Newspaper Page Text
1
1%
r
the •
KLY GEORGIA T
has
middle zone of tbe western Hem isnhere, the i
United States has every possible variety of sell
nml climate.
The papulation of tho United States, in 1850,
was 23,101,870. It is reasouaWy supposed
that thp census to bo taken during the present
veer, will show, at least, a population of 32,-
OOO.Otyi And reckoning by the present ratio
oflucrttisc', at the close of the present centu
ry, only forty years hence, tho population iwll.
ho tO,723, Of. In round numbers 10(>,0Q0,y
000; u i(ft too,a enough Jar any ;vx»/W< "i«-
crc.lse. The agricultural products of the Uni
ted States, ten years ago, were estimated to be
worth $1,399,197,000.
The foregoing statement is made with the-
view of showing tbe vast and rapidly increas
ing commerce of tho United States, "ml of de-
moii*tra > ing (hr 'necessity of other facilities of
commerce, in aid it ion to those which note exist;
therefore, ire <1o not to much come forward for
the purpost of disturbing the present mode of
eommeiee, as ire do, to devise the meansnecessa
ry to a'comniodntc the inert ate,' which the pre-
hut nit one <i re incompetent to do—in a word,
we witnl nml mutt ho re, DIRECT CONTI
NENTAL COMMERCE
One other preliminary remark will be deem
ed permissible here—it were impossible for
such u country ns the United States to be defi
cient in any of the means necessary to carry on
war—these she posesscs in abundance. And
the spirit and genius of the people, have been
evinced, sufficiently often, on land and water,
to leave no doubt on the subject of their capa
bility to do so: t/et the govern meat and qwoplt
of the Coiled Stole*, ore eminently pocijic.—
Military renown, with them, is not very highly j means air
appreciated—they esteem the arts of peace ' was kept
more glorious than the arts of war.
Rut ns it is tho Cotton-growing section of
the United Slates which invites continental
Europe to the formation of direct commercial
relations, it is proper that attention should be
directed to the contemplation of that'section.
“The Cotton region extends from the Atlantic
ocean to the Rio del Norte, and includes the
States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and those por
tions of (he States of North Carolina, Tennes
see and Arkansas, that lie below thirty-five dc-
prodnee these diseases, ‘are re,
yond all remedial measures, for they arirnatu
ral It is known by all, thatour sea port cities
are situated at the mouths, or on tne banks
near the months, of fiAsh water streams; thus
Wilmington is situated on the Cape Fear River;
Charleston at the junction of the Cooper and
Ashley; Savannah on the Savannah; Mobile
on the Alabama; New Orleans-on the Missis
, the marine of the Uni- [ find variously etfhflfed at 3,oso.3 l( w>o. a.iso. Woo.
3.250: this discreDaJ'v may be one to that between
fJrthJur^L .slight line 3 between these ports an,1 the
for the accommo- J conrae a .vessel is /ompelled to take, suiting from
dation of tlie continental and soutfcMn trade and , one to the other :/>r to the difference of nautical
travel, we have the required sea-port iu Geor-j knots and terrestrifl mile*. In the same way.we notice
gia; the only southern sca-port in tbc&nth J L^Sm^ofWw-
fexcept Fernendina,) possessing the sameadvan-f. a.i'.io hVrrv
(except Fernandina,) possessing the sameadvan-1 rharteTSl fo Atlintio Steam Ferry Company
tages. ( of Mr. A. Mama with a capital of *50,000.000 and
Arid there is another advantage of considers; the Hon. ffm. f Prestnn was.sent to Europe as the
sippi, &c. Sow, the silt brought down by jble importance, connected with the port o? Commissioner 7-f » Su" V oM°\Vorld^ p fu ft d'stace-
these streams, is composed largely of decayed! Brunswick, to which the undersigned must al-1 ® on,,, * n **7*‘I* fora Haven' or,d ’ * h .n distance
.fal.u Vl.i. »’ r—?r w. .1. 1 from NorfoIW to *nuorp naven
vegetable matter. This silt settling in the va-1 lude, Brunswick is not only free from the ob-! ‘ r b“ t ^“ r ^!< r h” c ” wasVMared at ^he^ime'to be
rious swamps and low-lands’, in the neighbor- cction which attaches to sea-port cities situa-1 shorter than the route steamers took from New
hooflfs of (beflo ettraflf m4 koPAnnin^ (■vpfuu'd to i led on frCiJl'WitAr UrMtuu: ( itarill U* (Wo fr*>*n h v<»»ir tp we nssume
the action of the sun, creates the malaria which! the expense of lighterage, for ships of the lar- J!‘.® l' I 05 ‘ ,i '" ,B ,he Sonmern ports?li*y Norfolk,
: . 1 .1 1 a.. ........ 1 ‘ 1 ? ... Charleston ami Savannah, to the western coast of
impregnates the atmosphere and becomes de- j gest burden may receive their entire cargo at France. Brest, Nantes, LOrient. Rochefort or Bor-
structi ve of human life. These two, may be the wharf and proceed directly to sea. And an- ! deaux, cannot be inneb longer than the present pop-
regarded as the principal causes why an nn-' other fact, it is proper to state here—no dray- j ulsr passage across the Atlantic,
broken commerce is not carried on by foreign-j age on cotton (or goods,) will be required, for. In orderto make‘he Nor.liern voyage the shortest,
ers, with Southern sea port cities, and which the Railroad procwdTthc entire distance of the ; ' Uiei -
keep alive the coast-wise trade, to which the
undersigned has alreadv alluded.
In the foregoing statement the undersigned
.s accounted for the manner in which New
ship leaving Philadel
,«•, |»vuww *w,s.w j pan, jurs nr uuiiuii. for Liverpool, goes aa
ed for shipment will be delivered on the wharf lar North as Nova Scotia, Newfoundland or Ireland
from the cars; or, if intended to bo stored, it I will let her; she even sometimes passes to the north
will h/> delivered m tl>e other side of the rend • nurd of the Emerald Isle. And Owing to this One
. . . , . : , outer side or the road, 0 i rcum , tllDCe , nore than to any other, and may be
York has become the exporting port of Amen- ] at tho door of the warehouse. ] , 0 ^1 others combined, the Jwrturi* of the route, cap-
enn cotton. He will now proceed to show how | The commerce which the South proposes, will itaiists of New lork and Liverpool have well nigh
England became the carrier of tho article and ' necessarily require bonded warehouses for the secured to it a monopoly of trade between the two
c.-tablished Liverpool as the market for Conti- deposit of goods; now, it is proper to say, that i^^n-ice ?eqm ? red°byT»S a?rwe&ere
ncntal Europe. In n preceding part of this ad- j Southern sca-port cities, (Brunswick, as well as i^ ts sustained on it, fourteen magnificent steamers
dress, the undersigned alluded to the progres-jall others,) arc unsuited to this purpose, for the , in less than twenty years, with the deatruction of
give culture of Cotton. Now, it will he re- dampness of the atmosphere, or other cause, is j millions upon millions of propexjfy and orer some
menjbered, that about the time tJwt cotton be-! calculated to cause goods exposed to it, to dc-! J Wo thousand lives, suggest the inquiry ” time
gnn to be considered an article of commercial j tcriorate; therefore, we must look fora remedy j owVc^rrier’andhnpon'vr. 1 C.n^he^nVt successfully
importance. France was conTulscd with the | to this objection, to an interior city; fortunate- maibtaio a direct trade with Europe, is the ques-
throes of the revolution, which were stilled by | ly, for this purpose, we find exactly what we tionnow before us ? t
“ “in
the elevation of Napoleon I. But, althougli! want, in the city of Macon. Macon is situated 1 every other human proposition ‘^ere are ad-
the intestine commotions of France, by the } one hundred and ninety-two miles (bv tlie Cen- vVehiS'c^c^pUAr^co^^Hint s'op^K and
means already alluded to, subsided, yet she: tnil Railroad.) from the city of Savannah ; by j our tide* low, the water on our bars is not deep
over SLUeorge'abank and sometime, before reach-1 andtouris
ing them, but almost certainly off Newfoundland for ; The Vandi
many degrees of longitude, day and night, may fee’; enf line to
heard the whistle of the steameis warning those
around them of their approach. IIow many coli-
sions have heretaken place, how many fishing boats
been run down, may never be known; bat that fear
ful disasters have occurred dne to the presence of
fog, we may mention that the steamers of tho Ca
nard Line, the most carefully managed of all which
go to sea. have here collided with each other, be
sides several of them being injured by ice; that tlie
City of Philadelphia, the Lyonaise, and the Arago
were lost in it; and who will ever forge-t the dread
ful late of the Arctic? And a year or two before the
loss of her consort, tho Pacific, on a homeward voy
age, near Cape Race, it is said she crushed a boat,
killing all on board of it. -Her engines were for
tunately stopped; tbe dense fog lifted; and behold,
in a few yards before her the rooky coast of New
foundland. She wat rushing into the very jaws of
destruction and had unwittingly destroyed the
friends sent out (for she was hoard coining), to warn
her of her impending fate.
