colors the horrors of heathenism, and caused his readers to "think of the number of fat babies, and sprightly youths, and unfortunate strangers, that are eaten." But as these things do not pertain to all heathen, by his prior definition, it is fairly presumable that he does not wish to limit his blessings to those only who are given to cannibalism. But, if Science have such powerful ability to develop employment, let her take her flight from the cotton plantations of Alabama to the cities of the East, let her visit the workhouses of England and Ireland, let her lay her potent finger upon the lips in southern Europe that are praying the aversion of famine, and bid their rising clamors be hushed! Seriously, however, it is too great a task to condescend to notice such absurdities; but as the slavetrade is illicit, piracy, and murder, and the motives of Christian men and women who have so branded it can hardly be called in question or need defense, it is now asked, what are the "commercial benefits" resulting from it, so suppressed and abhorred? Even if there were direct benefits in the trade, what has that to do with the question under consideration, the commercial benefits of slavery as it is? For it is folly to talk of re-establishing the trade, and of imputing its benefits, if benefits there be, to slavery as it now stands. It is true, the reader is told of the field of usefulness which will be opened to "Christian effort and benevolence," and that "the ocean will be crowded with the canvas of merchantmen bearing the valuable products of slave labor" in the "moral arts;" but let him who takes the pen of the political teacher and economist, give us facts and not fictions, let him give cause and effect; let him in giving commercial benefits give commercial losses, and leave his readers to select their own fields for moral and Christian harvests. Let us now turn to the proposition laid down for commercial considera tion. 66 "1st. That the results of slave labor furnish the basis for Commerce, and that it cannot be furnished with constancy by any other description of labor." This proposition is denied. To prove it the author says, "We look to the statistics of those governments which exercise the most diffusing and powerful influence on Commerce:" but no statistics are offered. He claims that two-thirds nearly of the exports of the United States are the products of slave labor, that the imports depend on the exports, and that the product of such labor is of acknowledged supremacy in Great Britain as a commercial basis. He has the affirmative of the issue, and we ask for the figures. But grant, for the argument, that they are produced, the proposition then fails, unless the author can show by direct figures and facts, that in the Commerce of all maritime and commercial nations, the products of slave labor furnish the material direct and explicit for the greater portion of the Commerce of each such nation. It cannot be shown, for such is very far from the fact, and if this, the leading clause of the proposition falls, the remainder falls with it, and is thereby demonstrated as false, and if false, Commerce can be furnished with constancy by other labor. The proposition as it stands, in its length and breadth, without farther words, is overthrown. If the author wishes to modify his premises, we will then view them, admit so much as may be true, and reject so much as may be false. He has not the screen of his own very broad definition of slavery, for he says, "The African race being the only one now recognized as slaves |