Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-25
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saturday. Morning. sepssnssf as fsss
The comm,roial Policy Of the south

Saturday, Morning, Sepeembef 2Ssle0S
The Commercial Policy of the south
The Norfolk papers csnssin . lcug andissesest.
ing letter from Col. Robert G. Payne, Commission
or Of Railroads in the State of Tennessee, in
regard 10 the policy now to be pursued BY the
Southern States, in view Of the completion OF a
direct line of Railroad between Norfolk and Men,
pills. The views of Col Payne-a gentleman who
has given much time and thought to the subject
sro entitled to fair hearing; and We therefore
mako che following extracts, which arc OF y some
what general nature, from his communication
II then your Company and the people Of Nor
folk establish daily line Of Steam Packets to Bal
timore, New York aud Philadelphia, and especial
" to The two frst named places; and in addition
10 this will furnish through tickets 10 important
Southern and Western points II Is believed that
Q full share Of the travel will be secured to this
piace-And il is only Necessary to convince the
Western merchant that it is To his interestto ship
his goods by this route to secure his custom.-
These things however, ore matters Of somewhat
local interest and TO I've effected by the action
Of your Company and the Norfolk merchants.
There Is one subject however. Of vital impor-
lance " the South and which has already attract
ed the attention Of intelligent and pubic spir-
tied men. II is . subject in which We OF the South
ment Of which we should make q common cause.
allude to the proposed establishment Of line Of
steamers from this place to Europe. 1t was hoped
by many that the Southern Commercial Convcn-
lions. (which have been assembling from time to
time) would have placed this scheme on some per
maneut footing. or at least have given some shape
to the measure that would lead to practical results
These aseembiAges. from the beginning. had too
many members that preferred taking TO acting,
and whose brains were too much filed with wild
yararies about re-opening the slave trade and 9TH
or kindred subjects to allow Of time being given
to great practical question. that promised com
mercisi independence ~ the Slave States OF tho
South The splendid system If railways now
rapidly completing. has already done more to give
the South her true position in the Union. and TO
exact becoming respect from the North, than all
the resolves Of Legislatures. And the speeches and
essays Of political theorizers put together But
our measure IT Independence has not yet been full
ly aeeomplisbed-we have not vet attained the
grand stand point. where the South can feel
and kas~ that she is on firm footing. and that
whether in or sst Of the confederacy she has high
destiny in the future.
A our system Of roads is filled up, aud becomes
instrumental in developing our yet uncalculated
mineral and agricultural resources, the wants and
necessities u the coantry call for other direct CON
nections BY steam with distant rcial nations
of the Earth. just as Tennessee needed Rail
road connection with South Carolina and Virginia.
or Memphis and Nashville n COMM unication with
Savannah and Baltimore, 10 does this entire
South with its great avenues If trade. commerce
and travel, require dirst connection by line
of Packets with the commercial marts Of Europe.
This connection is the srdpt n the South it is
necessary to test the full capacity Of her roads,
and TO realize the full benefit Of her immense
sources. While her cotton fields hold dominion
over the greatest manufacturing interests of Eu-
rope-and while her tobacco crop IL the source OF
Governmental snonopolies-and her well filled
granaries feed their an shing millions OF the East
in the times OF scarcity who will be No skeptical
to argue thai We cannot sustain a direct trade.
by the means already suggesied?--or who will
contend that such an intercourse from Southern
port will not tend 10 elevate still higher the slave
holding Sates IN tAe scale o! commerce and poiif
zeal independence
But return briefly 10 the inquiry AZ To what mi
tatory step rhali 'c taken to organise a movement
that will be efficient. and carry with it the prom
Use Of almost certain success have seen At sug-
gesed that YOU should call meeting Of the bris-
tol Railroad Convention, ~ assemble at Norfolk in
some short time, and that this steam line qucs-
ton be submitted 70 that Conventions This, sir,
will be n move III the right diroctian, and by such
q meet,ng, we nj ght expect sumo good {" be nc
complished. If successful Efforts are made in get
ting together the Railroad men Of the South and
in conjunction with Other friends ii this great en-
teyprise, the .',l rru.ht eptaieriy before
them, far on ,.,. nv, ca.cuiate upon Id'i"rt.
Tie Gbcct will then he in the hands Of business
men, who have calculated the resources OF the
country, and who are accustomed to graphing
with financial questions, and studying tle laws Of
trade and commerce You will then have
who prefer acting a. speaking and who would
consider the commercial independence of the
South as \ matter of vastly mere Importance than
specializing npou the WAYS and means oi catching
wild negroes the coast Of Africa.
1t is believed that such All occasion you will
be able to have full representation from the 9TH
er Southern States. As all parties agree that Nor
folk is the proper point from which to start the
proposed line Of Ocean Steamers your people will
Of course take a deep interest in forwarding the
movement Forone | rejoice that the benefit of
having the terminus Of the proposed ne is
ceded 70 the Old Dominion 1t liz set and prop
@ that the elder sister sh.uld have within her
borders the great Southern mart. I rejoice, sir
that the city which still carries its holy places
the marks Uf revolutionary contests, should he Sc
,lected the Southern outlet to Europe. Let your
merchants andtraders wake.up to this Important
work. and instead Of prpphesying evils and count
ing on failures, let them but ~ TO work in good
earnest, and know such word as fail, and hey
will yet live to realize the blessings ID extended
and profitable commerce
Hon Thomas Swami Of Baltimore
The American Conventions for the city of Balti-