The southern press., 1851-12-03
Direet Trads.-cIreular No. 4.

DhCUt AHhuCs--tuOuiuh
In our last we promised few reflections for
Southern merchants.
We aid not presume to enlightsn our com.
mercial men, or to set up any new attractive
theory to them but would only call their atten-
ton to the vast advantages that may be obtained
by the immediate establishment of and carrying
into effect successful rect trade with the
Continent Of Europe.
We know that OF all classes of men and occu
pations, commercial men and commercial pur.
suits act the most powerfully upon The destinies
of mankind 1t is through commercial inter.
course that the world has and will be civilized
and Christianzed.
Commerce on the seas, like The press. on the
land, gives tone of character To the nation and
people to which IL belongs an1 BY it the wealth
and power of nation is mainly estimated abroad
and supported at home
To develope, more fully the cotton manufac-
turing resources of the continent Of Europe, and
to bring cotton goods into more general and
more extensive use, is the most plausible plan
than we can at present propose - .,'
Our object is not only to foster and encourage
every market that we now have hut 10 create
neD ones, and thus extend the conaum 0tion and
manufacture of our uaSt and pdLuable produc-
lions. viz .. >.....
II all the continent of Europe made general
and free use # cotton goods, as do the North
American continent, the kingdom of Great Br.
tain, and the republic of France, FIVE millions Of
bales would not be an over-stock-and go still
farther, and extend it over Asia. Africa, and
other portions of the world, and ten millions of
bales would be an exceedingly small supply.
Now if commerce and manufactures be good
means of extending civilization, Christianity,
and education, is not direct trade" an enter.
prise which invites the patriot the phianthropist
aud the Christian, and which offers to them
widespread and fruitful field for their labors!
But to return to the main point for immediate
action. We wish to establish line of steam
ships and other vessels, to ply directly" between
the Southern States and the continent of Europe !;
making " Savannah" and /" Amsterdam" the main
ports, and to touch zen route" at London or
Haure, if thought advisable.
The continent of Europe is already making
considerable use of our productions, and it be:
comes our interest to promote by every means
in our power a free and extensive consumption.
But word to" commercial men {" is suffi.
Gent"
Now will mercantile men of the South give
this matter Il serious thought! and will they
avail themselves of the advantages of "direct'
tmportations, instead Of paying at least twenty
five per cent. to others for importing for them
Or will they continue to pay twenty five per cent
commission, and Of course be compelled to
charge it to the consumers?
And now, lest our communications should be
rendered the more tedious by multiplying their
numbers, we will include the agricultural and
manufacturing interests in this
IL the foregoing proposition be true or reason.
abe, shall the Southern planters and the Ameri-
can manufacturers stand aloof and withhold
helping hand? We trust not We ask of them
to avoid all intermediate expense and ship por-
ton of their productions "drect 10 the con.
suming market and countries.
Our commercial men stand ready to perform
their part in direct trade" We propose to re-
ceive from merchants their orders for such of the
products and manufactures of other countries as
they are acquainted with and may desire, and to
import them. We propose also to send agents,
or otherwise procure from manufacturers every
where samples of manufactured articles, with
the prices, from which our merchants may select
and order such quantities and qualities as they
may desire.
From planters and manufacturers we propose
to receive their productions, and ship to such
markets as they may designate, and to make
liberal advances, as political and financial cir
cumstances may justify, say two-thirds to three.
fourths Of the market value.
We shall, in our next say something Of the
financial organization necessary to carry out the
plans for " direct trade.
Very respectfully,
q. w. GARMAET g. Co.