The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-04-26
The South and Direct Trade.

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The leading merchants of this and every
Southern City, and all Southern men, who
are interested in building up Southern Com
merce, look to direct trade with foreign ports
as the great want of the times. They all de-
sire direct trade, they will write and talk in
that behalf but so far they have done moth
ing more, except to make fruitless applica-
tons to State Legislatures, for governmental
aid They have been, and are now, illustra-
ting the fable of Hercules and the Wagner.
The error Of the day is, to expect the Gov
ernment, State or Federal, to do more than it
was designed to do. Men are not satisfied,
if the government protects them in the quiet
and peaceful enjoyment of their property and
their iberty-it must do more 1t must go
on to improve their property for them, and
to furnish them with all the conveniences
which their position may require. 1t must
dig canals, construct railroads, improve har-
bors, build turnpikes, and do a hundred 9TH
er acts, which might well be left to private
enterprise and capital.
There is, we apprehend, a better way for
the South. While Southern men are wait
ing for the slow movements of the govern
ment, the opportunities of achieving com
mercial independence, may pass away
Once Virginia led the van of the States, and
might have retained her supremacy, had she
duly used her advantages. Unfortunately
for the South, the men Of that day did not
rightly appreciate their positions, and, while
they slept, the North took away from them
traffic with foreign countries. This expert
ence of the past should not be disregarded
by the men of this generation. They must
improve upon the errors of their forefathers,
if they would regain somewhat of the COM
merce which they once enjoyed. They must
address themselves, at once, to the task of
reconquering the spoils of the foreign trade.
And to do this, they must no more call on
Hercules, but put their shoulders to the
wheel, and keep them there until their task
is accomplished.
The Charleston Convention will no doubt
have this subject under discussion. Many of
the delegates to that body, from this and
other States, are practical business men, and
we call upon them to carry their business
views and habits along with them. They
see the folly Of petitioning for governmental
aid, towards the establishment Of direct trade
between the waters of the South and foreign
ports; let them pursue the only course that
common sense dictates. Let them determine
run packets from one or more Southern ports
and, to Oh ain the requisite funds to build and
and equip those vessels, let them open books
OF subscription in every Southern State. They
may accomplish their purpose by this means,
but they never will by adopting resolutions
and making long speeches about the impor-
tance of direct trade.
The only obstacle to the success of this
plan, is the rivalry of different ports, for the
cd
Every Southern City would be a candidate
and as all could not be thus favored, the de-
feated aspirants might refuse to cooperate in
the movement In that event, the question
of Southern commercial independence would
be decided In the negative, and we should
hear no more of it; and that would be better
than the unceasing talk without correspond
ing action. But we assume that all the pro-
fessions which have been put forth through
out the South are sincere expressions of
opinion; and if they be, every Southern
State and City would give an emphatic sup
port to the plan we have suggested. That
would insure its success, and ere two years
elapse, the sails of the South would receive
the kiss of the sun and the caresses Of the
winds.
There may be other plans more feasible
than this, and we are ready to support them
when they are made known. Ali we want is
something that looks to the employment Of
individual enterprise, and that Will put an
end to these applications to our State legisla-
lures, and teach the people everywhere in the
South, the great lesson of self-reliance. Who
ever may suggest such plan and secure its
adoption by the people, will deserve to be
hailed as public benefactor. Richmond
ENQUIRER