Another and a fourth special reason for preferring
tho southern passage across the Atlantic, is that the
Gulf St re ton favors the outward voyage and the
Trade I Finds, the homeward bound ship. Thst mys
terious mighty river of the ocean, so beautifully de
scribed by Maury, which acknowledges no ordinary
influence, in tbe severest drought never failing and
the heaviest floods never overflowing, yet bearing
in its bosom the waters of a thousand terrestial
streams like the Mississippi and Amazon, sweeps by
Cape Florida at the rate of 78 miles a day; along
onr coast northeast it averages 38 for the twenty-
four hours; and at tho Azores or Western Isles, uis-
taut 3,000 miles, its progress is reckoned at 10 for
the day. A vessel, therefore, bound to Europe from
a Southern port, can take advantage of tiiis ocean
current to speed her on her way. • In November,
1823,1 sailed from Charleston in tbe Perfect, a small
As atimely contribution to
rect trade with Europe, the foregoing
are respectfuliysubmittsd to onr people.
We here eaU attention to tho facta that iixord
make the passage to Europe non- ns uni.'v taken, the
shrrtest stenmers.itre compelled -U> go so near Nan
tucket slioa's. Cape Sable, Cape Mace, Cape Clear,
Ac., and continue t*>eir high Speed notwithstanding
ports
_ part of our expor
tations are sent from.tlie ports of Hambug,-Bre
men, Havre and Liverpool. The large sums up
on the American documents are furnished by
the management of the custom-houses, which
receive with eacli'ilackage a veritable custom-
uc.. tutu uuniiiur fuu inun piiutru iiuiuiuiauiuuiUM . , .. n . . , m -
the danger of collision iu fog or with ic<*, that it h»s * certificate, giving the true value from the
ship of 375 tons, bound for Liverpool, and Cape
become a hazardous route and this too at all seasons
of the year; in proof ot which fourteen steamers of
tho largest class have been shipwrecked from these
causes in lees than nineteen years, involving the loss
of several millions of property and of more than two
thonsandlives.
The Southern passage to Europe, besides tho ad
vantages it offers in the general mildness of climate,
possesses some which are peculiar; first in a free and
unobstructed navigation by a direct course across
the Atlantic ; second, by it icebergs are avoided ;
thirdly, fogs ; and fonithiy, the Gulf stream favors
the outward voyage and tee trade winds the one re
turning to America.’
* Since the return of the Commissioner, the Niag
ara, one of the Canard line of steamers, came in col
lision with a ship, by which accident a Mr. Adger
of South Carolina, had his legs broken, aud what
other injury may have occurred has not eome
to the knowledge of the Commissioner. Tbe
matter of astonishment is, that more accidents
do not oecnr, on this lino than do; indeed,
it is to be feared that the number and extent of these
accidents are not always allowed to meet the public
eye; however this may be, it is beyond the power of
human invention to obviate these occurrences, for
their causes are natural and must ever remain, just
trade which was rapidly increasing. The post- J our sca-port cities. It is proverbially healthy: certainly have the capital in our exports; coi
tion of France as the leading Continental pow ! and never has been subject to diseases deemed , * ou is even king iu the agiicnlturai, commercial and
er, determined the course of tho neighboring contagious or epidemical; with an industrious ; Te^airbeXeaiftm ourselves and
governments. Besides tins, England is a vast ( class of citizens, enterprising merchants, and , t0 posterity, if we do not u»o it for our benefit, to in-
maritime government; her navy proper, has no i wealthy and intelligent population. From this : crease the prosperity and happiness of our ownpeo
progressing Kailroad works will increase the 1 ^^Z°VA^l".:
business of tnis now liounsh.n£ commercial Ga,,iimlnowadeiiti*toi’tiiiscUy. pateutodtholTthof
Jjnnurv lAiiQ ivilW d thh"»S/t/n KIctator.*' In thft Cou-
city, until it shall become the first in importance January \mo,cMeitbn"ShipElceator.” In the Cou
of interior cities of the cotton region. The Rail - r ' tr detEtau Unit also of January last, will be found
is?,? <• ■?"""• f? s«- f b™»- . wSFEWtS
swick and Macon, is now being constructed; j p i ace d under them when stranded. My friend Dr.
grees of north latitude, and all of Florida above i tablish and protect commerce; hence, Liver’ j bears on its bosom, in the form of cotton bales, j success, the deficiency in tlie d«|
the twenty-seventh parallel.'’ [It is proper to 1 pool became the European cotton market—thus the enormous.produce of its rich valley.) And j entering our harbors; even this
remark, however, that much of tho Apace in- acw lork became tho centre of commerce in
eluded in the above area is unsuite J to the cul- America, and Liverpool the centre of commerce
tivation of Cotton, because it does not possess j in Europe.
tho climate. ] This region produced tho last Itisnotthepurpo.se of the Cotton Planters’
commercial year, (ascertained at the time the j Convention of the State of Georgia, to unsettle
undersigned left home,) 4,243,800 bales, and it I the commerce so long and profitably conducted
was estimated that the receipts would reach J between England and America, Liverpool and
4,500,000 bales—worth ot least three hundred New York, but to show the necessity of anotiier
inilHoiisi fdoUiirs, Among commercial comino- j channel of commerce, for the accommodation of
dities, it is usual to say, “Cotton is king.” The j the rapidly increasing trade and travel of the
above statement shows how likely it is to main-1 cotton-growing region. A very serious
:ain its position. Without specifying other j tion to the present mode of commerce
articles, it is sufficient to say, that the cotton 1 however, here be mentioned—much unne
section presents to continental Europe, the firm j ry expense is connected, with the reshipment j merit in a practical manner,
iw/* of an extended commerce; and the mis-! and sale of cotton, all of which the Planter has j
sion of the undersigned here is to invite the \ to pay ; tiiis expense, it will be seen, will be ; soil,
ilepth of the water for
" may bo obviated by
indeed is in a state of forwardness.
