The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-15
S ID MI-W Il ID TX IL W.

II
must .import" rs well az aexport" Sir, We
must have adirect trade" Il must be Il is folly
10 hesitate and debate about that which Is newt
able Pass these resolutions, give the weight
and authorityiof this convention TO them, and the
friends Il "direct trade" will produce results,
conclusive and satisfactory 10 the most preju.
diced mind.
Admitting therefore, the importance Of ''direct
trade" and the necessity of its immediate esinb-
lishment, | come 10 the confederation Of the
nodus operGndi, the means Of establishing it,
This Is convention OF cotton planters. True
| IL is, you are not commercial men, but you have
mighty trust confded To- you. Mighty interests
are now, and have been within the power OF
your control How have those interests been
promoted Does the history Of the past justify
your further indifference and inaction The
cotton ps.alers must act. You must have the
affirmative on this question. The humber and
weaker portion Of your fellow citizens .and
neighbors, are looking to you for action. You
have been appealed TO as the last hope, for tell
you, that the whole Southern seaboard, from the
Rio Grande to the Chesapeake, Is completely In
the hands Of New York and English agents,
agents whose most vital interests are involved
in this issue. The issue Ia between them and
the friends of "direct trade" the first step 10 the
you sustain US? We want your individual and
united support shall we have il! The cause Of
"direct trade" is in your hands, as cotton must
be the basis Of any commercial movem cnt In the
South Mr.. President, hope you will bear with
me, until can get the opinion Of this conven-
ton, upon little subject Of moral honesty, upon
which differ with some of these same agents.
1t is, whether factor can buy and sell cotton
at the same time, with benefit to the planter. |
say they cannot, and in consequence have ar
rayed this influence against my "direct trade"
project. As these astute gents always bring
up long worded arguments about "pounds sterl.
ing" Exchange" "bonds," A. b. c. buys from
Z. g. T., who draws on d. r. v. &c. &c, and
other equally mystifying subjects. / will place
the thing simply before you as it is. Mr.. John
Doe establishes himself in one of your seaports,
and address you as follows:
place and date
Dear ir:-I have opened commission house
in this city, and take the liberty Of forwarding
herewith, my circular. If you will confde your
interests 10 my hands, be assured they shall be
advanced every way in my power,
Very respectfully, &C., J. DOE"
You send him your cotton. He then ad.
dresses the following, to buyer:
Same place and date.
NY Dear Sir:-Enclosed please find my cir.
cular, as am perfectly familiar with the IN ar.
ket, any order you may send me, be assured,
shall be filled to the best advantage,
Very truly, J. DOE"
Now gentlemen, what is your interest
g High prices" What is the manufacturers !!
L1,o prices. | leave the subject to your medi.
tation The thing is being done constantly.
have taken the ground that there was something
rotten in Denmark" and informed one of these
houses that en- expression of opinion on this
delicate subject, Gas he mildly termed IT'D should
be had. will ask, "do you approve of this
mode of conducting your business" am glad
to see by your hearty response, that you do
not. ] wish with all my heart, that some of the
believers in this doctrine could hear it. hope
they will feel it, and that severely.
Bot, Mr. President | meet with opposition
from other quarters also. The best argument
after all, is experience. There is enough TO re-
commend "direct trade" at least to entitle il to
trial. For that purpose propose in my reso.
| luton, that each planter send small portion OF
his crop, say one-tenth or twentieth, or more or
less as may be most convenient to him, and con-
sign il to Messrs. Hartsen g. Bro, Amsterdam,
Holland, through their different ports. BY this
means, few cargoes from each port can start,
| dUu u VIII ldl tuo lOuhuatiou iOt iUhiSa SOh-
sipnments, if the account Of sales prove salts
| factory. II also creates an assorted market, as
the cotton will by this arrangement, come from
every section of the country. The results be-
| ing brought to the attention of many different
planters, will demonstrate clearly, If "drect
trade" be feasible or not These vessels will
return with assorted cargoes for Southern con.
sumption, and il the goods are as cheap or
cheaper Gas we contend they will be- than New
| York supplies, we ask preference for them. ]
would recommend to those planters wanting
stores, coffee, negro blankets, and other articles,
to forward their orders. They will get these
things ut original import prices. / have formed
houses in Richmond, Charleston, Savannah, and
Mobile, who are engaged in this direct trade"
business. They have the means of advancing
| literally for these small consignments, and with
less ffeights and charges, guaranteeing Liver
pool quotations. What more is wanted! The
planter can ship through these houses, or, in.
struct his usual commission merchant TO send
80 many bales TO Amsterdam The issue is now
fairly made, for the first time in the South for
"direct trade" or "non.action." Ships will leave
these different ports regularly, If they sail empty
! The thing shall hare a fair trial. appeal 10
every planter in hearing Of my voice, "will you
load them !" Say the same thing at home, and
make your nelghb0rs act with you, and "direct
trade" will be established Your "direct trade
houses now formed, are being formed in the
South ask your support. VIII you give IL!
Will you pass these resolutions calling upon
every planter TO give his mite Gentlemen, am
much obliged for your answer but, let there be
something more than words. Let the thing be
done. II "direct trade" cannot sustain ITSELF II
deserves to fall. II il can be sustained, il should
be encouraged.
Mr.. President, do not consider this alto.
gether a matter Of dollars and cents for the
present You want new and large market for
the continent. You want continental depot
which will relieve Liverpool Of that yearly sur.
plus, which is so injurious to the price of cot
ton. Pray, Mr. President, what is that Liverpool
surplus? Why, sir, il is that portion Of the
cotton crop sent to Liverpool, which England
cannot consume. Because, IL she could con
sumo II she ,coud, and if she did, II is very clear
there would be no surplus. Theifact, sir, that
there is surplus, proves that we send England
more cotton than she wants. The thing is as
clear as day. Why, Sir Charles Wood, secretary
10 the English treasury, the most stupid mar