Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-02-03
Direct Trade with Europe.


1t has been a we'll settled opinion, for
years, of some of the best thinking men of
Virginia, that direct trade with Europe
should be re -established and fostered by the
people of this State. Recent events have
more powerfully impressed the subject up
on the public mind The patriotic mer-
chants ofRichmond and Alexandria have
resolved to commence large and brisk for
eign trade in the confidence that an intel
ligent and loyal people will sustain them in
their laudable enterprise. Will their noble
purpose meet with hearty and energetic
second frous every good citizen of the Com
monwealth ? This is practical question
which addresses itself to every one, and
which must now be answered. The work
has been commenced and cannot be sue
cesstully prosecuted without the united and
jealous cooperation of the whole people =
The city merchants may import goods, but
unless they are bought by the retail dealers
they will lie On their hands and ret. Wheth-
er the country merchants will buy Of VIII
ginia importers depends upon the will of
their customers-the people.
The will of the people should be, that
Virginia shall resume her former position
Of principal commercial State. Norfolk
is a monument of the felly Of Virginia in a
bandoning the fourishing trade which she
enjoyed in the better days Of the Republic,
which has been basely turned over to the
hands of our Northern neighbors, upon
which they have grown proud and arrogant
Virginia has suffered herself to become the
customer of other States instead of retaining
them as hers. She has become content to
carry her rich produce and pour it into the
lap of others, thereby indirectly admitting
an inability to turn it to any further profit
able account, when, in fact, she possesses
noble rivers, bays and harbors of ample ca
pacity to float the commerce of the whole
country. AS if it were not enough to give
others rich profit to export her produc-
tions, she, in addition, has paid large per
centum to the importer, and superadded the
costs of transhipment at Northern ports
thus paying, substantially, the costs of two
transhipments and two profits to the export
or and importer, in sending away her pro-
duce and getting what she needs in return,
AS if she were not capable of doing the
writing and fnanceering necessary to the
transaction of her own business. Her pol
icy is analogous to that Of the man, who
cannot write letter to merchant at Rich
mond to sell his produce, but allows prof
it to some one possessing no greater facili-
ties for sending.
This state of affairs is utterly in conflict
with true economy, or the Independent spir-
it of our people. Will Virginia be herself
again? Shall the grass covered streets Of
Norfolk groan under Virginia tonnage for
the future, or will it still afford employment
tor the capital and drays of New York p
1t is for you, Virginians, to say. The i'm
portance and necessity of chang of poll
cy is so palpable that it needs no discus
sion.
Let prompt and determined declaration
be made by the people in public meetings
throughout the State, that they will not en-
courage or support any merchant who does
not import or buy of Virginia importers. -
Let this eclaration be now made before the
Spring trade commences and it will be found
that our retail dealers will cheerfully and
promptly conform to the wishes of their pat
rons.
The people of the whole State should feel
an interest in her prosperity and greatness
The importers have right to assurances Of
support, and they expect it. In other
words, they want to know whether the peo-
pie will discard that accursed pride which
will not suffer many to purchase any article
Of which it cannot be said that 1t was pur-
chased on 'Broadway'' or Chestnut streets.
This feeling of wicked pride has had much
to do with our bondage to the North. To
crafty it, everything had to be bought al
the Devils principal place on EARTH" Gas
it has been denominated by distinguished
citizen of an adjoining county, New
York
Let it be published that this soul and
country destroying lust for fashion and ex.
travagance shall, now and here, have an
end and be supplanted by modesty and fru
gality. Let it be remembered that 'spride
goeth before destruction, and Taught,
look before fall ;" that a self-reliant anc
economical policy is essential to prosperity
in individual and State affairs.
A brisk direct trade from the waters O
Virginia would inure to the advantage o
almost every remote corner and citizen o
the State.
Commerce in almost all ages and coun
tries has been the highway to wealth AM
greatness 1t is so still. Why is it tina
q,