IcKeen, is engaged in orgauizinga company to pass
Clear, Ireland, was made in 21 days.
80. too, on the return voyage from Europe, by
running down to the latitude of Georgia, near the
Madeira or Canary Islands, a ship is pretty certain
to meet with the southeast Trade Wind, tho most
uniform and constant of atmospheric currents, on
the ocean, and thus shorten her passage to America
It is well know that Colnmbus kept two logs, or ac
counts of his daily progress westward; thetrue.oce
ho coucoaled from his followers that they wight
not know how rapidly thisTrade Wind was wafting
them from old Spain. And just so, as has been sta
ted, this very agency has brought a sailing vessel
into tho Delaware from Liverpool after a very pleas
ant voyage over this southern passage in mid win
ter; while daring the same season a Cunard steam
er from tlie same port only reached Halifax after 19
days of mighty contention and. furious buffeting
against wind and wave, amidst driving snow-storms
and frozen spray. Even in September last, the Per
sia was out 1G days. 14 of which it blew a westerly
gale. Take the year rouud and the proportion of
wind from the west on the North Atlantic ocean
above the latitude of the southeast trades is ns 9 to
5j. We can appreciate then the advantage of one
having an easterly direction in it, even if is a little
fouth.
That tlie dangers of tho present northern route to
Europe have not boen magnified in this.coininunica-
tion, a lucie reference to ocean navigation by steam
otigbt to satisty every candid mind. This embraces
"od of only twenty years. In April, 1838, the
and the Great Western arrived the same day
s'York harbor from England. The latter ship
was the first ever built for this trade. In 18-to, Mr.
as they are.
Upon a communication so clear, simple,
comprehensive and conclusive in its general
outline, and many of its particulars, the under
signed deems it, not only unnecessary, but im
proper to remark; for when a subject is shown
to be self-evident, its continued discussion is
only calculated to embarrass, not to instruct.
The next subject which will claim attention
in the carrying forward of ourjcntcrprisc, is that
large capital tcill be required; as you of the
continent, liavc the capital and the experience
necessary to its profitable and practical use,
this question must be settled by you—to you
the undersigned submits it. As the trade con
templated will bring you in intimate relations
with the Cotton Planters of America, it be
comes necessary for the undersigned to say
something, in this connection, peculiar to them.
Cotton Planters have money but once a year;
it will be readily seen, that their year’s busi-
shipper and the consular-agent, from the place
of dispatch. It is then to be presumed; that
many of these goods hare been '.narked before
the exportation, in the port of shipping; andin
this case, the amount has been taken into the ac
count as coming from that port, and not as Bel
gian products.” In the language of another
Belgian, on my side of the water, allow me to
say,' “I feel a lively emotion of satisfaction in
hearing that soon the Belgian name, will enter
into the minds of this people, and that its indus
trial products, (fruits of the untiring efforts made
by tlie country for the space of forty years,)
will at last, be bought and sold, uniter their
true -name. A feio years, and the hazes of
Sainttr will he ao more those of Sheffield ; the
Liega guns as English arms ; our cloth, zinc,
mirrors and cut-glass, as French products. At
this time there is only one article bearing the
Belgian name, and to give you an idea of the
exactitude of this denomination, if there are
carpets made after the Tour nay fashion, they
are called invariably Brussels carpets, eten ill
the custom-house offices.” In order that Belgi
um and the continental governments may be
relieved from the injustice alluded to, and from
the painft I acknowledgement of commercial in
feriority, .lie cotton region of America extends
to you tho strength and friendship ofits mighty
arm ; avail yourselves of this offer; remedy this
injustice, and wipe away this reproach.
In your dealings with the people of the Cotton
region, you are to remember, that while we do
not claim to be more honest than other people,
we claim to be honest enough to acknowledge
our debts, and assert our willingness and ability
to pay them. In 1S37, the commercial revul
sion that was experienced, threw all financial
operations into confusion; and so extensive was
this revulsion that governments became serious
ly affected by it Some sections of the United
States arc experiencing these effects to this day,
and will for years to come. In the South we
ness is done on credit; all their monetary j knew more about it from what we heard, titan
transactions are based on this fact. Christ- j from what we experienced. In Georgia, a few
mas is the settling time ; therefore, the Plan- j Banks, in order to protect, themselves from be-
ter sends his crop to market and disposes of it ing involved in the troubles and disasters of
preparatory to tlie time of settlement Not ! Northern Banks with whom they had transac-
unfrcquentlv, perhaps most commonly, during ! tions, suspended, for a short time, specie pay-
the year, the Planter’s circumstances require ] inents; this course received the approbation of
that he should have money ; or, it may be, at j the people, and the bills of these Banks did not
the time of adjusting his year’s business, he f depreeiate die amount of a farthing. This was
ascertains that the proceeds of his crop will ! the extent to which wo became sensible ofarevul-
In either of these 1 sion which overwhelmed others, and to a great-
goYernments of the continent to participate in J avoided by the system or commerce which we j from our institutions of commerce, who will j then on his way'to witness tlie
that commerce. propose. Occupied as Planters are, with their j reside in the various places, where the associa- ! Great Eastern. He believed '
It is also necessary to show the position of plantations, their thoughts, tastes, habits, - are ] tion will have their counting-houses.
short of his wants.
' - „ • *hbn these Si,ins teases, the Planter applies to his Factor, who j er or le-ss extent, affected all. Our people and
’‘Instead of sending emigrants to cultivate the \ f«>m | “ea-of-war. arebe.ter mana^edthan these jh.pa, [ . IF.. . .FF. .
11, we will send there intelligent young men, 1 Maine deeply interested i
They * beginning for vessels of her <
. e i failure ot this one. He advo
Georgia in the Cotton region. The State of altogether agricultural. Thus occupied, they are! will receive orders; they will hold the associa- : ‘ )f beam ami less draught for
Georgia lies between 80 deg. 80 min. and So compelled to commit their interests to unwatcli-, tion responsible for all the wants of the coun- j was about to visit: for ns th
_ _ _ .. . . the *> r gave le«a resist-
dcg. ’north latitude, and between 80 deg. 50 i ed and distant agents; lienee, agents become j try," and furnish to them, all the commodities [ auce than water to their rapid passage, ho contended
min. and i'mIeg. 0 min. west longitude from unnecessarily multiplied and exacting. Large [of which they have need. Also tho j ln p 0 r-| the same power would propel one thus bnilt easier
Greenwich, and between 3 deg. 52 min. and and unnecessary charges are made, which the tance of our relations with the countries where | J!" et “hen empty!*and*29 wheat toaded'bl sSd ahe
8 deg. 17 min. west longitude from Washing-, Planter is compelled to submit to; and although j tlicv have their residence, will depend essen- , might make fifteen to eighteen miles an hour; where-
ton. It is :i00 miles long from North to South, j he may be perfectly convinced of the injustice of j tiallv, upon the conduct of the young men and , as a ship constructed alter his plan, of tho same ca-
and works of this kind arc constantly gom
forward; the stock in some of these works is
thirty per cent, above par, and the stock of all
the completed roar a, is at and above par.
