The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-05-16

line tatc OF pIOpositloh lcotS WIN Jou' ~" ivy
depends much upon your consideration l. Is sub
ect Of deep Importance and know you will give II that
attention it deserves 1t concerns the welfare OF the
State which you preside as chief magistrate, and
none can feel deeply interested than yourself
You will find me- sir at all times ready to second you
in anything necessary to facilitate the adoption of the
proposition To the extent of my limited sphere snail
be happy to contribute to the wants and necessities of
his my adopted State and country.
Be pleased TO accept the expression OF my most pro-
found respect, and believe me, yours,
E. LAcoUTURE.
Franco american Transatlantic Navigation Company,
The Franco American Transatlantic Navigation Com
pany directed by Messrs Gauthier Brothers. was organ
lied at Lyons with primitive capital OF lS 00O 900 francs
entirely realized Ii has since been increased to 60OO0,
900 francs entirely subscribed of which the larger por
ton furnished by rich capitalists and merchants OF
Lyons whose relations with the United States are cons
cradle Ii possesses eight large iron screwsteamers Oh
yided into tertght compartments and completely in
submergeable. Two Others of $500 tons burden and
horse power the stocks ut Nantes and VIII be
ready early in 1851 II has organized semi monthly
service with New York, monthly service with Fmzl,
and like service with New Orleans, touching at the
Antilles and Havana.
Deeply convinced of the advantages that must some
day arise from line of service with the centre OF the
United States Messrs Gauthier Brothers. in connexion
with NJ de Iacouture founder of the Franco Alemande
Society of Emgrants to Virginia presented to Mr. Mason
Minister of the United States at Paris, proposition Tor
the immediate organization OF line OF steamers between
Nantes or Havre and Norfolk or City Point They now
the proposition to his excclency the governor OF
Virginia. upon the express condition that they shall re-
ceive the of twenty-five thousand dollars per yoy
age Ito and ro) from the State during period OF five
years In return for which they will carry the mail for
the government to France and the continent OF Europe
After the expiration of the five years. each party will
be at liberty, respectively to continue the service
L. LACoUTURE
RICHMOND, VA, November !, 1856.
Franco Amcrican Transatlantic Navigation Company
The Franco American Transatlantic Navigation Com
pany organized with capital of 200 900 francs, pos
eight iron steamers with tonnage varying
from 1000 to $500 and power three OF which
employed by the French government IN transporting
troops and munitions to Orient They now disposabe
Two others, Of $500 tons burden and s0Ohorse power,
the stocks at Nantes and will be ready for service
early next year
Ii has already established monthly line with Rio Ja
neiro semi monthly line with New York, and is about
establishing third line with New Orleans The many
consultations that Mess Gauthier Brothers, principal
directors of the company have had with NJ dc lacou-
ture regarding the of Virginia and her border
States induces them to believe that in short time line
of steamers running to the waters of the Chesapeake,
will develop the commerce and industry of that part of
the central States of the Union and will offer an immense
outlet to the agricultural products of the country.
They have read with deep interest the letter of the
Hon John Y Mason, of 18th September, 1852 and that
of Daniel H. London esq, addressed TO M, de Iacouture
and being convinced that the international reports with
France would augment rapidly and give new impulse to
the State of Virginia they have interested themselves IN
her prosperity, and have aided in the formation OF the
Franco Allemande Emigration and Colonization Company,
founded by NJ de Iacouture.
They disposed to open Immediately navigation
line with Norfolk any other point bordering on the
Chesapeake by uniting themselves with Virginia com
pany that will furnish onehalf the necessary material, or
they will undertake the establishment of the line alone
but the present state of relations of the southern States
will not permit them to hope that the commercial traffic
will be sufficient for the present to support the line and
render just remuneration for the capital invested by the
company.
IT. as stated to Mr. London by M de Iacouture, in his
report OF 10th September 1852, the Commonwealth OF
Virginia will consent TO pay the of twentyy thou
sand dollars per voyage the Franco American company
will engage to establish monthly service, commencing
first September next, between Norfolk and Havre OF
Nantes.
If this proposition should appear to Mr. Mason suscept
bic of being approved by the government OF Virginia, it
will be put proper FORM and addressed to the governor
of Virginia
copy Of the above was delivered to Mr. Mason, min
ister at Paris.
RICHMOND, (va.,) April IL, 1851
To E. LAooUTuRE, Esq
SIR Your memorial to the governor Of Virginia of the
It'll November last has been duly considered and have
now the honor of communicating formal reply
The economical condition of the State of Virginia. and
the causes which have influenced affected its results
need to be explained and understood IT is not wonder
full that they misunderstood abroad whilst they
little apprehended at home and that strangers
neglected generalze the facts Of our history; and our
neghbo in the sister States of the confedcacy have not
failed to make profit ont of the anomalies of our modes
of life and at the same time to misrepresent our indus
trial character.
In the first place. call your attention to the fact that
first settlers all planters and the earliest interest OF
our people plantation Interest This was something
more characteristic than agricultural interest simply it
occupation of land in very large extent by liberal
propretor who cultivated staple crops of tobacco grain
and cotton by slave operatives whom they encour-
aged by Great Britain to import from Africa during the
whole time of colonial existence This in itself was
opposed the concentration of capital and population
necessary to generate trade and commerce.
At the same time the mother country discouraged the
navigation and commercial interest of all the colonies,
and monopolzcd the carrying trade almost entirely to
herself.
Again Looking at the map of Virginia. you see the
whole Atlantic lowlands watcred by the Potomac, the
Rappahannock the Piankatank, the rivers of Mobjack
bay the York. the James, and the Roanoke streams RI
sing in the great Appalachian chain of mountains and run
ming few miles only apart from each other in parallel
lines west TO cast and all OF them except the last
cmptyng into the grand reservoir of the Chesapeake bay
which entirely off the main eastern peninsula Thus
all the and stsettled part of the territory was
found naturally divided into less than seven distinct
peninsuas separated from each other by eight considc
BILE bodies of navgablc waters. Up all these waters the
tonnage Great Britain came and found facilities of ship
ment everywhere deep water, wharfage and accessible
ty navigation up to the very steps of the Blue Ridge OF
the Alleghanies
This also tended to difusc population and capital and
prevented the concentration OF either at any point to
form city for purposes of commerce Every plantation
-.