The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-28
Hon. r.. J. walkers Views our Trade
with Asia.

the Treasury, the following remarks are made IN
regard to the opening commerce of Eastern ASIA
s'Nor is it only with these nations of Asia, with
whom we already have treaties that the steamship
would increase our commerce, but it woulf intro
duce il together with diplomatic relations into vast
regions OF the East, with whom we nave fortneo
no treaties, estimated to contain one hundred and
thrty-hve millions OF people. Many Oh tnese are
large and populous empires, aoounuiny IN specie
and in many articles which we need, out do not
produce snd desiring also our products and man
uiactures IN exchange Among those empires
with whom have treaties, and little no
trade, are Persia, Corea, Cochin China, Brmah
and Japan, with whom nohin but the steamship
can successfully introduce our commerce. Among
these is Japan, highly advanced in civilization,
containing fifty millions of people, separated but
two weeks by steam from our Western coast. Its
foreign trade Is now nearly confined TO two Dutch
vessels, although it is separated from Holla nd by
eighteen thousand miles, and from our Pacific
coast only by four thousand five hundred miles.
Its commerce can be secured to Us by perseveripg
and peaceful efforts. Our steamships would pass
on their way to China through the narrow channel
separating the two great islands composing the
Empire Of Japan, monthly or weekly, in sight of
both their coasts, and by thus familiarisng them
with our mercantile marine, extending their know
ledge, overcoming their prejudice, and opening to
them new views of their own true interests, would
soon unseal their ports to our commerce.
1.-The acquisition of our immense coast upon the
Pacific, and the Introduction of three of our steam
ships, especially when private enterprise shall
unite the oceans by an lsthmus route, would. "a
remarked in my annual report OF December, lS4S,
'reyolutionize in our favor the commerce Of the
world, and mere rapidly advance greatness,
wealth and power, than any event which has oc-
cprred since the adoption OF the Constitution
The same great subject was again referred TO In
my annual report of December, lS47, as new
commercial era requiring ocean steamers in
addition to sailing vessels, connecting with
China. containing nearly third OF 'the popula
ton of the globe
sour ports upon the Gulf, with those upon both
oceans fronting upon Europe from the East, and
Asia from the West, occupying the central posi-
ton between all the continents of the globe
to them all, by convenient routes, than any other
nation, including easy access TO the whole in
terror Of our own country; we want only the ocean
steamships of adequate strength. speed and mum.
oers, to give as the command OF the trade OF all
nations Nor should We forget, that in carrying
our trade among the great and populous nations
of Asia, and facilitating nercourse with that vast
region, passing from coast to coast in the short
period of twenty days with monthly or weekly
steamships, the light of Christianity, following the
path of commerce, would return with ali its bless
ings to the East, from which 1t rose.
Sin those regions commerce must be the precur-
sor of acknowledgements, which teaches
peace and intercourse between nations; which de-
clares that man Is not the enemy OF man, nor
nation of nation but that the interest of oil coun
tries and of all mankind, are identical, and that
they will all advance most rapidly under the
genial influence Of an unrestricted reciprocal trade
and intercourse.
'sBy our recent acquisition on the Pacific, Asia
has suddenly become our neighbor, with placid,
intervening ocean, inviting our steamships upon
a track of commerce greater than that Of all Eu-
rope combined. This commerce ia ours, If our
merchants and Government should, by their united
energies, secure for Us with Asia rapid and FIRE
quent communication by steam. Our products
and our manufactures, and especially our coarse
cotton fabrics, are precisely what are desired by
several hundred millions of their people, who will
send US back, in return their specie and their rich
productions, so few Of which raised within
limits. From our coast on the Pacific, as well as
from the Gulf and the Atlantic, and the Isthmus
route, we would be much nearer 10 the west coast
OF America, as well as Asia, than any European
power. And with the best steamships in adequate
number; with the greater certainty of the voyage,
of the period Of arrival and departure, and econo
my of time, and saving Of interests, and with
diminished cost of carriage, would ultimately
supply the western coast of America well as
ASIA, with our products and manufactures, on
better terms than any European nation.
"We would in time receive the productions of
the East IN exchange, not only for our own con-
sumption, but to be warehoused in our ports as
entrepots for the supply of Europe. And 80 far as
European fabrics should reach Asa and the west
ern coast of America, they would ultimately pass
chiefly through hands factors, and in our
vessels, events which would very soon give US the
command of the trade and specie of the world.
From these great events the whole country would
derive vast benefits, but especially the city of New
York; 1t would become the depot and storehouse,
and entrepot of the commerce of the world; the
centre OF business and exchanges; the clearing
house Of international trade and business the place
where assorted cargoes of our own products and
manufactures, well those of all foreign coun-
tries, would be sold and reshipped and the point
TO which specie and bullion would flow, the great
creditor city of the world. for the adjustment of
balances, the factor of all nations and the point
whence this specie would flow into the interior of
our country, through all the great channels of
internal trade and Intercourse. With these great
events accomplished and with abundant facilities
for the warehOusng Of foreign and domestic goods
at New York, II must eventually surpas5 in ealth
in commerce, In population, any European en-.
porium; while, as necessary consequence, all our
other cities, and every portion of the Union, and
all great interests, would derive corresp bonding
advantages. Our merchants, must have been
expected in any new enterprise, encount tered some
difficulties in putting their first lines of steamships
into full and successful operation but those obsa
cles they are rapidly overcoming. They encoun-
tered similar difficulties in the commencement OF
their first line of packet ships, which soon, how
ever, Oustripped those of all other countries and
the same success, with liberal governmental po-
Icy in the outset of their great enterprise will soon
follow, as regards their ocean steamships"