The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-15

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ready. given, that the sooner our cotton assumes
this shape, the more valuable it becomes, on ac-
count of the early manufacturer being able TO
under sell those who are far removed. Can we
manufacture cotton yarns? Mr. President, I
have this day examined some samples of this
branch of industry, and | am convinced that
Georgia can now by direct importation compete,
and successfully with England, in the continent
al market. BY direct trade" with Antwerp,
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremen, and
Havre, Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina, and
Florida can at once open profitable trade in
this branch alone of Southern wealth, g trade"
second only to cotton itself. Sir, it is the policy
of these States to foster and promote this " d.
rect trade" for before many years they will be
in the field competing with England, and hope
to see the day, and ,osk forward to a glorious
triumph. Is this interestto be neglected by this
convention, or killed by English interference?
Your shores and lands are crowded with the
finest timber in the world for all purposes, from
making cedar pencils to ships Of war! Shall
this interest be neglected! No sir, we must
promote them all, for they 60 hand in hand
+" United we stand, divided we fall" In fact,
the latent resources of the South would receive
an impulse and vitality from "direct trade" ere
ating commerce the'ychest and most powerful
in the world / do not use the word powerful"
merely in the commercial acceptation of the
term, but powerful" as being in the hands Of
people, one in sentiment, interest, and feeling.
A people profoundly attached to this Union, and
who in their days of unlimited supremacy have
used it for the general advancement and forma-
ton of our common interests. Sir, if slavery
be an evil, moral and national as alledged, its evil
is in its eristence. That existence is the act o.
England herself and Boston merchants. Vir-
GINA resisted early and strongly its first intro
duction. If there be any thing of benevolence
in the institution-if it has been truly said 4" it
precedes the Christian missionary" in his work,
if it feeds the hungry, and gives labor and cloth.
ing to the world, if inspiration, beholds in its
beneficial results in the future, to poor Africa
herself the hand of the Almighty; these results,
sir, is the the work of those who have inherited
this evil forced upon us by English tyranny and
Boston cupidty.. And if in its force and ire
sistable power, The unholy aristocracy of Great
Britain should totter and fall, her labor without
employment and her commerce a tale that is
told" it will be but another record confirming
f" vengeance is mine saith the Lord" Minorties
are always combined, determined and enthusiast
tic, and this commerce would have quality of
about it, that would make it irwin.
chile. Sir, believe the time is approaching.-
The waves Of this mighty sea are increasing in
energy and force, from the very tempests now
sweeping over it, rising higher and higher, until
ere long it will overflow and sweep away in its
irresistible course, those barriers raised by sell
fishness to perpetuate and restrain it. do not
consider this convention thing to pass away
and be forgotten, an assembly with narrow views,
or composed of men ignorant of their power
| do not believe their determinations are to be
as an idiots tale ..
CAN sound and fury, Notwithstanding.
honestly believe the foundation is being laid
of the grandest commercial revolution the age,
ave, that the world has ever witnessed.
But cir, to accomplish this mighty work, We
must not be dazzled by the splendor of its re-
suits, and for that reason deem Insignificant the
means to be used. Great results frequently orr
einate in small causes. We must grasp the
means nop within our power. IL we cannot
start two ships, send one-if we cannot send a
thousand bales Of cotton, send ten. Make a
beginning. Life requires heroism, more than
the battle field. We must have the energy Of
patience. We must cork. We must labor our.
selves and promote il in Others IL is n divine
institution. No man, no State, no country, is
prosperous without it. The sweat that falls
from the brow ofhonest toll is the +" rain" blessed
by Heaven, which fertilzcs and enriches the
land.
But the foundation Of this commerce must be
also laid. As said before, let US use the best
means nO,o within our power, pushing at the
same time other interests. Our shipping inter.
est must be promoted We have all the ele.
ments. We have men of industry and inteli.
gence. Why sir, il am not msinformed, the
model Of the America" the yacht which has
scrubbed John Bull in his own waters, was the
work of Southerner. And what are we now
doing! Actually sending ship building mate.
rails TO the North 10 come and carry our produce
away from us, and at just such freights as
may be most pleasant 10 these gentlemen, which
freiphts and other profits come out Of our pock-
els and goes into theirs. Why not build our
own ships-have our own marine! "Oh! we
have nothing to do with ship.buding; we are
planters" That is all right. No one asks you
TO take hold Of one Of" Archers" premium axes,
and 90 through an apprenticeship, (although IT
would be no disgrace, | take il, especially after
the illustrious example Of Peter the Great vi
Russa.) You raise cotton and let those who
have taste FOR the mechanical arts bnild ships,
and let those who are fond Of the sea navigate
them. Let every occupation have its laborers,
but you should encourage them all. 1fthey can
carry your cotton and goods as cheap give them
the preference. Aai while on this subject, Mr..
President, allow me to say, that it would be bet.
ter for the South if the wealth. influence and
talent Of her young men were taken out OF the
{" learned profession" ~ and made more effec-
tive. should like TO see more civil engineers
educated mechanics, architects, craftsmen,
scientific agricuturalists. We pay away TO
people in these branches enough to build all the
railroads we want, found schools for our people,
open our rivers, clear out our harbors, and sur
round ourselves with those things which make
England so comfortable"
Then IL these things are desirable, il this CON-
mercial policy is growing necessity, If we must
some time have "direct trade" why postpone IT
Sir, I repeat pr scrsstination is the thief Of op
portunity as we'll as time. Give us action Sl'
am for action action! ! action! There i
no such thing as "to-morow." IL nersr comes
Ii is always-"to.day." Let us go TO ioork.
affirm that by our own acts we are improverishine
ourselves. In the one item Of ship-buiding.-
If"A" builds ship which costs him 10000 dol
lars, and "B" similar one in tonnage for 10000
which vessel can afford to carry at the less
fro;0hta7 of nourea And whit The