stances are changed; yet the old
institution remains. The body to which this monopoly was given, was
not mercantile. Their object is to simplify, as much as possible, the
administration of their affairs. They sell for cash; they purchase,
therefore, with cash. Their interest, their principles, and their
practice seem opposed to the general interest of the kingdom, which
would require, that this capital article should be laid open to a free
exchange for the productions of this country. So far does the spirit of
simplifying their operations govern this body, that, relinquishing the
advantages to be derived from a competition of sellers, they contracted
some time ago with a single person (Mr. Morris) for three years'
supplies of American tobacco, to be paid for in cash. They obliged
themselves, too, expressly, to employ no other person to purchase in
America, during that term. In consequence of this, the mercantile houses
of France, concerned in sending her productions to be exchanged for
tobacco, cut off for three years from the hope of selling these tobaccos
in France, were of necessity to abandon that commerce. In consequence of
this, too, a single individual, constituted sole purchaser of so great a
proportion of the tobaccos made, had the price in his own power. A great
reduction in it took place, and that not only on the quantity he bought,
but on the whole quantity made. The loss to the States producing the
article, did not go to cheapen it for their friends here. Their price
was fixed. What was gained on their consumption, was to enrich the
person purchasing it; the rest, the monopolists and merchants of other
countries. The effect of this operation was vitally felt by every farmer
in America, concerned in the culture of this plant. At the end of the
year, he found he had lost a fourth or a third of his revenue; the
State, the same proportion of its subjects of exchange with other
nations: the manufactures of this country, too, were either not to go
there at all, or go through the channel of a new monopoly, which, freed
from the control of competition in prices and qualities, was not likely
to extend their consumption. It became necessary to relieve the two
countries from the fatal effects of this double monopoly. I had the
honor of addressing a letter, on the 15th day of August, 1785, to his
late Excellency, the Count de Vergennes, upon this subject, a copy of
which I do myself the honor herein to enclose. The effec