Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-17
Direct Southern Trade with Europe.

Direct Southern Trade with Europe.
We have received the following interesting
communication from Il Committee Of the City
Council Of Baltimore:
CuAunER OF THE Cirr Cor SclI. d; HALrlMonE,
August =, 1860
At :, regular meeting Of the Committee Of
the City Council arI Merchants OF Baltimore,
for the establishing Of Steam Service between
the Southern States and Europe. held OIL the
Goth day of July, the following resolution
was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That L Committee Ut appointed
who shall enter into correspondence with the
Governors of all Southern States, and also the
Mayor; Of all Southern cities, asking what
amount Of bonds they will DC willing to al
vance, or what amount Of interest they will
he willing to guarantee per annun, in order 10
establish direct Steam Communication be-
tween the Chesapeake Bay and Europe
IN accordance with the resolution, We now
transmit yolI herewith 4 copy OF the same, and
ask your sympathy and substantial all TO assist
us in carrying through successfully the project
now under contemplation. The COMMITTEE
feel that, in the present position OF our nation
al affairs, no argument is necessary upon their
part To impress upon you and your citizens the
absolute lIrcessity which should induce our
Southern sister States TO unite with us in ell
Gccting the organization proposed, or to attempt
TO show forth 10 them the vast benefits which
must result lhcrcirom. In our opinion the time
for action is nov. We possess within ourselves
alI the clements Of power and greatness; and II
VT fail to use them aright, the fault is ours, and
Will rest upon the generation in which we live.
Although tic resolution names only the con-
nection between the Chesapeake Bay and F'u.
rope still the committee recognize the tayor-
able posili0n of Charleston in its relation
TO the cotton States, the West Indies, and
the Gulf Of Mexico anu appreciate the lmpor-
tance OF such a combination with South Caro-.
lima as will bring the whole South, from Mary
land to Texas, TO accord upon common poll
cy for the establishment Of this proposed South
ern Steamship Line. The Committee are fully
aware that you, iii your official capacity,
cannot pledge your State to lend It's ana 10 inns
undertaking, vet we think recommendation
from you to your Legislature will he success
fully carried through; and we therefore ask
you to State what amount Of al you can con-
sistcntly recommend your State TO grant to this
enterprise In the permanent organization ol
the company, your State would, oi course, pc
entitled tn Il representation 1t is most
probable that the ships could bc easily
obtained l Europe, with - G'a'HnIvr oi
interest not to exceed six per cent. per
anltum; but the Committee tlIinh thai
shirs could br obtained upon much more Ia
vnrahir lrrruS il the c"nlrany wcrr 1" purchase
them with Stale bonds rr ra:'h, AIM thal II
would Lr most desirable 10 >ail LlIrIn under the
American 1ag We. therefore, PROFOUND to
you thc following questions: hat hlnonnt oi
interest would ynnr State nEicc 10 guarantee,
annually, for the support OF this service: hat
amount OF stock would it agree 10 subscribe
ior, payable in State bonds, in case the ships
arc purchased and owned by this company:
The capital required to purchase aud equip
properly :; inr Of steamers would he about
81, ,Un0,n n0D. It may be urged against this
rnlerpriyr that the vessels will not pay, and
ST ,..ay be referred tn lines that have pre-
viuli$Iy been started, and which have been
lnsrlrcc$sni---lo which we say that Their
want of SUCCESS has been owing to tile
Fact that they have been started without
sufficient capital They have been built and
equipped by larn liras could take stock Tor their
pay. and they have been furnished with stores
by those who wn;l!l give them credit, and who
doubtless charged Si,rh prices Is would under
the circumstances rrlnuneratc them. Hence,
To avoid the difficulty which has ruined o:hcr
similar enterprises, the committee ask for a
sufficient capital to place the company upon
such footing is will enable them to start and
maintain the Sainc in proper credit.
All ol which We most respectfully submit for
your consideration; and hoping SOON 10 receive
I favorable reply from you,
w. arr rcSuectTullS
FRED. FICkLY. JR . Chln'n.,
Il q. G0RTER,
ALEXANDER PENN,
c. SIDNEY NORRIS,
WM MCPi[AfI.