Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-07-29
[WHoLr No.saasl

properly with the prospect or Q distal1e
return, 5az.7g : IS $3.50
Nmaybe asked, why does II not hap.
pen In the Southern States! Il q answers
ed, frat, because none are southeTly
enough 70 be wholly free from eoldsNS
winter, which renders savage life very
difRenlt to men, born in hot climates ,
and secondly, because the Southern
States, are mostly surrounded BY the sea,
and BY mountains, the whole population
OF which Is white, and which cut of the
reorganization between the slaves and
the vast foreats Of the interior parts.
But let US suppose all these difficulties
overcome, what commercial advantage
can France derive from the settlement Of
this colony The productions of Louisi-
ana being the same with those Of the
West Indies, no advantage Is TO be- reap
cd, for the islands, being wen cultiyat-
d,will suffice for the wants Of France and
even all Europe. The Introduction Of
those from Louisiana, would only lessen
the price without adding any thing o.
the value, and France would Sc obliged
to prevent the ruin ofthose who had en-.
ployed their funds inethe colonies, 10
initiate the Dutch, who destroy their
spices and teas, when the quantity Of
these commodities in Europe Is large
enough to cause adepriciation Of sheirya.
lue. The productions Of Louisiana,
which do not grow in the West Indies,
are only lumber, and perhaps rice; but
il iscertain that those productions, con-
sidering the difficulty Of procuring them
in hot and unsalubrious climate, win
not cover the outsets, OF, at least, win
not yield the same profits, As would BE-
procured by raising them in the islands,
procuring the same or other and more
valuable articles. y&
The proof Of this is found in the Unit
ed States. II Is not from Georgia nor
South Carolina, that the West-Indies
are supplied with lumber, but chief from
the Northern States,where forests are
more scarce and more valuable than in
the south. The cause Of this e, that the
supplying Of lumber, the mills necessary
to prepare them for sale, al these are the
work Of free hands, which are satisfied
with moderate price.
shall presume further TO lay down,
however paredoxieal il may seem, thas
il Is not advantageous for France to- sup.
ply herself with lumber, eyeni IL she could
procure il from Louisiana. ] have two
reasons to offer. Z What lumber the nor.
thern ltates supply her colonies with i
paid for Ia molasses and some RUNE
The 6rstarticle costs the planter nothing
for, were itnot for that, this would be
! anuseless production Of his sugar, and the
second is but very moderate expense for
distillatieh. lit were consumed In A.
merica molasses would Be thrown away
rs useIess, and this was the case when
America was 4 British colony, because
French commerce does not offer any o.
ther market fof that commodity.
Il may, therefore, be said that the co.
!lonies have from the United States,lum-
Der for nothing. Should, on the contra
~, . settlement be formed In Louisiana
for the supplying Of that article, every
expense and outset ofthis establishment,
All the labour necessary 70 cut, saw, and
| transport it 10 the place where itis 10 be
sold, would be real loss for the nation,
even admitting that the cutters and o.
ther men employed, should tAke as pay.
ment, mplaaaes and rum; because their
labor would produce nothing to the nati-
on.
But it il certain that Louisiana could
not furnish amarket for molassss or rum.
Il il only in eW-England (Northern
States,) that those articles are consum-
ed. The inhabitants Of the South prefer
! ardent spifits, disnIled from grain, APP
pies, and peaches, tothose distilled from
Il molasses. s. .gs ~. ts..grsa
On the superstition, therefore, that
| the planters supply themselves with luni-
Der in French colony, exclusively at