individuals engaged, as agents, in that system. 1 most suitnblc place, as the common centre for | passage is’the ■
But should the Planter .discover the responsible! this part of our enterprize. There bonded j bo run with s.-if
The
alone upon whieh tills speed can
safety, Tho almost perpetual fog on the
party, he is deterred from prosecuting his rights, I warehouses may be erected, and goods deposi- i banks of st. George aud Newfoundland, the shoals
from tlie knowledge that the remedy will Cost) ted and kept, for any length of time, without I n^^/^GuffXf^htfdreSdof
Cotton crop of the past year was -440,000 bales, [ more than it is worth. Further, much ot the ! deterioration.
people of the continent may have correct ideas
of the people and country which the under
signed represents, and who are seeking, with
them, direct commercial relations. It will be
borne in mind, that in addition to the article
of Cotton, Georgia exports many other articles:
amongst these may be named, her superior
pitch-pine lumber, ;ui article of world-wide de
mand.
Tlie foHowiugstatemcnt, taken from the New
Orleans Crescent of the 27th April, will show
tbe receipts at the various ports:
Bales.
to AprilS-t. Inclusive W5.T33
Charleston to April 19 4GS.280
savannah toAprillt... 485.W8
•Vorth Carolina ports to April 14 38,914
Virginia port* to March 31 49.027
Apalachicola to April 20 124,231
81. .Marksand Newport to March31.... 40.215
1‘rnnsaooU to March 31 thooo
Texas port i to April 21 203,050
Receipts joo^eratN. O. tolastcv'ng
(according to tbe Savannah classification,) sold | The undersigned here remarks that when di
at 10'i cents per pound ; on the same day, the , red trade becomes established with Continen
hundred pounds, the difference in the two mar-1 crick—already, under the present condition of
kets, on the same day, would be $ll>. Freights | ft f things, it will be perceived, by reference to
■from Savannah to Liverpool, on the day men- J another part of this a’ddress, thc overlandsliip-
lioned, was £ of a penny per pound, that is X8 [ mcn t s , as they are called, (which have just
Total bales received at seaports 4,915,890
i Memphis.......... 1GU.S00
Overland shlpm'ts ftn
burp' ;m<! Nashville 9,5i)0
•Overluud by Missis? ,ppi Oqatral Ii. li. to
Northern port* 11,020—190,730
Stock at Inland towr ? at las! date* 127.300
\
Total bales 4,500,110
In Belgium, iii 1854, the amount of capital
employed in the manufacture of cotton goods
was 812,000,000, and gave employment to
122,000 operatives. Her manufactured arti
cles, (which arc in high repute,) were; estimat
ed to l»e worth tji 17,000,000. In that year Bel
gium imported from the United States 15,820,-
200 pounds of cotton, and from England 14,-
209,705 pounds. 1 It will be seen by this state
ment that Belgium imports from England near
ly half thr cotton she uses. The cotton which
Belgium imports from England being Ameri
can cotton, it would, at least, seem to be un
commercial that it should be imported from
England—it should be imported direct from
tho cotton growing States of the American
Union. The above statement will apply with
more or less accuracy to all tlie Continental
c sun tries where cotton goods are manufactured.
That countries possessing the unlimited com
mercial resources which the Continental gov
ernments do, should, to any extent, be tribu
tary to an intermediate source for a large por
tion of their supplies is, at least, strange. It
will be the duty of the undersigned, in this
address, to show the propriety of a change in
our commercial intercourse.
Whenever suggestions are made which seem,
at all, to conllict with the present established
state of things, the value of these suggestions
ill ascertained by a comparison with what now
cxjst. The undersigned proceeds to examine,
briefly, the causes which resulted in cstablish-
i ig the present mode of commercial intercourse
ictweea the Southern States of the American
Union and foreign countries. The first cause
which the undersigned will mention is, that at
first cotton was cultivated to a very limited ex
tent. In the years 1792-3-4, there was ex
ported from the United States 743,000 pounds;
m 1802-3-4, 33,000,000 pounds; in 1812-13-14,
(the period of the British war) 22,000,000
pounds; in 1822-8-4, 15S,%00,000 pounds; in
1832-3-4, 344,000,000 pounds; in 1842-34,
080,200,000 pounds. In 1832-34, 1,064,200,-
000 pounds. At first, and as the culture of the
article increased,, it found a market in New
York, whither it was shipped in sloops and
schooners; thus the coast-wise trade, now so
extensive and profitable, was established, which
from sloop* and schooners, now employs steam
ers and packet-ships. At first, this cotton, to
a very considerable extent, found its way to
Europe, taking its departure from New York.
(The accumulation of the article, it may here
be observed, suggested its manufacture both
in Europe and America, nowgiving employment
to a very large amount of capital, and to mil
lions of men.) Secondly, the principal cause,
however, which may be stated as the one
which heljis tho trade between Southern and
Northern ports established, is to be found
in tho periodical diseases which exist in our
Southern sea-port cities, and which cause, if
they do not require, the suspension of commer
cial business during the autumnal months of
pho year.
The undersigned lias nothing to conceal, in
us resnect. Ho does not hesitate to say, that
would be unsafe for foreigners to visit those
jrts during the fall season of the year. These
liscases do not alwa3'g become epidemical, but
hey sometimes tlo. (It is proper here to re-
itark, that there is one, perhaps two, Southern
So, on a bale of live hundred pounds, leaving
tlie difference §15 20. Supposo the necessary
incidental expense to be §2, then tlie Planter
loses, on each bale, the sum of §13 20. The
undersigned suras up his meaning here, in the
language of ono of your own merchants, whose
views on tiiis subject are deemed both compre
hensive and correct—“lYc understand what in
terest it is to the Planters of the South, and of
the people of all classes, of these States, to rid
themselves of this intervening, so troublesome
to their commerce, and to change this state of
affairs, so prejudicial to their interests."
Another result may be properly alluded to
here. From this indirect course of trade, the
southern Planter not only loses on his Cotton,
he is subjected to another loss; he pays a large
additional per cent, upon the goods of conti
nental manufacture, which he consumes.—
And it will be perceived, that tiiis indirect
trade is not only unjust to the planter, it is un
just to you, for thereby, you arc compelled to
pay a large additional per cent, on the Cotton
which you consume, and receive less for your
goods.
And yet another thing, of no inconsiderable
importance, may be referred to here. The
fashions, by common consent, take tlieir rise in
Paris; from Paris they pass to London, from
London to New York, and from New York
they come to us; ns will be seen, at third hand.
Now, when pur undertaking is accomplished,
we shall receive the fashions direct from Paris;
perhaps, as early as they are received in Lon
don ; certainly, as early as they are received in
New York.
