Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-18
Direct Trade with tho Cotton States Of
America

We copy from the London toiion Plant of Aus
2lst, the annexed significant article
We tuc glad 10 learn that movement. based
upon European capital, to open II direct trade with
! the port of Mobile. is now beng organized, an.
that the first steps IN regard thereto may be taken
at an early day. We not surprised at this
/ although our friends in Alabama may be- because
we are nware that since the late crisis the relative
position OF the North and South, 80 far as com
mcrcal confidence in Europe is concerned, has
very materially changed. The merchants capt
talists, manufacturers. and shippers in England
and on the Continent, have come 10 the conclusion
that the position Of Now York tho only depot
| for the North American continent was one which
enaed unnecessary risk, expense, and any amount
! OF oyertrn,ling.
! The "long credit" system was fastened upon le
! gitimate commerce. not because tho Southern
States were not able Ia pay promptly and within
reasonable time for their goods. but because they
had to obtain their supplies secondhand ut an i'm
mcnscly enhanced cost, and ut an immense dis
tancc from the pln'c Of consumption. The crisis
has not only set people thinking upon this point
but also upon the absurity Of paying from twcn-
" 10 twenty-iiy per cent. at New York, to supply
an established trade among people who can Sc nd
back cotton in exchange.
The manufacturer can send his goods direct at
Il great saving Ut cost aud expense, to either
Charleston, Savannah, New Or"nn, or Mobile and
get back cotton III rctuIa. which can be landed in
MS warehouse Saving tnnsn numerous charges an!
expenses each bale has now To pay. For instance,
will take the case of Mobile. This port ships
over 4ju,ihO bales ui cotton per aunum, besides
other produce. This cotton must have tonnage Ia
represent IT. Ships must - to Mobile Ia bring
away this cotton. England receives large pro-
portion Of this cotton.
Now with wint do the English manufacturers
pay Tor this cotton With specie? II 50, there
would foil w shipment Of specie from London to
Mobile. Th" very tact tt.at the flow of specie
from London to Mobile does not take place is
prp'f that the cotton reei,ed from Mobile is paid
for in goods. How d. these good, reach Moblle
Through New York. where they ARE sent, not sim
ply for re-shipment, hui for 70 sale also Arrived
III New ! nrH. the manufactured article destined
h. settle the h,is iur the cotton brought from Mo
bile ure made 10 pay lhn inn "rter', profit, the job
ber,S profit arcompan.e by double set of CHAR
ges, commissions and expenses. The Mobile mer-
chant having paid these accumulated charges,
commissions aud expenses, forwards his goods
Goa stwi>e 10 Mobile.
And here occurs "A feature in the trade to which
we desire g. draw especial attention. The goods
must he sent in an american ship. There may
b" twenty foreign ship, IN the port Of New York
up Tor Mahic; they may le proceeding there in
ballast; they may offer to take carg, to Mobile
nj nominal rate. uny. they may even offer to take
the goods gratis. ii It irr,s ht from Mobile to IL
rop" il ,,uagnn'erd and lc: these goods of the
Mobile M reliant eanhot take advantage of this
competition. lie reason is that the coast tng
trade Of the United SiateS is a monopoly in the
hands OF American hip owners The iniquity Of
this monopoly, lis Unconstitutional and uni ust
protection Of one interest n the expense Of nil
others, has boom ably iiH;cl cut in the rcporg Of
the Hon. Mr.. BoNcc upon free trade. which we
published IA the last number Of The Loa,i,m (ot-
Ion Plant,