The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-05-26

Our exchanges are full Of speculations as
TO the probable commercial effects OF the
var, which has just broken ont in Europe.
II the war Is confined 10 the present theatre
OF h0stilitics, and involves no other powers
than France, Sardinia and Austria, the
market for breadstnis 10 this country will
not be seriously, or at least not abruptly
affected by the event Large bodies Of men
will be withdrawn from agricultural pursuits
into the continental armies. As immense sup.
plies will be needed Tor their support, con.
sumption will be increased in some degree,
while production will be diminished 10 u
much greater ratio.
This would Of coarse affect prices to some
extent, yet by no means sufficiently to JUST.
fy thu present speculative excitement. For
Austria 10 not q naval power; and the
Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Bal
tic would be open for the wheat Of North
err and Southern Russia, and Of Egypt,
which wOald be the main sources Of supply.
II b only in the event Of general war,
which would blockade the coast Of Europe
and shut up the granaries OF the Baltic and
the Mediterranean. that any violent vance
IN grain and brcadstuiis can be looked for
on this side Of the Atlantic.
Yet 10 that case commerce would be
hampcred by blockades. which wosld drive
our shipping from the great marts, or sub
jcct II TO the risks Of war.
Upon the course which England may
take 10 the present contest depends the
whole question whether the battle of Eu-
rope shall bc extended to the sea. But we
need not wait for that event, nor for the
Developments Of the contest, M at present
limited, to determine what position grain
and brcsdstuiIs IRE to hold in the market.
The truth Is, that tho United States are al
ready upon the edge of a famine that the
country depends absolutely upon the crops
now 10 the ground to escape from starva'
ton. All the great Western granaries are
thoroughly depleted. Two successive fail
nres OF the harvest In the principal West
err States. have left the country without
any Of the usual reserve OF grain which Is
always drawn out by IN advance In prices
and Ia the main element OF stead ns,ncss in
the bread market. We will want all the
-four We can produce to supply our home
market. The events in Europe, IL they
should not reveal additional causes ri en-.
largcd consumption, will throw US solely on
our own resources. A general war, with
system Of maritime surveillance and block.
AIDE to intercept supplies, could not much
increase the prices which breadstuis will
reach from domestic causes.
Prominent among these. the Missouri, Re
publican OF u recent date notes one which
we have before discussed Aud that IL the
the obvious decline OF agriculture in the
United States Of late years--ioanded 10 tho
general aversion Of the American people to
agricultural pursuits. We cannot help be-
l,eving that one effect Of the general deprcs-
sion OF commercial and manufacturing en-
terprisc has already had the effect OF inducing
Q considerable return to agriculture. II IL
this effect OF high prices for the products Of
the soil, which necessarily imply u revival
OF emigration to the Northwest, that We re-.
gard M fullest OF promise for our future. In
this connection We quote from the New York
lmss some views Of the highest interest.
Il IL not little embarrassing, as we'll - pre-
mature, 10 report or discuss the conclusions
which are drawn ON the street from the events
nov occurring and thrcatenad In Europe -
they are likely To Affect American Interests.
We may assume, however, that the opinion IL
general that the position Of the United States,
- Q great neutral power, In the midst Of gen
srai var among the leading States Of Europe,
Ia to be . most enviAbie one; and that st least
thrce Of the most important branches Of our
material industry aud prosperity are To be pro
NOTED by the war-sh,pPsnx, agr,euifus and ths
Ns.tsrw TaI~ays. Aud this consideration de
rives double Importance nom the fact that
pressed since the revulsion Of lsS,. And that
one cause Of this depression IL nom all present
promis es, soon To he removed by the return OF
good crops. Nor 10 u certain that war prices
for grain and provisions will have TO await the
gathering OF the coming harvest
The stock OF Meat. Provalons, and old Grain,
which will be found available aud drAwa TO the
seaboard market. by . strong export dsmand,
at high rates. ". undertake to say, will DO
much larger than could have been calculated
ON under less stimuls ting circumstances. Aud
III = fact will especially b. realized, II the i'm
mediate hne prospects Of the new crop are con
unusd for . lev weeks longer, so a. to induce
the farmers 10 part freely With their old Grain.
The eject upon the carrying trade. both OF rail
aud sea. cannot, We think, be questionable.
The movement Of every marketable product OF
Western agriculture, and the return traffic IN
MERCHANDISE from the acAboard. attended by q
corresponding active intercourse In the way OF
passengers, must sosn ensue, unless oil prog
nostics VI the crop Of lsS9 should utterly tail.
And TO oil this may not impo.sibly be added
the immediate and considerable Increase of
European emigration, particularly from the
smaller states VI Germany, In consequence OF