The southern press., 1851-10-29
fran lss chsFlssisa .ssFapsy.
ifDirest Tra6e'-Ihe Foley Of the FssaseFa
or South Carolina.

South is TO be approached. Our shipping inter
est, our monied affairs, our manufactures, the
value of land and increased value of the sta,
Plies of cotton, rice, and tobacco and slave la
Dor, arise prominently in looking upon this sub
ject II has been discussed for the last twenty
years, and is at this time the subject Of gen.
eral movement on the part of the planters. For
twenty years every effort has proved unavailing
and assuredly will prove so nor1, unless the
planters arouse themselves from their slumbers
and diligently inquire into the cause OF their
evils, the manner to correct the abuse, and the
obstacle heretofore TO that correction. That
there is an increasing demand for cotton in the
world, none can deny; that this demand is equal
to the increase of the staple-and if properly
fostared, would be superior to the Increase
that there is an anxiety on the part OF the gov
ernments of Germany, Austria, Russia, DC. to
introduce the manufacture Of cotton among
their people, so as by giving them labor to pre-
rent those popular outbreaks which endanger
their stability and very existence-that the capt.
tai and machinery of the continent desire invest
ment in the staple OF cotton these are truths
in the possession of every intelligent person.
Yet, strange to say, these results SO desirable to
the planter, have never been attained. Their
staple which should have an intrinsic, high and
fixed value, is the mere medium of er.hdnge for
NEW anu liSeIpOOi, anu pJ a hpot SoS5
lar infatuation Of the planter, is completely un
der the control of those ,oho should be controlled
byi, The surplus usually found in Liverpool is
admitted to be great evil, yet not one step has
been taken to prevent the accumulation OF this
surplus. What does surplus mean An over
abundance. What is the .cotton surplus in Liv-
erpool? ?" THAT amount Of cotton which Eng
land can not nor does not manufacture"
"What effect has this surplus upon the price OF
cotton 2" ut lo,oers it," "What effect has this
surplus upon the extension Of the consumption
of cotton % ut checks it," ..What influence has
it upon the enterprise and manufacturing inter-
est Of the continents" 1T depresses the first, and
ruins the other and stands as barrier between
the planter of America, and the consumers on
the continent, between whom there should be
direct alliances"
This is but one Of the many evils originating
in the present state of things. How are these
evils to be done away with! there's the rub"
Men can talk Of remedies-get up conventions
pass resolutions, and even plunge into des-
perate and devastating war to correct an abuse;
but, when the thing is to te done qnietly and in
an every day way-to be affected by the indi-
uidual action Of those Interested, Nth singu.
larly strange contradiction of their ayowed feel
ings, they fold their arms and decline any active
participation. In explaining this phenomenon
among Sou,herncrs, especially the planters Of
South Carolina, it has been given as reason
that the cause of direct trade, "-tha! commerce
does not appeal to their sympathies. And if
this cause of direct trade" does not appeal to
the sympathies of the planter, what does! His
interest, present and future, his feelings of State
and personal independence, his social and polit-
cal position are involved in this last struggle for
co nmercial equality; for if this hing fails aid
from the continent will be lost And has the
planter assuming that he has his price, the
New York and Liverpool agents say) no other
motives, no higher aspirations, than merely to
wear broad brimlsed hat, mount a stout pony,
and ride down to his gin! There is no class of
people on the face of the earth who have SO
much responsibility to bear, so much power to
WELD. Unhappiy they have to carry the respon-
sibility, while they give the power to their enc
miles, They should take an interest in commerce,
an interest in manufactures, 10 shipping, in in
terua improvements, in everything calculated
to dignity the South; and, taking an interest in
these things, they should wisely and with enter
prise ID perseverance, promote through the
medium of their great staple, which is the foun
dation of any commercial enterprise, this move
ment for direct trade" There IL only one
point to which We would call the attention Of
the planter We do it with reluctance, but We
do il FROM stern conviction of duty, from
full sense of the evil and its dangers, and from
a knoWlei re, derived from high authority of its
active operation even now 10 prevent Z" direct
trade" We do not say that the nofipe is to
prevent direct trade" although il is the result;
but we will say the promotion NJ their olon in
teresL and that Of their specializing allies TO the
injury Of the cotton plan er. That this is the
great evil and the only obstacle, We sincerely be.
lieve and will. therefore, illustrate it, and then
make some suggestions for the consideration of
our friends. &C..
We hold that the interest Of the Gotten plant
ers is secondary TO other and foreign interests,
under the present regulation Of trade. We
hold that New York and Liverpool, by their
complete and wise commercial policy, have OBJ
tanned an influence over cotton interest, which
Is used solely for their own advantage. As an
illustration Of this, we will say. that disinter.
ested agen', Southerner in birth and feeling
with full authority, has tried to promote the
planting interest through the medium Of the
present commercial system. and that he has
been unable 10 do so from the fact that houses
in our own seaports acknowledge their superior
duty to other and conflicting interests, alledging
that they are not disposed Uhough acknow l-dg.
ing the advantage TO the planter) 10 take" as
they express il, business from their old friends
and give il 10 new houses This is all well
enough, and does great credit to their feelings
Of friendship. The question We have to put 10
the planter, is: Are they your friendsp in
other instances, they reply even that they ad.
wise the planters not to change the present
state Of tbings. In some cases. we have known
Of planters desiring this change, and they have
been told: @Oh, il IL better TO sell A. home !;
YOU have no guarantee TO ship abroad, even for
joint account"
Now, We wish il understood. that we are
struggling TO establish market, and every boy
ten years Of age, knows that when that market
becomes so, and direct trade" in all its ramif.
cations is founded upon II, that this pe,y market
1iH hrow into our p0rfs neU bidders and nep
moied facilities for nep customers. For, relieve
Liverpool of her surplus; create continental
depot TO compete with her. let the cotton spin.
ners Of England be opprehensire about getting
their supplies, and struggle for the crop will
take place that will demonstrate 10 the world
the truth Of the assertion, that co,on has an in.
frtnSic p1IUe and will of ,uce and f,rsrsr mt an