Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-03-06

leans of this sappng of the Mississippi river at the
other end of its valley, and on the eastern side
are the bars at the baze, and the influence which
the depth of water there exercises the baneful in
fuence which the bars there exercises upon the
whole economy of the ships that are built for the
New Orleans trade.
1t is bad for owners to be compelled to build
ships that will not answer equally well for all
trades. The best carriers therefore cannot come
to New Orleans. If they could New Orleans
would soon find her merchants shipping the pro-
duce that lines the evee direct to its foreign port
of destination, wherever that may be. As it is
the ingenuity of ship builders has contrived pecu-
liar modes for cotton ships-these are immense
carries and can take cotton to England at rates
which few years ago would have been considered
ruinous to owners.
These vessels being once loaded and over the
bar into blue water will take cotton to Liverpool
nearly as cheap as they will to New Y ork or Bos-
ton The voyage is short and perhaps the chance
for return cargos are better in Liverpool, there
fore they go direct. Moreover, the capitalists a
mong you, gentlemen, have not sought sufficiently
to stimulate by your enterprise, lines of packets
steamers, and traders from New Orleans and thus
to extend her commercial relations by sea and
make them equal to the resources of the back
country. Moreover our laws with regard to trade
with the Spanish West India Islands are exceed
ingy prejudicial to Southern interests, and indeed
the interests of the whole country The act of
1884, with regard to the subject ought never to
have existed. 1t cannot be too soon repealed.
In these. facts and circumstances, and in this
view of them, we can see the operation of certain
causes which tend to increase the foreign export
trade, and of others to decrease it.
These cotton ships are not good provision and
assorted cargo carriers. The clippers are for that
The models beat steam One of them-the
:" Flying Cloud has been known to sail 400
Spanish miles in one day, and upwards of 100
miles in three consecutive days. These ships
cannot come to New Orleans The bar will not
let them, and one of them can go to California
and return while cotton drager is getting around
Cape Horn. Therefore it is in vain for New Or
leans to expect to keep pace in foreign commerce
with other cities, when the obstruotions to her
navigation must keep the ships employed in it,
behind the times. Besides, the winds are such
that a vessel bound from New Orleans to Brazil
or California has to 90 out of the Gulf into the
Gulf steam and thea steer North till she reaches
the parallel of 55 degs. or 40 degs., that it is
not greatly out of her way to touch at New Y orl,
and if by touching her cargo can be transferred
to a swifter ship, time will be saved and money
gained, and therefore she touches. Hence, most
of the trade with California in produce of the Mis-
sissippi valley is carried on by the way of New
OIh, Oh account Vi tHc uuII SAILING QutllJleS
which the bar at the mouth of the Mississippi i'm
parts to the models of ships.
In all these circumstances are to be found lamps
to our feet and lights for our eyes, attempt
to divine the way by which enterprise and energy
may restore to New Orleans all the advantages
which their absence from her high places has suf-
fered to be taken away from her, or to be with
held because never enjoyed.
The objects of the Convention as set forth, in
the Committees circular, of Nov. 4th, 1851,
care, as far as possible, to bring about concen-
ration and unity of effort in all these States, in
the extension of their rail road systems, and in
bringing into more active connection their popula-
ton and their industry"
But it seems to be the wish of the committee
that should contine my attention to the extension
of Southern and Western commerce, the home
and foreign trade, &c. Therefore, being invited
out to Sea, | shall let the railroad, which it is
the especial object of the Convention to encour-
age, alone; l take my departure from the pre-
misses above stated and stand out at Sea.
The apparent decline in the business of New
Orleans is, as | have already intimated, due tc
the effects of the telegraph and rail road, and tc
improvements in steamship building and naviga
ton, in which New Orleans has not been able tt
participate equally with the Northern cities.
This is the root of the matter. What then are
the steps which the South and West ought to take
! What are the measures which they ought to adop
in order to insure to them that degree of com
mercial wealth and prosperity, which their re
sources and geographical position entitle them t.
expect
The answer to this question lies under severa
heads, and the principal of them are these:
1st. A liberal policy on the part of New Or
leans, touching fees of various kinds to which tn
produce and shipping that come there shall b
subjected.
End Embankments to confne the Mississippi
river to its channel.
3D. To deepen the water on one of the bars i
the passes of the river,
4th. The establishment of lines of Sea Stea
!, mers
, 5th. Attention to the mineral resources of th
r Mississippi valley, and free of its manufae
turing facilities
9th. The openining of commercial intercours
across the Isthmus.
: 7th. The establishment in the Mississippi vale
of Navy Yard, Depot and Work Shops, whic
! in war shall have strength, capacity and resou
: ces enough to give us command of the Gulf
e Mexico and control of the commerce passn
/ through it.
r 8th The free navigation of the Amazon rive
and the building up there of those business rel
tions and friendly ties which hold Nations togetl
er in the bonds of peace and friendship.
o Such are the questions which I propose to col
S slider, except SO far the proposed railroads ma
be involved in the case, that as already remarke
o l leave to wiser heads.
o If the people of the south and west will be b
: true to themselves if they will put their shoul
h ers to the wheel, and as one man appear in Il