Beschreibung:

2pp, approx. 8 x 10.5 in. Richmond, 5 Feb. 1864, on Confederate States of America War Department letterhead. To MIlledge Luke Bonham, Gov. of S.C. addressing his concerns about the government using the boats of the Importing and Exporting Company of South Carolina, since these boats were partly owned by the State of South Carolina. James Seddon replied that he delayed in responding to this letter since the Congress was debating legislation that would control shipping and unify the regulations for all who handle imports and exports. He also assures the governor that "...there is every disposition on my part to meet the wishes of your State, and that any vessel engaged by the State and carrying out for it the amount of cotton required by others to be carried out for the Department, would not be interfered with or restrained." What the Confederacy mandated was that half of any cargo on a blockade runner was to be munitions or other supplies necessary for the government, so many runners carried cotton, turpentine and tobacco going out, and rifles, medicine, brandy, coffee coming in. They also carried some luxury items, since the profit margins were high, but these incurred the wrath of ordinary Southerners, who accused the blockade runners of profiteering while Confederate soldiers were in rags. After regulation by the government those soldiers had better food, especially imported meat, and a trickle of necessary munitions. Condition: Folds as expected, light toning, and slightly darker toning and soil on verso, especially at folds.