The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-15
Speech Of @. G. Baylor, Esq.

| u. s. Consul at Amsterdam, Delivered by re-
quest of the g Contention Of Cotton Planters,
| held al Macon, Ga Oct. 81, 1851.
| Mr.. PREsIDENT:-I appreciate the dstin
puished honor thus conferred upon me- Nothing
Mr.. President, but the conviction that every eli.
fort in our cause, from however humble a
source it may emenate, may prove of value
could induce me to appear before an audience
such as this, consisting of the talent, dignity
and wealth of the South But, sir, it is an oc-
casion of intense interest to the South; an oc-
casion, having for its objects The promotion OF
the great commercial, agricultural, and manu-.
featuring interests Of those Southern States
The mastery exposition from the honorable gen.
tleman of Florida, has left nothing for debate
upon those subjects he has treated. My province
is not to act in this branch, except in assisting
its practical operation. | am here for action
Delay has been our great folly. Procrastna-
ton the thief of opportunity AS well as time.
For this reason sir, | wish to introduce into
CIR deliberations the elements of plain matter
of fact business action founded upon the reso.
luton of "direct trade" which have read to
the convention, and which should be made a
part of its proceedings.
hold the proposition that commerce is the
great basis of national prosperity and wealth 1t
RELY for development and expansion. The his
tory Of the world proves this. Direct commu-
nication is the proper and correct principle to be
followed in all commercial arrangements "Di-
rect trade" is the great interest to be promoted
in the South In other words, we should er-
port" direct the varied produce and manufactu-
res of the South to those nations consuming
them, and import" direct those articles of for
eign produce or manufacture consumed by us.
| II therefore becomes the duty of this conven-
ton representing az it does the cotton interest
which ia the foundation and life, not only Of our
commerce, but of the world, to foster and pro-
mote the best mode of carrying on that CON-
merce.
There has been submitted to this convention
several plans bearing upon the question OF
over production" consumption" "regula-
ton of prices" organization of planters" aud
other topics of peculiar interest to the planters
selely in regard to the staple of cotton. These
are subjects too weighty for me to presume
upon That branch Of our proceedings belongs
to ADLER heads, and as | have remarked, has
been most fully amply, and clearly investigated
illustrated. and enforced by the friends Of the
different projects. But hold, in the language
| of nv resolutions, sir "that commerce. as q
! necessary principle, must enter into and become
part of any plan which has been presented
| for the consideration Of this convention, and
a direct trade" the proper medium through
which Il should flow" For instance, in rela-
ton TO the plan of the gentleman from Flori-
da, Judge Browne) and which is admitted by
all to be most Independent of commercial in
Huence. Suppose that the organization desired
in his mastery report is completed; the cotton
of the United States concentrated IN one compa-
nv, and the warehouses opened to the world
New Y ork, Boston, and England come in and pro-
cure their supplies. BY the admirable system
of their commercial and financial arrangements,
they import direct the cotton they purchase.
And they will do it too. For allow me to say,
that England would not be guilty Of the folly
of shipping her cotton via New York or Boston;
nor the North via Liverpool. As much as they
preach uo,c that such system is the best, they
will never be found swallowing the pill they
have drupQed us with for the last 30 years
| These bidders are disposed Of But what be
comes of the continental market, with which
we now have no direct intercourse What be
comes of the small manufactures on the cont
nent1 What becomes of the principle that W.
| must extend, our markets and consumption t.
keen pace with our production rapidly and yearly
| ;ncreasinpl There is sir, no direct communca
ton with these important interests no cores
dents; no agents established no credits opened
no medium of exchange through which Il
transfer the necessary mopicd facilities to ou
shores, to enable item to compete with thu
North and England But we will suppose tina
these difficulties are overcome; that they bav'
| under these unequal circumstances obtained
their supplies. What are they TO do with them
How are they TO convey them to their manufsc
tories9 Either by direct transportation, or cir
cautiously as no,c
Saw that we have no direct trade" and tina
they are compelled to ship via the North o.
Liverpool, what il the consequence The ad
ditional expenses of this unnatural trade. on
ables England to undersell them at their owl
doors; for the more you condense cotton, thu
less expensive its transportation becomes, ant
greater in ratio its value. The nearer il place
Of production, the more beneficial the principle
and the day viii come, sir, when it, manufacture