Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-25
TRADE OF THE EAST.


A communication from the Secretary of the
> Navy was laid before the U. ). Senate day or
two since in relation to the establishment OF line
of mail and war steamers between the Western
COASTS of the United States and the free ports of
China 1t appears from this document that in
thirty years, from 1892 to 1922, the annual ave-
rage trade between Great Britain aud China
alone is estimated at SOS, ,449 and yielded for
thirty years the aggregate revenue of S440,233
422. In the thirty following years from
1922 to 1852. the amount contributed to the Gus
toms of England from the trade in the teas of
Chinaalone, has averaged yearly the sum fSls,-
343, 27o-makiug the enormous aggregate OF
S55o,31I,614. The Secretary goes to say:
The trade of the United States with China
amounts to from sixteen to eighteen millions
puaily, aud must necessarily increase; and the
same causes which produce this Increase must
augment our trade with the continent of Asia and
the islands of the Pacific These consequences
are so apparent and inevitable that it is not
deemed necessary to repeat what has often
been said in relation to the trade here referred
to-
The position of the United States is now such
as to require the most active measures to secure
such commercial counexiou with China shall
bring about an interchange of the commodities Of
the two countries. In this respect Great
Britain is very tar ahead of us. For the
teas and other productions of China, that
country exchanges immense quantities of opium
every year. while the amount paid by US annu-
ally 10 China is in the precious metals. 1t is
very evident that unless our productions are in-
troduced into that country our export OF these
metals must increase at rate corresponding with
orr increased importation. The effect of this
will readily be perceived Since the beginning
of our trade with China imports have excee-
ded our exports more than S1S0,000, 600, which
has been paid principally in silver.
The Use of opium in China has been the great
ctuse ofpreventing the extension OF commerce into
that country, while at he same time many believe
it has almost entirely shut out the lights and advan
,ages of Christianity. If, by any means that our
Government shall employ, trade between us and
the Chinese shall be opened. there isreason to be-
lieve that our tobacco will be generally received
there as substitute for this poisonous drug. This
article, now so abundantly produced in our tcbac-
co-growing States, will then become the pioneer
Of our trade and open the way for manufac lures
of cotton, wool aud particularly of cutlery and
other manufactures of iron; i'll which latter
articles the trade between Great Britain and
China is now very large.
The numerous lines of English mail steamers
place in the hands of Great Britain almost an en-
tire monopoly of the wealth of the East; and
there is reason suppose that this wealth would
be shared largely by US ii our Government were
to adopt similar policy. On the other hand, 1t
is quite certain that it our Pacific coast were
connected with China by line of mail steamers,
we should in a very short while be repaid forany
expenditure to which we should be subjected by
its establishment in the increased intercourse and
wealth it would secure to US.
We find in DeBow's Industrial Resources of
the South, some interesting observations, which
1nay be appropriately introduced in this connec-
too:
ssFrom the earliest periods of the worlds his
tory, the trade of the oriental seas has enriched
the nations who have been so fortunate as to con-
z-trol L. 1t is unnecessary to dwell upon the
power, and the glory. and the maritime spen-
doris of yre and Alexandria, and Venice, and
finally of Britain. who has now usurped the scep-
ire of them all. 1t is trade that has endured
and triuinphed over every charat ter OF obstacle,
ind from its precious value perennalIy flourish |
cd Neither trackless deserts, savage man,
or6erce storms and rude navigation of the deep |
for tedious moths have disturbed its course
Nations have warred for the empire in its gift
and diplomacy exhausted upon it her highest re-
sources.
.tCan the sceptre be wrested into.our hands |
ihroug h the fundamentally of the States upon |
the Pacific shore of the Union Immediately |
proximate to the very gates of the East and will
q railroad connection between the States and the
Valley ofthe Mississippi, connecting with the
lines which already strike the Allan tic coast. az
feet the traffic
1.-The value of Eastern commerce with all the |
world, was in 1341, according to report made in
the Senate of the United States, about $780,
100000. or, to be more specific, in imports $780,
s66.930. aud ia exports S86453, 1885, the balance
Icing greatly in favour of India. The number !
T. Of ships employed was 1884, Of an aggregate tom
f., mage OF 608,5l5.
THE value of this trade has been greatly in
81 creased and may be estimated at the present
time nearer S350,0O0,0 900, requiring about 1000
ships, of the gross value. say $4,000 1000. The
commodities included in it are, in the main,
the most valuable character, being silks, teas.
spices, the finer manufactures of cotton and
wool, indigo, opium, drugs, fancy ware, precious
metals-and these are such capable OF en-
during the most expensive transportations. These
articles might be indefinitely multiplied to suit the
wants, and even the caprices of the respective
parties, could there be any considerable reduc-
ton in the transit expenses
'sA reduction of two-thirds,. or one-half of
the distance. aud similar reduction in time
would lead to an almost unterminated extension
Many new products would then endure transport
tatiou which too perishabIe or bulky
The travel would also be immensely increased.
New markets wouId be opened for millions aud
hundreds of millions of Eastern consumers
The Sandwich Islands bat 10 the in