Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-03-13


not all aquatic, it is not by any means probable,
that Brazilian enterprise would be sufficient to
supply the boats and boatmen requisite for this
river trade. She cannot do it now
But are we prepared to let Brazilian capital and
Brazilian subjects compete with our own people
for the business, the river trade Of our own Mis-
sissippi waters We should ask nothing of Bra
zil which we are not willing to render to.Brazil.-
Are we prepared therefore, to offer to admit Bra
lillian subjects to an equal participation with our
own citizens, of the trade of the Mississippi river,
on condition that she will admit citizens to an
equal participation with her own subjects in the
river trade Of the Amazon and its tributaries
Thatzi is the question, to which | desire to
draw expressian of opinion from the conven-
ton because believe that opinion being regar-
ded as the opinion of the people of the Mississp=
pi Valley would have bearing upon the subject,
one of practical nature and paramount i'm
portance.
Suppose that the United States should declare
that the citizens and subjects of all nations should
have the same right to build and launch boats on
the Mississippi river that people have, that the
right to take freight from one landing town to an
other, and to trade up and down the river should
be perfect and complete to the foreigner of
whatever nation as it is to the American citizen
what would be the effect
Such surrendering of the g coasting trade -
the river trade may be properly called, might
possibly induce few foreigners to send over their
capital and build boats But these boats to com
pete with our own boats would have to be man
ned by our own watermen, officered by our own
people. Among them would be expended all the
money required to build, run and keep the foreign
owned boats in repair. True, such a law might
interpose with American owners.
But instead of such a privilege being offered to
all nations, suppose it were offered only to Brazil
in exchange for like privileges to our own citizens
upon her rivers, what would be the result then?
Why this, Brazil has not even the energy among
her own subjects to put boats upon her own rivers
where they have the monopoly of trade and navi-
cation, much less would her subjects have the
enterprise to come here and put boats upon the
Mississippi to in competition with our own
On the other hand we who have the enterprise,
the energy, the skill in boat building would with
the knowledge over all the world which we have
in steamboat river navigation, go to the Amazon
and enjoy there something like practical monop-
oily. For it is not to be supposed that if we offer
to divide our Mississippi river trade with Brazilian
subjects on condition that she will make like di-
vision to Us of her Amazonian trade--it is not,
such being the bargain, to be supposed that any
other nation would on either side be admitted into
the arrangement.
There is but one Mississippi river and but one
Amazon river in the world and there is no equiv
al lent for tho FREQ NAVIGATION Of the one but the
free nayiration of The ofber TLerofora NO ma
tions on the earth can buv and sell commercial
commodities of such value.
The ouestion tbus narrowed down is simply
tbis. in enlargino and exfending the foundations
Of tb coror,eTcia7 system which i to make Of the
limited States the greatest nation tbe world ever
eavv and of tho Nfississirri valley tho heart and
ceDtr of # are ,o1, willino to rive the free nayi
cation of fbis river for tbaf of fI,e Amazon .
The subject of the free NAVIGATION of the ANA
zon and is tributaries IS q vast one. rhave
barely toucbed il nor is it necessary for me to
attempt 4 discussion Of il. do it Justice I could
not To 90 info tbe merits of either with the
Committee or before the Convention, in whose
behalf have been drawn INFO the subject. 7 have
not the time. not the abilities; | merely wished
to nut the question. and to subscribe myself cen
tlenen of the Committee.
Yours De Nj. T. MAURY.
Messrs. GLEHDY BURER, A. D. CRossMAN, and
others. Committee s. w. Railroad Convention
New Orleans.
------
nzg~ The following is tlie first account we have
soon of the action Of arv member from this county
o,,,t t1;. ,-,+os on ,,ro,,oeitiors of -
.,
moment " t oNP "oIl 'i10 ~ oii'A O"", "''
The bill to exempt from taxation manufacturing
companies IN this State Tor a limited PERIOD with
the report OF the committee that &C 40 "ot pass
came next IN order Inc debate on TINS Dill TOOK
vide range, and engaged The attention OF the
senate untIl laJe nouT'
Mr.. Whl'held, OF LoWndes, I FfesluenI ol tne
senate, contended Tor the bil that IN many parts