In order to accommodate the commerce
which wc propose, it is indispensably necessa
ry to have a southern sca-port where foreigners
may go, without hazard, at all times of the
year—fortunately ire hare such a port;
These goods, can be supplied , collision in the beaten track and with lialierinen, and
i the dangers of the English and St. George's chan-
] nels, will ever prevent a steamer going faster on
that lineihan what they are now making. And so
far from even this speed being prudent, let tho Arc-,
tic, tlie hyonnaise, Argo, and City of Philadelphia,
shipwrecked in the fog near Cspo Race; let the
President, Pacific and tho City of Glasgow, never
heard of; the America, Canada, Edinburgandaevo-
ral others injured by ice and collision, answer. A
> essel running 400 or 500 milts a day, or even 350 to
380, as some o' them now do, should have an open
se i and unobstructed navigation. In tho Northern
Atlantic, between Europe and America, this condi
tion of the ocean lies alone off oar Southern States.
In passing from the disadvantages tn tho conside
ration of the advantages favoring a Southern pas
sage to Europe, we remark some of these, are gene
ra land others special. Tlie mildness of our climate
is friendly to navigation. The Northern Atlantic is
emphatically a boisterous ocean, and on the Ameri
can coast above 36 deg. of latitude, probably the
most so of any upon the globe. The highest author-
: perceived, by
ments,
commenced) amount to 181,020 bales. There
are very substantie.l reasons for this supposi
tion ; the Gulf ports arc not only liable to the
objection of being situated on fresh water
streams, and therefore, to autumnal diseases.
which frequently, perhaps pcriodicallv, prevail By In nautical science, Lient. Maury, says :
‘ - .* . r’. 1 1 *« . ’ 1 a . , mart i.l tl.M u-iir H <>tY..rfU * mr*r« ill honlt navi!
tions—first, because ships of ordinary tonnage, j tcr - The'fine of steamers farthest North, from
after receiving a portion of their cargo at tlie I Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal, heongiug to
wharf, arc compelled to drop down the river , what is known as the Grand Trank Railroad Com-
wjj®re they recc’ve the remainder from lighters, j lo^linge "i?s "destination 1 ?©'Portland, 1 Mriue; C an<!
which orentre n lurae MiditiOMil exncnsc. sec- not wit listanding, this, has !o;t two ot seven ships
.— : A .I..).:,
which creates a largeadditional expense. Sec
ondly, because the long and dangerous naviga
tion through the West Indies and Florida
Keys, causes much delay and high insurance.
It will readily be seen, that for the purpose
of the accommodation of the trade and travel
which wc propose, steam-ships will he required
at a very early period of our undertaking, but
at the beginning sail-ships will answer the pur
pose.
Having stated, in the foregoing part of this
address, what may properly be regarded as the
first feature of our cntc-Tprise, the undersigned
will proceed to the consideration of what may
properly be considered its second feature; pre
viously remarking, however, that he has not
deemed it proper to lengthen this address by
pointing out, specifically, the various Railroads
and Telegraph lines, which arc now in opera
tion, and those which arc in a course of con
struction. Suffice it to say, that these im
provements arc deemed so indispensiblj’ neces
sary, that they ramify the entire cotton sec
tion.
The subject now to be considered, relates to
the Southern passage across the Atlantic. The
undersigned here states that in the investiga
tion of this subject, he found what he wanted,
(with some slight exceptions,) in a recent com
munication of Dr. Paul F. Eve, a gentleman
composing if, this very winter. Mr. Ifi-dtieM states
the harbor of St John,-', Newfoundland, was known
to be closed by ice as late as the month of Jnue.—
The senior Captain or commodore of tlie host line of
steamships on the present route to Europe, once
■filed from Liverpool in a gale of wind, and for
twenty one days never saw tlie sun, moon or stars,
and, had to make the American coast by dead reck
oning and sounding. Somo of our friends in Charles-
ou and Augusta have a most painful experience
how near the Great Western came being lost in 1846.
On the last trip ol the Cunard steamer America, she
was out nineteen days making Halifax from Liver
pool ; while a sailing vessel leaving Liverpool about
the same time she did, and taking the Southern pas
sage, came into the Delaware in forty eight days,
after so pleasant a voyage that her topsails had been
reefed but twice, and then one of these occasions
was alter her arrival on the American coast. At
all seasons of the year almost any craft may ap
proach the Southern coast with safety, if wo except
the autumnal equinox. We have more sunshine,
fairer weather, and a more eqnal distribution of day
and night than at tho North. I recollect a winter
iu Savannah, when it was said, that scarce a work
day had been lost, the rains having fallen during it,
at nigbtoron tho Sabbath. Owing, too, to the gen
eral mildness of our climate, our rivers aud harbors
are always accessible and never obstructed by ice.
The first special advantage offered by tba south
C-ru passage to Europe is. that by it we hard a clear
and open sea, an unobstructed navigation. From
Sawann.ili ivlnt-L>n Anal Vovfitllr In (lit! Vnt/llsll
'hare one in Georgia. The undersigned has distinguished as well for his general intelli-
alrcady pointed out the causes which make it * ' ’
necessary to suspend commercial operations,
in the southern sca-port cities, during the au
tumnal months of the year. These causes, it
will be remembered, ariso from the peculiari
ties connected with their localities. Xow,
Brunswick (and Feruandina, in Florida,) has
none of these surroundings, and consequently
none of these results. Yellow fever, trhich so
often visits neighboring cities, has never made
its appearance in Brunswick, (or in Fernan-
dina.) But why, it tuay be asked, is Bruns
wick (and Fcrnandina,) exempt from diseases'
which are so detrimental to human life, when
neighboring cities arc so much affected by
them ? The answer is found in the fact, that
Brunswick and Fcrnandina are situated ou
arms of the sea; there are tio fresh-water
streams near these cities. Brunswick Is situa
ted on a high, dry, barren pine forest. But, it
may be asked, is the dty approachable y Will
the harbor do ? The undersigned prefers to
answer this question by quotations from the
official report of Lieutenant Stephen D. Tren-
chard, of the survey of the coast made by his
party, in 1850. “St Simon’s bar runs nearly
north and south, is half a mile in length and
less in width. Seventeen feet ean be carried
over it at mean low water. The general char
acter of the bottom, is coarse sand and broken
shells. The compass course over the bar is
about N. W. and after crossing it, the channel
f ence ns for eminence in his profession. Dr.
vc, although a native Georgian, is now a pro
fessor in the Medical College of Nashville, in
the State of Tennessee. The undersigned lias
extracted from the communication 6uch por
tions of it as suited his purpose, and accorded
with his views
“ At a Convection of the Cotton Planters of Geor
gia, held recently in Macon, three distinguished
gentlemen were commissioned to proceed to Eu
rope to interest capitalists, merchants and mannfac
turers, in favor of a direct trade with the Old World,
and this central city of that State hns taken steps to
secure a large meeting to receive their report next
December. In connection with tins important sub-
jectjto the Southern State*,a comparison of tbe South
— passage across tbe Atlantio with the present pop-
■ route from New York to Liverpool, and a con
sideration of its advantages, may not be oat of
place. The time was when Charleston, S. C , sup
plied in part tbe Northern States with European
goods. In 1792, New Y’ork impoited in value to the
amount 52,500,000; Pennsylvania 03.820.ooo, and
Charleston alone 53,834,000; but in 1833 the imports
into New York were 510,713.000, Pennsylvania 52,-
207,COO, and South Carolina only 5383,000; and du
ring tho year ending 30th of June, 1857, the follow
ing is tbe return of exports and imports lor the States
of New Y’ork, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and
Georgia, viz .-
Exports. Imports.
