Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-04

DESPITE some inaccuracies Of statement, the
accompanying article from the "Patric can
not fail to interest our readers; since we may
gather from it some indication Of the state Of
feeling in France with regard To the proposal
for direct trade with Virginia.
Translated for the Richmond Enquirer" by F. rArdsan
from the ParI, 'ra,ris' OF the Sd Of February
A FRANCo-AMERIcAN QUESTION
During the present session projct Is TO he
laid before Congress which concerns Ill the
highest degree. the interests Of the Central
and Southern States, and the adoption Of
which promises most advantageous results to
the development Of our commerce. The qucS.
ton is the establishment Of a line Of steamers
between Norfolk and Saint Nazairc. Had the
projct mere commercial interest for us, it
would still be necessary 10 let our readers
know of it, but there is in ii, as in all similar
questions in the United States, political bear
ing; it shows that the Central and Southern
States where it originated, have desire every
day more definite, to rid themselves Of the
onerous supremacy OF the Northern States,
and, in this point Of view, il is well worth our
attention.
As, is we'll known, the Central and Southern
States arc the productive States Of the Union.
They possess the raw materials They yield
the richest staples Of cotton, tobacco and grain;
ores. principally coppcr-mincs. arc plentiful,
and from their magnificent forests is taken the
finest timber for ship building How is IT, then,
that with natural riches so numerous, they
have been to the present day, superseded by
the Northern States which have. so TO speak,
monopoi>cd all the trade Of the Union: There
are two causes; the less cnterprising and active
character Of the inhabitants Of the Centre and
South, and the want Of easy and connecting
roads to allow them to export their products
in direct manner. They had only one i'm
portant deJouche on the Gulf Of Mexico.
through New Orleans, which the Mississippi
river and its many tributaries connect with
the interior
In the North. on the contrary, we see the
industrious spirit of the Anglo-Saxon race
bring forth wonders of activity There were
due the first canals and built the first railroads.
Mills, FORCES, and manufactures are multiply
ing All the industrial and commercial forces
seem 10 concentrate in those States which for
ward TO New York the greater part OF the pro-
ducts of the Union. Thanks to those resources.
the prosperity OF that town is increasing with
an incredible rapidity! New York becomes
the centre of all enterprises she attracts all
the funds and stocks; she is the general entire
pot and the great distributor of the mcrchan-
die, Of the United States: there Is their real
atix1n-de-c0mmercs and there flock from all
points of the globe, steamers and sailnS-ShipS.
New Yorl; can now vic with the woalthcst
towns OF the world. and her population reached
the figure Of 100000
But already. during the last fcw years this
relation of the Central and Southern States has
been modified; the spirit of enterprise has been
awakened there They have understood that
thew would be dependent on the North, not only
commercially, bu, even politically, AS long as
they could not rely upon themselves, and they
are now putting their shoulders to the work.
With their own resources, they have created
immense wavs of communication canals have
been dug. soon to unite Chesapeake Bay to the
largest rivers Of the interior: numerous roads
have been cut, railways are spreading in all
directic,ls and reaching to all the harbors Of
the Lay. The greatest railroad in the world,
starting from Norfolk and Richmond after
crossing the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, drives,
in straight line. through Memphis, Cincinnati.
and s.. Louis Missouri. UP to the base of
the Rocky Mountains Erclong it will stretch
out to San francisco, receive and carry all the
products Of America to both ends Of the vast
con,inent-that is to Norfolk and San Fran
csco-thus connecting the Atlantic to the
Pacific.
Witnessing the results so far obtained, and
promising the brightest future, they were led
to the following natural reasoning: Why
should they remain tributaries to New York
for the export of their own products, whilst
they possess, on the Chesapeake Bay, the mag,
nifcent port Of Norfolk. opposite Portsmouth,
the military harbor and the most extensive
backward Of the United States: Between
New York and New Orleans, for more than
$500 miles Norfolk is the only accessible port
for ships Of great tonnage. Canal, and Rail.