American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-22
the resources or the south.

the harbors of the South and its foreign coi'i-
mercial relations and positions.
The Sontb cannot boast harbors so numerous
.nd rood 90 the North. There are few coun-
tries in the world, indeed, supplied with 80
great number of harbors, in proportion 10 the
extent of seacoast, as New York and New Eng
land; and the sinuosities OF their coast are
such as to multiply them much beyond those OF
merely straight lines of coast. Still, the South
has q sufficient number Of good harbors to carry
on an immense commerce. Besides II tins
commerce in her own ports were vastly aug
mented, great improvements could be made IN
her harbors Her commerce having flown,
heretofore, through artificial channels, to the
shores of Europe, and of almost every other
country where it has gone, has prevented much
attention to the improvement Of her harbors;
but as we have shown, that of the one hundred
and ffty-one millions of the exports OF the
United States, about eighty three millions are
of Southern origin, it is plain that the South
furnishes eighty three one hundred and fifty first
parts or fifty three one-hundredths Of the nutri-
ment Of our foreign commerce. That she has
not long ago established a direct trade, shows
an important defect in the policy and habits OF
our Southern people. Now that by bitter ex
perience they know that these vast resources
are turned out of their proper direct channels
of communication, it is high time that they
should reform this discreditable and dangerous
state of things.
But to speak of our harbors more particu-
larly, we will enumerate number Of them
enough to make out respectable list, and one
which is sufficient to transact a third of the
commerce of the world as it ultimately will.
All in this list are good harbors. Norfolk is the
best; and Norfolk may, and one day will, be-
come the Tyre of the South, and Charleston
has the capacities of Liverpool, and there is
have them all in active exertion. Baltimore
win long continue to rise, and will always be a
great city, and all those in the subjoined list
will ultimately be cities of magnitude, viz: Bal
timore, Alexandria, Georgetown, Washington,
Fredericksburg, two or three below Fredericks-
burg ON the Rappahannock, one or two on
York river, Norfolk Richmond, two on James
river below Richmond, Wilmington, Beau
fort in North Carolina, Charleston, Savan-
gorda bay and several other harbors on the
coast of Texas. Matagorda bay is probably
much the most eligible of all the harbors in
Texas, its position as well as depth being con.
sidered. Texas has no naturally deep harbor
but the powers of improvement can there, as
well as elsewhere, remove Instructions to COM
merce when once it shall be ascertained that a
great commerce win naturally pass through it.
AS we have said, through these harbors one
third Of the commerce of the whole world can
be easily transacted, and some day not very
distant such tciH be the cdse-for, on investiga-
ton, we find that while the North is most eli
gibly situated for commerce with Northern
Europe, the South is better situated than the
North for commerce with Southern Evope-with
all of Africa, from Abyla to Cape Guardafui,
and incomparably better situated for commerce
with the West Indies Mexico, Central and
South America. Moreover it win be found
that much the shortest route within our limits,
as well as the least expensive, across the CONT
nent to the Pacific, runs through the South.
From Matagorda bay, in Texas, to San Diego
in California, has been proved, by reports and
exact "Reminiscences, to be not much over
twelve hundred miles, on q route most eligible
for railroad. No doubt the Northern route
from st. Louis viii be prosecuted by Northern
men; but il is not the route for the South. We
do not doubt its utility and feasibility; but the
evidence is conclusive that the Southern route
is still more easily practicable, and Of at least
equal utility. Both can flourish by the immense
travel and commerce that will pass over them.
OF the character Of large part of this route
we have much information already published
In the Republic of October llth we find the fol
lowing article, extracted from the Victoria
(Texas) AdUocate:
"RoUTE TO Ell PAso.-We are pleased to an
nounce that Juan Maria Poncede Leon, who
arrived in Victoria few days since from FL
Paso, proposes to make regular trips with n
train Of from twenty FIVE to thirty mule teams
from Victoria and Matagorda bay to chihuahua
or Ell Paso. He represents 1t as sixty miles
less from San Antonio to chihuahua than to III
Paso, over a good road, Astounding in good
grass, which can be travelled Mt any period OF
the year. lie takes out mt this trip seven wa
gon loads of goods for the Boundary Commits
sion, and eight for himself. As an evidence of
the goodness of the roads, we take pleasure in
saying that Mr.. De Leon on his last trip hauled
5,ZIo pounds per wagon, and although the same
mules have made three trips, they nre now in
excellent condition The transfers have en-
joyed uninterrupted good health, and Mr.. De
Icons train, under the charge Of Mr.. Smith
has never suffered the LOGS Of n mule. New
springs have been discovered in places where
water before was very scarce. Mr.. De Leon
says, now that so much is known of the route,
q number Of traders will adopt this route who
have travelled the old one. Thus VIC see every
day developes some new advantage Of the route
by Matagorda bay"
Thus, whichever way the South turns her
eyes, she beholds nature inviting her to bound
less wealth. But wisdom and exertion nra