New York 5134.803.S98 6236.493.495
Pennsylvania 7,184,432 17,855.249
South Carolina..16,140,403 2,019.720
Georgia 10,257,634 779,909
Savannah, Charleston and Norfolk, to the English
channel or west coast of France, a vessel can always
lay her direct course; while from New York she
must first avoid Nantncket shoals, on which tlie
Great Britain, Captain Hoskins, struck; then, Sable
Island, near where the Columbia of the Cunard line,
and now the Hungarian, and close by them (he In
dian and Hnmboltiie; then Cape Race, near which
the Arago and City of Philadelphia were wrecked;
then the fog, ice, fishing vessels, and tho danger ot
collision by which the Arctic, Pacific, City of Gia*
gow and Lyonnsiie were lost, and the Cauada, Ed
inburgh, America,&c., were injured; and yet in ad
dition, those common to the navigation of the iron
bound coast of Great Britain.
Another special advantage of the Southern voyage
to Europe, is that we avoid icebergs. The City of
Glasgowsailcd from Liverpool March 1st., 1854, with
more than 3C0 passengers for Philadelphia, and was
never heard of; it is supposed she was lost by ice.—
the Pacific left Liverpool for New York, January,
1856, and she too left no record of this voyage on
the ocean. The Persia sailing on her first trip, three
days after her and coming into New York with one
of her compartments opened by ice, the impression
was made that tlie Pacific was lost by running into
it. Daring this year, 1856, icebergs were seen eve
ry month on the Atlantic by vessels passing to and
from Europe. Iu July ot this samo year I took pas
sage in the America at Boston, and the Captain said
to avoid ice, he intended to go very far North, but
his ship wus very nearly lost by running into an ex
tensive field of it. He got her into Liverpool quite
disabled. February 19th, of this year, tbe ship
John Rutledge, from Liverpool to New Y'ork, foun
dered at sea by striking an iceberg, and of five boats
freighted with human lives, only one was picked np
containing a single man still living to tell the sad
tale that all others were lost. The City of Edin
burgh, from New York to Glasgow, came iu contact
with ice on the 2d of May, 1839, and put back into
St. Johns with twool her compartments fall of wa
ter. IIow nc-.-t r she was making shipwreck, many of
our readers will recollect from the vivid description
vious and subsequent soundings being twenty
feet. Tho mean rise and fall of ordinary (ides
is about six and a half foot, and spring tides
about seven and a half feet.” By this report it
is seen that at low water there are seventeen
feet on the bar; at ordinary high water twenty-
As soon as the greatest of American philosophers,
:l Benjamin Franklin, pointed out in 1790, how the Gulf .
tends two points more to the westward, run-! 8tr * am could be made an index to the approach of C" «• by * Wf if*r to her husband, which
nine alnnw the nnrtl, broil-er from « hnn.lrc 1 *' le American Northern coast, that moment Southern extensively circulated at the Umeiu the papers,
ning along the north breaker, from a hundred i trade joined, until it may now bo said, with more The Canada had her bowsprit carried away last July
to a hundred and fifty yards from It. truth than poetry, that not a bag of cotton, a hogs- I “J 1 ice, the Persia passed t welveiceburgs quite near
The channel gradually widens, within the bar head of tobacco, barrel of flour cr tierce of rice, is ; * n seven hours, the same month, and they were seen,
to near a mile. As re cards tbe question wheth- mlde in ,he South Which does not contribute to in- J Ibebeve during that Whole, year. Icebergs, then,
er there is less water outside of the bar than cx- wealth of the North. a .
hibited by tho reconnoisancc of Lieut Craven, Tbe Atlantic ocean rolling between the old and
I WOU d state that Caro was taken to determine new worlds, has from its position become the high-
this point and the least water found beyond **I °f commercial nations. No sea floats upon its
the bar was 'Meen/vct, about three quartern of
a mdo from the outer buo\, the lighthouse bear- man> either on business or pleasure. The portion of
ing tv. N. tv. This was a Single cast, the pre- it called the Northern Atlantic is that embraced in
the present examination, and is ot irregular width
While from Greenland to Norway the distance in
miles is put down at 930, and from Newfoundland to
Ireland at 1600, from Georgiannd Florida to Africa,
where it is widest, will measure from 3,GOO to over
4,000 mites. Columbus waf 71 days on his famous
voyage of disoorery, but as it required some days
to reach the Canary islands, and wfiere he remained *
acme time, he actually made the passage over the
unknown seas in 30^
From New Y’ork to Liverpool, tbe distance wo
arc not tho danger of a brief season, as in generally
supposed, but m iy be encountered at any or all pe
riods of the year. Bat below the latitude of 40 deg.
45 min., they have never been seen in tbe Northern
Atlantic Ocean, and this is btlow that of Now Y'ork
city. They can't cross tho Gulf stream, for they arc
dissolved iu it like ice iu hot water.
A third special advantage offered by the Southern
passage is its freedom from fog. Tlie waters of the
Gulf stream hearing from the Tropic* the tempera
ture of summer even in mid-wintor to tho grand
Banks off Nua fnundland, meet here with these driv
en by the winds and currents from the Polar regions
By the condensation of its heated vapor thus con-
tiuualiy operated upon, this portion of the Northern
Atlantic is almost constantly enveloped in fogs.—
They prevail with scarcely an interruption. A
northwardly wind is the only one which brings good
weather on the Grand Banks, and where fishc-rmen
most do congregate. For hundreds of miles, often
Great Britain, by steam power, he can only do so by
f ivor of a British company, on.a British sh ip, coin-
mandedby a British officer, unless be lands a bouth-
nraptou from the Havre line. And on tho Sabbath, let
him be as pious aud learned as tbe Edward s, a
Dwight, a Judson, Mason, or the Alexanders, with
out ho belongs to tho established chnreh of England
or its branch among us, to enjoy public worship,
must listen to the ritual service read by a captain,
who in half an hour, may “swear like a sailor -on
tiio deck of his ship. .
But not one of the original steamers belonging to
this lino non-remains in it. Tlie Columbia was to
tally lost offSeal Island in July 1843. In Novem
ber, 1845, the Hibernia struck on Point Race and
had to put into St. Johns to repair damages. In
May, 1846, the Cambria ran aground in tog ami stuck
for two days ou Cape Cod. June, 1843, the Europa
ran down the American bark Charles Bartlett, aud of
177 souls on board of tbe latter, all wore lost save
43. November, 1854, the Canada collided with the
steamer Ocean in Boston harbor, .and three or four
passengers were lost from the latter. The Am ?riea
in 1836, and the Canada last year, to my certain
knowledge, were damaged by ice; two of this liue
had a cohision at sea a year or two ago, aua several
times others have come very near striking. The
reader uiay judge, then, with all their precaution
and care, aud for which they are so much to be oom*
mended, how true is the remark that no life lias
been sacrificed by the Cunard steamers. It is still
assserted no passenger has been loit on board of
uue of them.
The American line to Liverpool, called <po Collins,
was organized in 1850. In less tl an six years two of
the four ships of which it was composed, foundered
at sea—ono by eoHisou in fog, and another never
heard from; and yet another, the Atlantic, was seri
ously damaged and giveu np as lost for some time.
Of the original Havre line, its two ships, the Hum
boldt and Franklin, were both wrecked, tho former
near Halifax, and the latter on Long Island Beach.
