Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-10

Limo OF French steamers TO Norfolk.
Ii we doubt the feasibility Of this enter
prize, and think i, hazardous to the interests
Of Virginia to give it encouragement, we pro-
test we must not be understood as discredlt'
ing the claims Of its projectors to public gra-
titude. Those gentlemen who have pressed
this subject so earnestly upon public atten-
ton, have been moved, no doubt, by q pa
triotism in every way to be commended.-
Yet we cannot but think that patriotism has
misled Judgment, and they have been be-
guiled by a delusive hope which they caonot
realize. While taxed in connection With the
system of the Railroads west OF Lynchburg,
q system which we are panied to hear DO,
Tended as q necessity of their existence, and
consequently hopeless of remedy, the scheme
is broadly preposterous, we cannot think shat
it is capable of success nor, even were that
system modified to the demands OF the most
liberal policy.
Mons. LACoUTURE, who seems 10 be 80
much surprised at the silence OF MIR. BALLARD
PREsToS, states that French manufactured are
ready and anxious To send cargIes Of goods
TO Nyrfllk. Sipposs they should do so AT
this time-whst arrangements tor their dis
tribution to the back country Of Norfolk, or
for their consumption at Norfolk, on any
terms than those OF utter ruin, are ready !
And what cargoes beginning to DO adequate
to an exchange for such cargoes, could posi-
biy be furnished the ships? We apprehend
there can be one, and one only, andwer to
these questions. In every particular the ad
venture would fail so desperately, that hence.
forth, Norfolk, the map of the Chesapeake
and the roads to Memphis, would make tue
stomach of ST. Nazsire hesVe with disgust.
Il is NOT in this way that great cities are
built, or great enterprises cherished. res
tina iente is the valuable key TO the growth
of commerce..
Norfolk is now open to the produce OF a
vast country the produce which everybody
needs, and all the world will come for. She
stands, such is the theory at least, III the pain
of it's distribution to the world, whether to
our principal mar,s, which are the present
depots of commerce, or to the foreign demapd,
when it shall accumulate suticiently to attract
that demand. Ye:, it must take that produce
in quantity. 1T may be rapidly, or it may be
slowly, but the progress OF an lnlans city
must be by development 10 Ter home rela.
tions first. Nothing but some violent act OF
nature, destroying existing centres, or the
avenues to them, or some violent act Of gov
ernment uusettling the relations OF comfy
between sections, or some surprising cause OF
excitement t~roopiug together new popuia-
tons 10 masses, such as our own age has seen
in California and Australia, can ever give
birth to foreign IN a day. When
produce shall accumulate at Norfolk to make
it a mart for produce, then the whole world
may come for it, to buy it with their com
modities, as France, for instance, with her
wines and silks.
Mr. PRIEST y has done his duty, hopefully,
and earnestly, and patriotica!ly-bu, he Is
not to be blamed that the people of Virginia
do not take hold, practically, Of q thing III
which they are unwilling to invest their mo.
ney. We believe that their caution is wise.
To precipitate direct trade on the scale pro-
posed, might furnish material for d little ju-
bilee, but il would soon die out, to be remem-
bered as the Bristol Convention is rem"m-
hered-only for its fruitlessness!- South Side
Democrat.