The southern press., 1851-08-13
The Commercial Dependence or the south


on the North.
There is, probably, no country on the face of
the earth, possessing more natural advantages
for large and extensive commerce, than the
Southland yet, we have allowed those advan-
tages to remain unimproyed, and tho immense
profits to be derived therefrom, to be reaped by
our more active and enterprising neghbors Of
the North We produce the main supply of cot
ton for the world-the great artery through which
the lifeblood of commerce fows-besdes which,
rice, sugar, hemp, and many other articles out Of
which commerce should arise, that would en-
rich every seaport at the South, and almost pave
their streets with gold. Yet, how is it that with
all these vast resources for commerce within our
grasp, our energies should so long have re-
mained dormant, and our commercial cities mere
depots for Northern enterprise Tariffs may have
had their influence, government legislation may
have had some effect, but the main difficulty has
been in our own supineness and lack of energy.
Our merchants have been content, instead of
boldly embarking in the field of commercial en-.
terprise themselves, to, be the factors or agents
for Northern merchants The enterprise of
Northern merchants penetrates every cline
their ships are found in the Polar seas, in the
vast Pacific, on the broad Atlantic. They come
back to our shores laden with rich stores from
all quarters Of the globe; silks and teas Of
China, coffee from Brazil, the manufactures Of
England, France, the spice Of Sumatra, the gold
Of California; for almost every article of neces-
sity and luxury we use from foreign countries,
we are indebted to Northern enterprise, to which
we annually pay large tribute, the immense
profits of which might accrue to ourselves, had
we the enterprise and energy to enter the field.
Will any man Of sense pretend to say, that there
is any action Of the general government to pre-
went a merchant of Charleston, Savannah, or
New Orleans, from fitting out ships for the
whaling business, importing teas from Canton,
or coffee from Brazila Are the duties on for
eign goods any higher in Charleston than in
New York Look at our foreign dry goods
trade. Freights to Charleston are lower in
Liverpool than to New York. Exchange on Eu-
rope can be had at lower rate in Charleston than
New York. No one will pretend to say that
New York merchants money will buy more
goods in Manchester and Birmingham than q
Charleston merchants Yet, how is it, that Of
the vast amount Of foreign goods sold in Charles
ton, so few are imported direct? How is IL, that
annually our jobbers 60 to the North and buy
their stocks Of Northern importers? They can
not be so yerdant as to suppose that these i'm
porters sell their goods without profit. There
has been no effort made to secure this trade.
| We have not, in Charleston, a single commits
sion merchant for the sale Of foreign dry goods.
! We have none to point out to the English,
French, and German manufacturer the advanta-
ges he might gain by shipping his surplus stocks
| to our market We will venture to say, if houses
with capital, knowledge of the business. and en-
ergy of character, would enter into this branch
of business alone, they would reap a rich har-
vest The trade Of Charleston alone would sup
port twenty such houses. Why is it that so large
a portion of our country merchants seek their
supplies in the Northern markets It is because
they know our jobbers buy their goods there, and
| they think they are paying two sets of profits
! One of the most certain laws of trade is, that
] men will buy where they can buy the cheapest,
| and as long MS we allow Northern enterprise to
monopolize the importing business of the coun-
try, so long will Southern merchants forsake
their own seaports, and swarm in focks an
nually, to make their purchases at the North.
In the leading article Of coffee, it is estimated,
that 40 to $4,000 bags are annually sold in
Charleston, and yet of this very large portion
is imported viathe North. We are glad to say,
within few years past, public attention has
some evidences that the dormant spirit of our
merchants is awakening to their true interest.
Our direct importations of foreign dry goods,
hardware and crockerv are increasing, our West
India business supplies the market fully with
sugar and molasses. It is not an uncommon
thing to see cargo of Rio coffee imported d.
rect, and we even hear Of a cargo of gunny
cloth IN the way from Calcutta. This is but a
small beginning. Much more remains to be
done. Southern merchants must arouse them
selves. Capitalists must come forward and help
the cause. They must circulate their wealthy
boards, giving life and animation to trade, and
reaping rich returns for themselves. They must
L. q.
bank and State stocks, for five and six per cent
interest. Such investment will do for old wo.
men and minor children. Men should always
strive and work. Il is this which gives life and
impulse to mercantile enterprise at the North
Our merchants, If successful enough to make
$50 or 100000, retire from business, and in
vest their money in stocks or in plantation
Where we leave of, they begin. A merchant
in New York, when he has made 800 or $780,
600, thinks he has just got capital enough to be-
gin to do business. His ideas expand he is no
longer content with little things he surveys
the whole field Of enterprise; he enters into
competition with the great merchants of the
world, and becomes merchants prince. Large
enterprises require large means, and by such
alone can be acheved.-Let us shake off our
sluggish Indifference, and awake to the splendid
results which await us, If we have but the
energy and the will TO grapple for the rich
prize within our reach. Let our merchants be
no longer content to be mere peddldrs, but be-
come merchants in deed as well as in name
Southern Standard.
The UEroS Vino PLATFoRM-The Roches.
ter Wing organ recognizes in the platform
adopted by the three Wing committees, the
identical platform adopted by the Wing State
convention last fall, which caused the split in
that party, and led TO the two State orgaDza-
tions-that is the old, Wing, anti-slavery, "free-
soil' and proviso platform. II says:
The principles avowed are The same which re-
ceived the sanction of the majority in the Wing
STATE convention Of last year, and to which the
Wings of the State continue to adhere. In fact,
It is re.afiirmance of Wing doctrines as under
stood and Acknowledged the State and through
out the North, and unil quite recently, through
A IL = y q IA