The line lately established by Mr. Lever, known as
tho Galwao, St. Johns and New York, has been very
unfortunate. Tho Argo bos boen lost, the Indian
Empire, Prince Albert, Ac., considerably damaged
within a year or two, tlie brief period of its exis
tence; and tho new company in connection with the
Canadian Grand Trunk Railway, possessing an im
mense capital, and striving no doubt to rival the
Cunard line, have tiiis winter had two of tlieir seven
splendid iron steamers totally shipwrecked. The
new lines to Havre, Bremen and Hamburg, stopping
at Southampton both going and returning, are ap
parently doing well, though tho Austria, from Ham
burg to New York, was burnt at sea in September,
1858, and of 500 to 550 persons ODly 67 were saved;
and two days afterwards tbe Hamraonia, belcmgiug
to the same company, exploded her magazine,
wounding five or six on board. Tho Fulton, Arago,
Vanderbilt and Ocean Queen, running to Havre, are
the only American steameis now engaged in tho Eu
ropean trade. By a notice just seen, the most mag
nificent steamship yet built in this country, the Adri
atic, originally intended for the Collins line, but
which made only a voyage or two, is to be added to
these.
In nineteen years the following fourteen steamers
have been lost on Ibis Northern passage to or from
Europe, viz:
t. Tlie President, (English,) March, 1841, sailed
from New Yotk, having 109 souls aboard, and valued
at 6384,000, was never heard of.
2. Tho Columbia, (English,) July, 1843. lost on
Seal Island, all saved.
3. Humboldt, (American.) wrecked near Halifax,
all saved.
4. Cily of Glasgow, (Eng.) March, 1854 from Liver
pool ior Philadelphia, with more than 300 passengers
besides her crow, never heard of.
5. Franklin, (Arner.) July, 1854, wrecked on Long
Island, all saved.
6. City of Philadelphia, (Eng.) September, 1854,
wrecked on Cape Race, all saved.
7. Arctic, (Amer.) September, 1854, lost from colli-
sion with the French steamer Vesta, and of 489 souls
aboard, 22 passengers and 65 of the crew were
saved; of tho 61 women and 19 children, every one
perished.
8. Pacific, (Amer.) January, 1856, sailed from Liv
erpool and was never heard from.
9. Lyonnaiae, (French) from New York to Havre,
with 30 cabin passengers and in all 150 sonls, was
struck by tbe bark Adriatic and abandoned, only 16
cf tho passengers and crew saved.
10. Austria, (German,) September, 1838, from Ham
burg to Now York, burnt at sea, and only 67 saved
of 5ig) to 550 on board.
11. Argo, (Eng.) August, 1859, wrecked near Capo
Race, all saved.
12. ludiuu, (Eng.) December, 1859, wrecked near
Halifax, three lives lost.
13. Hungarian, (English,) February, I860, lost
on Cape Sable, 205 persons on board and not one
saved.
14. Tempest, never heard from i of this ono I oan
get no panic ifiars.
Making a total loss of life during these nineteen
year* of ocean navigation of about 2,258 souls, and
of property to the amount of several millions swal
lowed up by tbe sea, on this single route to Europe,
aud it still the popular one.
That the opinion sea going steamers may attain
theapeed of even 25 miles an hoar is not problema
tical but highly probable, wc adduce the facts that
the Persia has made 18 knots going up the English
ami St. Georgo’s Channels with wind and tide ; and
the new boat to bo called the Scotia now building
on tho Clyde for this line, is expected to beat her.
During the Crimean war, tho Banshee, a small steam
er, was found to run 20 miles an hour, and is now re
tained as a messenger boat in the British Navy; and
by a contract made last summer four steamers to
carry tbe mail between Holyhead and Dublin age to
be constructed to make on their trial trips 22 miles.
There is no reason to believe we have yet reached
the ultima tkule in speed or size in vessels for ocean
navigation by steam.
Tbe diplomacy and oommerce between tbe old and
new worlds have been controlled pretty much dur
ing the past few years by steamers on the ocean, and
it is quire evident that lately we as a nation are los
ing this power. It is clearly the policy of our Coun
try to strengthen her steam navy. We of the South
have held Conventions numerous enough and long
and loud enough to do something now to develop our
own resources and promote a direct trade with Eu
rope. The time for action has come, but then tiiis
should be done unitedly and in the right direction.
If we could only socure tbe Adriatic and Vander
bilt, tbe most powerful, largest and fleetest of tbe
American steamers, for this contemplated line, there
can hardly ariso a question but that two more of
simi'ar capacity would bo added to it. And in regard
to the possibility of securing tbe steamers here
named, be it known that those ot their class never
pay during the winter on the Northern route. The
Persia is Uid up several mouths every year. A ship
of their size consumes so much coal and costs so
much to run them that to uo well they must always
go full of passengers; but as the dani
rcrsal, it is, at least, so common that it be
comes suggestive of the course which must be
pursued, in any financial arrangement which
looks to tiie control and disposal of the bulk of
tho Cotton crop. The undersigned here re
peats, that unaccustomed as Planters are to fi
nancial arrangements and operations, tiiis
branch of our enterprize must he arranged bj-
the capitalists of the continent who may em
bark in it. However tiiis may be, it is not re
quired that tiiis part of our enterprize should
be perfected, in the present stage of it, for this
matter is rather contingent than immediate;
that is, the financial wants will become mani
fest as wc proceed; they need no arrangement
in advance.
In an enterprise of the magnitude of tlie one
we propose,"It is impossible but that sacrifices
should be required ; these will be required and
should be cheerfully submitted to. But our
undertaking will be relieved, in a great meas
ure, from many: or large sacrifices, or much in
convenience, by the experiment which we are
to make in the Fair of December next, in the
city of Macon. The time has been chosen be
cause then, persons from any part of the world,
may visit the South, in perfect security; and
because the Fairs held, annually, in the adjoin
ing States, will he over, thus allowing their con
tributors and visitors, to be present at our
Fair, with their articles for exhibition. The
authorities of the city, have very geuerounly
undertaken to prepare the grounds'" and erect
the buildings, for our accommodation, and the
undersigned has every reason to believe that
tho merchants, mechanics and other citizens of
Macon, will respond to the requirements of. the
Convention, in favor of this greatest industrial
exhibition, ever attempted in the South, and
which, if properly supported, is intended to be
of annual occurrence. A more favorable op
portunity for the introduction of continental
products, could not be desired—here let your
merchants and manufacturers send their con
tributions and attend in person. Send samples
and quantities of every article of continental in
dustry, for where from fifteen to twenty thous
and persons are collected for three weeks to
gether, every article brought forward will be sold
at a remunerating price. For the purpose of the
accommodation of the Fair, Macon has, by Con
gress, been established a port of entry; to which
the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized “to
extend all the existing revenue laws, prevail
ing at ports of entry and applicable to bonded
warehouses, and to the bonding of imported
goods, wares and merchandize, -and the
exportation of the samo; provided, that the
effect and force thereof, shall only appertain to
importations made for the purpose of exhibi
tion at said Fair.” By this arrangement goods
will be exhibited at the Fair, free of duty, and
said goods (not sold) may be re-shipped, at the
pleasure of the owner. Thus, it will be seen,
in this first practical step in Direct Trade, eve
ry possible arrangement has been made, calcu
lated to give it a fair trial, without loss. The
act just alluded to, manifests the good dis
position of the Congress of the United States,
and the undersigned asserts, that the authori
ties and people of Georgia, and of the South,
entertain the subject in the most favorable and
encouraging light. Taking a fair and reasona
ble view of the subject, it will appear, that the
risk connected with our great enterprize bears
no comparison to its magnitude and impor
tance.
