Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-14
Direof Tfnde with Europe-Resolutaons
Of ths City Of Norfolk.


Dirso9 frads With Europe Resolutions
Of the City Of Norfolk.
scus tine aeo We published the resolutions
.doo,sd By tho City Council of Memphis urging
upea tAe people Of the Southern and western
s.s.e tAe inport lance Of establishing direct trade
v;th Hurops, and designating Norfolk as the most
.npropriaas seaport city the Atlantic coast for
.hs ,srnious d line Of transatlantic vessels
nw.s = esnsross proposition from the city OF
MsmoAis and il gives Us pleasure to observe that
Norfolk hos responded 10 it promptly. and in
.n;,;t ri the utmost alacrity. At q late meeting
of N. Common Council Of Norfolk the following
nr.amble and resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
Whereas the system Of railways converging up
on the harbor Of Norfolk and Portsmouth. is now
az far complete a. to afford unprecedented facilities
for ,ransporting rapidly aud cheaply to this point
the several productions Of most OF the Southern
and Southwestern States and it Is evident thnt
with proper concert Of action the material lot III,
larly with that Of St. Naxaire in France the At
lant;c terminu, of the system Of Railways con-
trolled by the Orleans Railroad Company can be
readily collected ut this the best seaport IN the
Southern country, in such quantities as to nam,
tain a constant supply for shipment soroadIand
consentsneously been given to these facts ; aud
other communities interested in this cause anu es-
rec;allv MrNPHts Tour ally on the Mssissippl,)
haye declared their willingness to join hands IN
giving practical turn to the indications oil tho
present era. .
Resolved That the Councils Of this city receive
with peculiar pleasure the profers of sympathy
and co-operaton in the great work OF SOUTHERN
CoxxsRcrAL INDEPENDENCE which il is now IN the
mower Of the South to achieve, and we regard the
recent action of the Mayor and Aldermen OF tho
citv ef Memphis as an earnest that it has become
the purpose Of tho people of the South to convert
their resolves into systematic course OF acton
Resolved. That it is emphatically the duty OF
the authorities and merchants of Norfolk to enter
into active participation in this high enterprise
and if need DO, to commence the work themselves
by such initiatory steps Us sound Judgment and
fair nromise NAV indicate. Norfolk shasst Not
shrink from responsibility (which cnshrne' tho
highest rewards Of effort
Resolved, That in order to bring the subject ad-
visedly before the authorities and people OF Nor
folk and to give practical direction toa noble nnb
lie resolve. joint committee o, three men'e.S
from each branch Of the Council lie appointed to
INQUIRE into the host practicable means OF c'tab-
fishing at the earliest day. direct trade by l'ne OF
steam packets between the ports OF Norfolk ana
ST. NaIaire-that they ascertain the nmount OF
capital needful for the undertaking, and what co
operation may be expected from parties IN France
already built: that they be authorized to CORES
pond with Southern members of Congress III ret
enenoe to aid from the General Government tor
mail and other public service and with other par
ties having official personal influence !" the
cause: that they be instructed to confer freely Win
the President and proper committees of the 'r' 'to
Convention and of the Merchants and Mechanics
Exchange Of this city, and invite their counsel
and cordial cooperation; and that they report t.
the Councils from time to time, their dolng' III
the premises.
Resolved That copies Of these resolutions be
forwarded to the Governors OF Virginia, Iehhes-
see and North Carolina, and the Senators and
Representatives in Congress from these States.and
also TO the authorities of the corporate cities and
towns IN Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina
and that their advice and assistance be soliciedin
initiating this important and patriotic work
The above resolutions, it will be observed, while
properly acknowledging and reciproca,ins the
spirit Of the Memphis Councils, are also much
more practical in their character than those usu
oily adopted on similar occasions. The people of
Norfolk are not merely content with a general
declaration Of their interest in the project and
therdesire for its accomplishment On thccontrary,
they have gone about it with practical enc
gy which augurs most iavoraby for its speedy re
alization. The Committee which has been mp
printed has been instructed to embrace everything
within the scope Of its enquiry which bears upon
the sutherland we anticipate from its Reports
90 convincing an argument in support of direct
trade, as well as many greater facilities than IL
usually supposed to be the in giving practical
realization to the idea, that may almost regard
the establishment Of direct trade from and to Sou
thern ports as already accomplished fact.
The people of Norfolk are at last moving in the
matter in q manner which gives earnest Of their
determination to exhaust every effort in the at
tempt to meet the expectations Of their friends Mt
distance.
We have 30 often illustrated the Incompatible
advantages of Norfolk, in respect Of geographical
position and surroundings, for the establishment
and maintenance of direct trade, that need say
nothing at this time, in addition to what has been
already published. Time only strengthens the
conviction we have long entertained that the
South, which produces three-fourths of our foreign
exports, should cease q matter of policy, to rely
upon Northern factors for the facilities of COM
merce. And ms she has every natural advantage
in this respect that the North has--and her chief
Atlantic seaport is now in direct communication
with all the Southern and Western States-it is
folly ienger to permit a commercial dependence
upon the North which strengthens them at the
same time that it perpetually weakens US.
But we must be placed upon terms of perfect
equality with rivals. And in this view the
call upon the General Government for so much of
assistance only is granted to Northern lines of
vessels is emineutly just and proper. Either no
aid at all should be rendered by Government, and
thus perfect equality and impartiality be secured
.-Or else the South should he assistea with suh