The southern press., 1850-10-29

a
WEEKLY,
Tha Union Past and Future ::
Hop II Works and hoW 10 Sare Y.
BYA CITIZEN OF VIRGINIA.
IcoNTNuEp.l ~
w, .bal say nothing Of the mineral resources
of the South, which are unsIrpassea .ol ner goia,
;.on and her vast fields Of coal we shall pass
nv.r her numerous agricultural productions and
fuits, many almost spontaneous. We might
.neak of the vine, which can be cultivated not only
along the Ohio, but to still greater advantage in
and Texas. Nor shall we mention coffee, which
IL is toerably certain might be raised with profit
in the south of Florida for the future annexation
Of Cuba would give us abundant supplies. The
interesting experiments of DR.. Smith, in South
Carolina, may perhaps make us independent OF
China for tea, and even enable us to compete with
her in other markets; while climate and social in
stitutions will always forbid its cultivation north
of Mason and Dixon line. We will pass at once
20 the consideration Of the means Of placing our
productions in market VIZ .... ~ :!
A large extent of sea coast not only improves
the climate, but greatly increases the facilities for
commerce. This was one OF the chief physical
causes Of the early prosperity Of the nations on
the Mediterranean, especially in the peninsulas Of
Italy and Greece, and 1t has been no small element
Of Engand's power. The Southern States are
emnently favored in this way. Their coast line
on the Atlantic and the Gulf is 1903 miles, while
the Northern States have only 3, ,295. But to ap-
preciate the full advantage Of the South, we must
include the islands and rivers, to the head of tide
water, which make her whole navigable coast-ne,
22,7Ol miles, while the Northern is but 6,675.
The very compact shape Of the Southern States
make this great line Of navigation available to
nearly the whole country, while the reverse is the
case at the North. The slaveholding States have
an equal superiority in the extent of steam navi-
cation on the Western rivers. The 1000 miles OF
the Ohio may be considered common to the two
sections, and SO may the 1900 miles of the Mis-
sissippi, though ,230 Of these lie exclusively in
the South, while some 800 more divide Missouri
from Illinois, and little over 400 are wholly in the
free States. There are 1855 miles of steam ma
vigation on the Missouri and its tributaries, the
most valuable part Of which lies in a slave State,
and as the whole debouches at st. Louis that city
commands all its commerce. On the other tribu-
tares of the great Father of waters," as we'll as
of the Ohio, there are 5,029 miles Of steam nav-
CATION in the slave States, and only 1890 in the
free States. The whole commerce of the valley
Of the Mississippi, to which the greater part of
the Northwestern States belongs, is naturally de-
pendent on the South for an outlet, which the
South would probably find it to her interest to per-
init the free States to use. There is natural
equity in the free navigation Of rivers by all the
riparian powers, which was acknowledged in the
treaty of Vienna, and applied to the Rhine and
Danube, as a great principle Of European national
law. The cities and countries at the outlets Of
such streams, gain the commercial command of all
the country above, and, in case of war, great
military power. A large portion Of the commerce
of the free States in the Northwest must always
90 to enrich New Orleans. The other part has to
find its way to the seaboard by canals and rail-
roads, at cost Of four per cent. in tolls, while q
fourth part, probably Of Northern commerce, has
to pass through Southern States. There is no
part OF the South thus dependent on the North.
1t is true that federal legislation has made a
roundabout voyage by New York shorter for
Southern trade than the straight course to Europe,
but there is no part Of the slave States whose
natural port is not at home. Two great lines Of
railroad will soon connect the Chesapeake bay
with the valley of the Ohio and the Lakes. A
third line will stretch through the southwest TO
Memphis, on the Mississippi, while the fourth
will form continuous line parallel to the coast
from Baltimore and Richmond, through Columbia
and Atlanta, to Natchez, with numerous lateral
feeders from the Piedmont vales. Western com
lines more quickly than by the Northern, and
without any interruption from ice and snow in
winter. They will concentrate a vast trade at
Norfolk, Charleston and"Savannah. Nothing is
wanting but the capital to complete their improve
ments, which the restoration Of our natural COM
which have substituted steam for sails in inland
navgation-the need for greater speed and GER
tainty in the returns-will complete the change
on the ocean, and give steamships the preference
for commerce as well as passengers. We find
that the custom-house returns show that the pro-
portion of the imports into Boston, brought in
steamers, is rapidly increasing. Swift steam ves-
sells are now building in England to be employed
III the foreign grain trade.t
This change must be Of great advantage to Nor
folk and Charleston, for the calms, which make
Southern latitudes unfavorable for sail voyage
,,vsn tkn,1 tl,a hate
for steam. The trade in Indian corn and South
ern wheat (Which, as we have seen, is drier, more
nutritious, and better fitted for expectation than
the Northern) will be greatly augmented. The
mouth Of the Chesapeake is naturally better po-
sition for great city than the mouth Of the Hud-
son. That beautiful bay, having all the advan-
tages ofa sea, without its storms, has 4,0l0 miles
oftdewater shores, Of which 1878 miles are in
navigable rivers-more than double the number
in the States north Of it. This noble system of
rivers and bays may be said to be free from tenn
perate climate, the rich and easily improved soil,
and the variety of its productions. Add to this
all the country that may be more readily con-
nected by artificial communications with this point
than any other, and there is no site on the At
lantic coast which should naturally command a
larger commerce than Norfolk
We have explained the causes which have pre-
vented the development Of these resources, but
once remove the burdens, and restore Southern
capital to its producers, and the shipping Of New
York would soon whiten Hampton Roads, and
her palaces embelish the shores Of the Chesapeake.
Charleston is connected with the same lines Of
railroad, and the cotton trade gives her equal or
superior advantages. Mobile awaits but the loosen
ing of her shackles to stretch iron road to the
Ohio and who can predict the greatness of New
Orleans, at the mouth Of the Mississippi valley,
with its of million Of square miles, its steam
navigation Of 1854 miles, and its commerce,
already valued at 5000, 900 600! What posi-
ton for that, which has ever been the most lucra-
tive commerce Of the world-the exchange Of the
productions Of temperate and highly civilized
countries for the growth OF tropical climates, and
less advanced societies The Gulf of Mexico
would be commanded by the slave States, and they
would want nothing but Cuba to make it South
ern Lake Howlong would they want that: Peace
a'e annexation would at once follow its indepen-
d nce Of Spain, and that would not be delayed
Iong after the separation of the North aud the
South: There is no just reason why England
should desire to prevent its annexation now and,
IN the event Of the dissolution Of the Union, it
would be her interest to strengthen us, and she
would be bound to the Southern alliance by natur-