But the city and port of Brunswick, (in con
sequence of the unfinished condition of her Rail
roads,) is not available for our purpose at pres
ent ; no uncontrolablo difficulty, however, arises
from this circumstance. Goods intended for the
Fair, can be landcd in Savannah and conveyed
to Macon by the Central Railroad, which js the
present mode of conveyance. To show that Sa-
vannab i.i a port of largo Southern iitipm tauee,
the undersigned submits the following state
ment, taken from one of her papers, the Savan
nah News:—
Pout of Savaxxaii.—The arrivals and clear
ances at our Custom House, for the quarter end
ing March 31st, show the following result:
Number of American vessels entered, 49—
number of tons, 22,398; foreign vessels, 50—
tonnage 21,310. American vessels cleared, 00
—tonnage, 33,492; foreign, 03—tonnage, 20,-
899. Coasting vessels entered, 178—tonnage,
100,179; cleared, 77—tonnage, 15,498. The
imports to Savannah, ii> American vessels,
amount to $238,198; in foreign $05,189. Total
imports, $303,387. The exports of domestic
produce in American vessels foot up $4,600,-
813; in foreign vessels, $3,480,729. Total ex
ports, $8,081,542.
Direct Trade with continental countries is
now an absorbing question, in the South; it is
discussed by the merchant in his counting room,
by the manufacturer amongst his spindles and
looms, by the mechanic in his shop, by the
planter in his fields, and the citizens every
where. New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, Sa
vannah, Charleston, Norfolk, Richmond, Balti
more, all have their attention turned in this
direction, and are presenting to foreigners
tho benefits and advantages to be derived by
direct trade with them. This strong, simulta
neous and increasing movement, is calculated,
if properly appreciated by the continental coun
tries, to give them a position in the general com
merce of the world, which they have not here
tofore occupied. Articles of continental manu
facture are used in the South to a very large ex-
^ - — - ar f.
Southern people as drummer.-;) seeking business
for tlieir respective houses. The promptness of
the South, under the circumstances alluded to,
in meeting her engagements, has multiplied the
number of these drummers until they now in
fest every nook pud corner of the land.
No people go abroad, (for p’.asure,) uioro,'or
wander further—no people carry more money
abroad—no people spend their money freer, than
do the people of tlie South. Their present cdurse
of travel, is principally, in the Northern States;
(many come to Europe.) There they go annu
ally and leave hundreds of thousand of dollars
wherever they go. Xow, had the Southern
people the conveyances necessary to reach the
continent direct, it is the continent they
would visit; for the continent is full of
those attractions which suit their tastes.
But the undersigned will descant upon the
various topics connected with our great under
taking, no farther. Having stated views with
sufficient distinctness to he understood, hav
ing touched upon the several points^ of tiiis en
terprise, and some ofits concomitants, sufficient
ly to show its utility and practicability, the un
dersigned invites an investigation, a critical and
searching investigation, into the,statements and
facts which ho has made. If his-tatements and
facts be examined in the light of truth, the un
dersigned can have ho fears of the result. Let
our enterprise be established and no Belgian
will feci humiliated, as lie does, when under the
present condition of things, he says—“tiere”
(in Fhikdciphia) “its name'’ (Belgium,) “is
only known to a small number of men, who by
business or travel, are thrown directly in con
tact with it. Manj- who know the name, are not
certain of its geographical or political situation; *
to one it is a part of France ; to others it is a
part of the German confederacy. To almost all,
Antwerp is a Germin port I have even seen
mentioned, tlie name of our commercial metrop
olis, under the German title with Bremen and
Hamburg, in the table indicating tlie European
correspondence of the first houses of carriage-
making and commission of that country.” Do
what is necessary on your part, to.establish Di
rect Trade—do it willingly, cheerfully, and Bel
gium, (and the otiier continental countries) shall'
take her true positiou in the commercial world,
and become known every where, as an indepen
dent government—by your energy and patriot
ism, lift your country to her true position. Re
member, Belgians, (and peopie of the continent,)
that opportunities of making your country
wealthy and her name illustrious, do not often
occur, and remember, that iFyou permit tbifl
chance to pass unimproved, it may be your last,
for such chances in the progress of nations, have
many years, perhaps centuries, thrown between
them; and remember, too, that it is the great
American Cotton interest, that now extends its
friendly hand to you—the undersigned is here to
assure you of the sincerity of the proffered hand
—grasp that hand quickly and firmly; the under
signed assures you, that those whom he repre
sents will do their part towards the accomplish
ment of tiiis greatest undertaking, of this event
ful century. - -
One word more and the undersigned will
conclude this address. It would be unreason
able to suppose that an enterprise so stupen- '
dous as the one which engages our attention; ’
embracing such consequences and results,
would be allowed to proceed without the stern
est and most sleepless opposition. Opposition
must—it will—perhaps it ts best for us it should
come; for we shall proceed with the greater
caution, and consequently, do our work better.
The opposition with which we shall have to
contend, will arise from various sources. The
undersigned, for the purpose of persj>icuit
will arrange the opposition into three
classes: 1st, the Ignorant; 2ndly,
diced; Srdly the Interested. A few
will be salvias to eacn or UiCsc classes: - 1st.
the Ignoraut—there arc many persons, both _
here and in my country, who are incapable of
the comprehension required by this enterprise;
there arc others who will not devote to the
subject the time necessary to its proper inves
tigation and understanding: these content them- *
selves by giving utterance to the opinion “you
can’t succeed,” or, perhaps, express themselves
in taunts, and sneers, jeers and jibes, and silly
remarks. 2dly. The Frejudiccd—these, with
out any reason at all; or perhaps, because
they have not been made conspicuous jn the
undertaking; or perhaps, because of dislike to
those, or some of those engaged in it, oppose
it. With regard to these two classes, it is best^
perhaps, that they should be allowed to pass
without further notice, for they arc harmless.
3dly. Tho Interested—it is from this class that
we are to expect the most steady and earnest
opposition. This is the class whose feare will
be excited—it spreads itself over very extend
ed limits; indeed sometinies.it will show itself
to exist just where it was not expected to be,
This class possesses large means of opposition,
which we may reasonable expect, wifi iti many
instances, be unscrupulously applied. Ir. the
sternness and strength of its opposition it will
cause obscure skies and stormy days to‘dur_
enterprise. It will so ply its energlcs.as "hot’
only to overwhelm the timid, but -p6rhaps to
alarm the brave, for the fate of our undertak
ing. From this class we are to expect all (ho
opposition which ingenuity can invfcrit and it£-
terest inspire. But in the presence of all AI
opposition which may be brought 1 “
let us remember that wc hold-in our 1
nBers'^fhis^line I ^ cnt ' they are never inquired for as arti- elements of success, which if properly :
ire becoming better known few will venture on it % of continental manufacture! As an ex- ed, arc to result |n the establishment of t
daring tbe winter and early spring. Men of leisure 'ample, permit me to quote from one of your own ! greatest commercial enterprise of the E