Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-03-24
SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL LCOMMuNlCa-
TION WITH ErRnpE

pose OF making an effort to induce the ley,a,hnn
steamer Great Eastern, to make the port of Norfolk
the terminus of her route on ihls side of The Atlantic
Will oe an admirable movement and in the right d.,
reotion. Tho people of the South seem TO be
awakening at last TO estimate Of their resourcss,
and an appreciation of their interesls The North,
simply by dnt OF impudence, energy and enterprise,
has too long enjoyed The monopoly of European
trade and travel. And we ara rleas.d and nroud
to perceive, that our own people are bev;,upg to be
aroused from their lstbarpic ind ff.rsnc.. ,b,,
they have determined to become competitors in
"'"' ~ WHICH 'hey need nothing but unity aud en-.
ersy so 10 employ their superior natural ad.
| 'a"'ase' as 10 yield to them, that precedence in
commerce 70 which they are eutlsd Not only to
virginia, but to the entire South, from MARYLAND to
he1lco' This scheme for the establishment OF imne.
diate communication with the ports Of the I'D world,
10 project pregnant with interest and Importance in
every Imaginable point Of view. To Virginia ii IN.
foid- an limltabs aeid OF enterprise ard improve
ment' II opens an accessible outlet to the markets
OF tne world tor her produce. II unocks her natural
cnannels OF communication now converging towards
the sea from every district Of country within hsr
borders, but staguatng before they reach It, because
the end. 1t will make her territory, too the traust
Tor the trade aud travel Of all that vast region
unmeasured and immeasurablo In it's varied re-
sources, extending from Chesapeake Bay to the
kio Gel No.!e. Lst line Of large steamers
be established between the city of Norfolk
end sny one of the important European ports,
and in very short time the railroads and rivers and
canals in Virginia will be inadequate to the e1igen
cies of the entsrpri,e-iueffcept to convey to
the seabosrd the multiplied and multiplying products
not only of her own labor and lands, but Of an EN-.
prs vast in territory and invaluable n Its sources of
wealth and strength. Norfolk will then become the
entrepot of tho entre trans atlantic trade OF tie
South; it's capacious harbor will become the eepara.
ting point between the provinces Of the land and sea
the compartment in The economical mechanism of
nature, in which the products Of agriculture and
manufactures transferred from the hands of the
mother srl. and entrusted to the care of commerce
Richmond is the Manchester, Norfolk the Venice of
Virginia. Agriculture aud the mineral riches of the
earth are the sustaining supporters Of BOTH We
make this sliusion only as an opposite and prac.
tical illustration of the harmony of nature, In
distributing the dependent elements Of existence,
80 that their relations Of each to the other il properly
observed, always work in union, aud never come iu
conflict unless they are misapprehended and ni.ap.
Piled. The earth must produce, man must manu-
tacture, aud the sea must be the medium
OF transfer for the products and works of different
countries and climes 1t is so decreed by Providence
that man must be dependent upon man. and that
the physical necessities of life shall become sources of
sympathy aud agencies Of civilization. Iu The North
Theses economical calculations are carried into effect
ln the South they are sadly disregarded and neg
lccted. tls true that we are beginning to become
manufacturing people; butt in the memory of men,
when even this art was in its infancy amongst US
and even now il is far from being equal TO the
| agricultural which is, and the commerciai counter.
polse which to 6e in concordan acon with it, in the
industrial economy OF ths South. We hold thar the
philosophy 10 false and the policy short sishted
which prescribe one branch Of industry for one SEC
lion of country, and another for another unless, IN.
deed it is .: very limited dimensions and the char
acter oi s climate, its surface SOIL is auch a. ab-
solutely to preclude its p'oplo from III. pursuance
Of all other vocaIions than that particular one There
may be canons counties TO which such an order of
arrangement is applicable. But in the United States
argues super fetal observation ofihe mul,farious
fucilitie, ofevery portion Of country to contend
that the North is designed by nature 10 be the manu-
featuring SECTION. and the South the agricultural sec
tion 1t 10 true the North is not capable Of compe
ting With the South n agricultural resources in the
risy or Importance Of her products; but still il has val
liable staples, and lie by no means fitted only for
fac,ures Whereas. tbs South, though Incompatible in
point ofproductso of ths soil, in the almost exub.rant
! g., 10;
nscessaries and luIaries, Is s endued with every
advantage of commerce and manufactures Also And
although we are the main agricultural people, il
should not be so much so. Oar manufacturing "a
cilities should be made available 10 their utmost eI
tent. Our mineral res ,urces should be fully de
yelopei. Our commerce should be fostered and
increased until it is competent to accommodate
the other two branches Of trade. IF, in
the ordinances Of the Deity, directing the dee
tnies of nations, it lie allotted to one portion OF
the wide world to be independent Of every
other, surely the Southern States Of this con-
federacy may claim be the favored egion for
have people been more boun;eolsly favored with
ALL the eudowments Of nature, essential to bappi-
ness and prosperity on earth. And although 1t is
reproach upon US, that We have so long delayed 10
employ our advantages judicously and properly, to
use them as they were Intended to be used to their
fullest capacity and power it is not too late to begin
the good work, With will 10 repair the neglect Of
the past by the interests and energy Of the future
E,tablish one line Of steamers from Norfolk TO
Europe, and another and another will soon succeed.
Fleets of merchantmen whose white sails have never
beer sct.d in the placid waters Of the Elizabeth,
will soon pon: their prow' to the Capes of Virginia,
instead ofthe herbor New iork Once putin motion,
the ball will roll with rapidy asonishlngto Its
.aueuine projectors. Nature has done her part; let
asn do hi, and the Southern people will be unpora.
leled in prosperity and power.
The Hon. A. Dudley Mann has undertaken task
the results of which will be monuments TO h, memo
~, more enduring than statues Of store. Thst
hi, gigantic scheme for weekly line OF the largest
steamer, between Chesapeake Bay and Milford Ha
ysn will ripen into maturity, aud probably within
III. mex. len years be made daily, instead of weekly
We heartily hope, and confidently expect.
Tbs "Qreat Eastern" it 10 said, will be launched
during the ensuing summer Every ind1ceraent :ha'
enterprise and cupidity can command. will doubles.
be offered By the North, to induce her TO go into h-
hsrbor of Portland. BIT, II the Southern people
will advance their claims, the capacities Of their
ports, the resource. of their country and the
ability and other advantages of the harbor OF Nor
folk, unsurpassed by any, eqnalled by few 10 the
world, we have little fear that they viii outgeneral
us.
Let the Great Eastern be the pioneer OF the great
line of Southern steamers, and but short time
will elapss before Hampton Road'-that magnificent
waste of wstsr.-w be filed with shipping Of all
sorts and Sizes the heavy rusty looking whaler aud
,hs trim built and graceful clipper, jupks from Can
ton, aud srgosie. from Opsrto, Indisnen from tbs
Ganyss, and galiots from Arn.ter lam.
The South must have direct communication With
Europe
The day m.y come when Northern territory and