Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-09
NORTH ps. sOUTH-NEW YORK rs. NORFOLK

The New York " Times" says " the Richmond En-
qurer ia extremely iubant over the 'success of Mr.
Preston in establishing line Of steamers between
the port of Norfolk in Virginia. and Orleans in
France" The Times," we think, is equally e1er
csed on the same subject. few days ago, that
journal turned ts batteries upon the Norfolk Argus
for induging In hopeful Vaccinations in regard to
this promising project The "Argus" promptly re.
turned the fire, with characteristic pluck and
pleasantly.
The Times" is evidently desrous Of rdieulng the
scheme. And as rioicue is weapon not unfrequent.
ly employed when argument will not answer, We are
disposed to accord TO our contemporary al ordinary
degree of discretion and tact at least, in conducting
bis assault upon this enterprise for the commercial
| independence Of the South. If the idea Of estab.
fishing direct trade between Norfolk and Orleans,
is superlatively chimercal it seems strange, in
deed, that the Times should manifest go much in
terest in it. Iii is altogether impractcable, Why the
result will be total ailure-that is all. Surely the
sTmes" is not 80 ardently devoted to Southern in.
teress. or to the welfare of the Paris and Orleans
Rail Road Company, as to endeavor to induce an
abandonment of the enterprise, which Mr.. Preston
has initiated, simply in magnanmous consideration Of
the losses that may essue from an Intellectual effort
to put it in full and active operation. The political
complexion Of the ''Times" would Justify no such
presumption. II must be then, that our New York
contemporary is prompted by some more selfish mo.
tive. And, we think, it will require no very pro
| found investigation, minute analsysis, or astute
calculation and comparison Of effects and causes,
ends and means, to enable us to arrive at and
expose the secret spring that actuates the Times in
its opposition. 1t lies, think 10 its imbittered an.
tagonsm TO the institutions Of the South, and conss-
quenty to everything at all calculated to increase the
resources and advance the independence of the
South. Such, in our opinion, is the great first con-
trolling cause of The of The "Times" on this
question. But there is another and very potent
though doubtless a secondary consideration which
also influences the action and e1cites the anxiety Of
the "Times" in this matter. We refer to The nurous
effect which the establishment of direct trade be-
tween Europe and the South would probably have
upon the commerce of the great city of New York
| The "Times" s not obtuse enough 10 be inatentive
to the fact that the dependence Of the slave States
upon the free States-for foreign commercials no in
considerable source Of both power and profit to the
latter section Nor is it unmndful of another forci
atlantic trade of her own, just will the com
Of the North, and especially of New York city
give evidence of rapid and inevitable decline. The
"Times," too, is doubtless advised Of the advantage
of the port of Norfolk and hence ts especial nteres
in the particular project under discussion. The
"Times may endeavor to conceal its anxiety under
the guise of ridiculs and lsvily-but the very fact
that journal intensely Northern, and one, too, BY
no means noted for obecurity Of vision, or duness
understanding, should manifest such anxious solici
tude this subject affords additional evidence Of tb
importance and feasibility of Mr.. Preson's project
for the establishment Of line Of steamers between
Orleans and Norfolk. There is something more il
this than an idle dream of sanguine Souherners Ant
enthusiastic Frenchmen, and the New York Times
knows it full well.
In another column We publish an encouragin,
communication on this subject, from Mons. Lacoutur
to the Lyuchburg "Virginian.'