The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-03-16

! Board met in their Hall last evening, for q
full discussion of our proposed commercial
relations with France. The meeting was
quite full, only three members being absent,
and those were represented as being out oil
the city. t.-.
The question of acceptance of the drafts
of the French "Bureau of Norfolk" at Paris
was fully and ably discussed. The President
of the Board-Kader Biggs, Esq.,-inform-
ed the members that the French Bureau had
shipped cargo of goods to this Board, and
had notified him that they would draw at
ninety days for a certain amount Of said
consignment. 1t was determined that these
drafts be accepted and looked out tor, and
that every effort be made to prepare re-
turn cargo. The utmost harmony prevailed,
and every disposition manifested to forward
this scheme of direct trade 3{ or. .t.,.f
e The Board is composed of energetic and
reliable gentlemen who have the interest of
this city and the South at heart, and will,
we feel assured, make every effort to secufe
to our city and the South all the benefits to
be derived from a reciprocal treaty with
Europe They have evinced q disposition
and will ere long give a practical demon
stration OF their disposition to invest their
funds in this enterprise. Thus has the great
movement of Direct Trade been Inaugural
ted. The initial step has been taken, and
the wel-known intelligence, capability and
enterprise of these gentlemen warrant US in
saying that the long talked-of ball of South
ern CONNIE rcial independence has been star
ted, and it only requires the cooperation of
other cities and towns to push it on to a elo-
rious contamination. Norfolk alone cannot
be expected to complete this great work
other cities in Virginia, Tennessee and the
Carolinas whose merchants have so long ad-
Vocated direct trade, should give "aid and
comfort to the movement. The press,
whose columns have been teeming wi tn the
subject, should take hold Of the matter and
urge upon their merchants the great impor-
lance of coming at once into the ranks of
those who are no longer willing that the
matter be heralded for h through the valies
of VirgiuiA. Let the mills of Tennessee re-
sound with the cry of Southern indepen-
dence, and let the plains of the Carolinas
be made vocal with the expressions of COM
mercia! freedom. r sr=
Let all dealers who are 10 reach of our
market be reminded OF the fact that by the
Inauguration of this trade they will be ena-
bled to supply themselves with a certain
class of goods without being compelled to
invest their funds at the North. Let them
remember that every dollar they invest in
goods imported by Southern market is one
dollar taken from the North, is one moiety
added to Southern commercial independence,
equal to one nail in the coffin of some of the
offensive and dangerous isms of the North.
Let them be reminded of the fact that we
have been subservient to the merchants of
Northern cities long enough, and let it be
reiterated that they have grown fat and in
dependent on the merchants of the South,
and have controlled the commercial affairs
of this country long enough. e.
We want to see the people of the South
become independent of the North we want
to sse manufactures spring up in every
Town and Hamlet south of Mason and Dix
on's line, and we really do believe that the
time is coming when such will be the case
We want to see the people of the South and
Southwest protect their own interest by
doing their own trade instead OF allowing
the Northern men to do it for them at their
own price, and we think we see in this move
ment of the Board OF Trade of Norfolk signs
of bright cloud, which, "though not big
ger than mans hand" at present, is to
spread itself over the whole South ,aud final
ly settle like a halo upon the commercial
prosperity of her people.