The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1853-11-13

COHHESP ON b & N G E..
s----s@
The Crescent tJity--by Piecem cal !.

Tor very many years past, the monetary
affairs Of the world have been govern
ed Or controlled in b greater Of less
degree. Tie great William Fit onet
said In the House Of Lords HCom
rnerce Is lingly,' q declaration q
practically true in every sense rs afij
ever uttered by Statesman or politi
cal economist. Although il is true
that commerce rules the world, ye1
commerce, id the mere exchange o.
various products and commodities
would be almost powafless without
utoneY Hence The great seats Of the
Money changers, the Byufse, the FIX
change aud Wall street, have become
points, whence radiates III influence
ind Il power that il felt throughout
the world. Tho Crescent City does
not pretend to be the tldatre If great
movements III money or Of yast opera
tions iii stocks, but she Ia the cantre d
and scene Of grand operations in one
of the great aud lending staples Of one
half Of tho nation-I mem cnttof,ezs-
Here cotton II king and it admits u
no rival. Il Is An atistpefaey Of its
self, and looks down oyntelnptbus1y
upon all other interests |: and hgis d
poor observer Indeed who cannot at
once perceive tile almost absolute
sway it exefts upon every other branch
Of tfade and traffic. There are from
seventy4five to one hundred houses
and firms, besides many outsiders,
whose solo business is connected with
cotton, rs consignees or brokers, end
moi It few Of the firms have one on
more partners who are themselves
growers Of the article. 10 be u success
ful cotton dealer, to understand tho
trade In al il details requires b faith
ful study and practice pf years-to be
able to readily assign 10 different sam
ples their proper rank as 'ordinary,'
''lniddIihg,' good middling,' ''fair,"
&c. aid 50 en-, is " qualification not
easily attained, but which when once
attained, commands the best salary
aud gives to its rossessor a higl, rank
among dealers in the staple A
prime cotton sales clerk is always in
demand, and he can never be ont of Il
situation if he wants one, and that
too when hundreds Of other clerks are
running from house to house, seeking
for something to do, without reference
to pay. DO you understand selling
Cottopp is the first question asked
the white phizzed Yankee or North
erner, whom applying for situation.
mo sir is his honest reply, and ere
he draws breath twice after that reply,
he hears the low but distinct 1--WE don't
want you," which ends tho CONVERSE
ton and his hope from that house. Il
is more difficult to get situation ~
clerk in large cotton house, than in
my one Of our banks, and as this Inay
seem strange ! will explain. The cot
Ton merchant looks to the planter for
all his business, and whatever influence
be ean bring TO bear upon that class
10 procure eonsigninehts from them he
will exert to his litmost-henee il is
lis interest to give to planters sons
and relatives, situations which outsiders
hardly ever get into. Many n son Of
he planter is promised n situation
months and years in advance, and
hose promises even bring to the mer-
liant many Il stray bale Of cotton.--
Hence too, my remark that the cotton
interest forms IN aristocracy by til
seIf. and 80 it does.
| have said that "Cotton il King,
n Now Orleans it Is so here, and moi
,nly in Now Orleans, bat its sway ia
cit throughout all the cotton growing
States Of the Union. The rapid and
powerful strides, in the growth and
,pread Of the cotton interests during
he last quarter of a century, is unes-
claimed in the history u any other
product known in the commercial cir.
les It has kaped as it were at q
Jingle bound from an obscure unim-
oortant product to q commanding and
controlling position in the agricultural
md commercial aGairs ct the world.
From a few htousautl bales, the ex-
ent Of the exports Of that article from
New Orleans twenty five years ago it
low is calculated by the hMnnlEells Of