New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-08-10
DIRECT TRADE WITH EUROPE.


We published, a few days since, a very INTEREST,"
ing communication from the Baltimore Exchange
on the subject of direct trade with Europe. The
writer advocated the formation of a trade-league
BY the commercial cities Of the South, with view
of advancing Southern interests, and securing, as
far as possible, Southern commercial independ-
ence.
The same writer publishes a brief additional
communication on the same subject in the Ex-
change, which we subjoin, as follows:
{eoaMuNlcATEp.f
DIRECT TRADE WITH EURoPE,--The allusion in d
former communication to the Zolverein of Ger
many, suggesting the idea of organizing the trade
interests of the slave States in the direction of di-
rect trade has observe, caused NO little comment.
II Is therefore, oppertune to recur to the organic
alton OF the famous trade-league with the Federal
Government of Germany. This trade leagne ex-
lists between certain States of the Germanlc Con
federation, and is called Commercial Union.
Fhe German States comprising this trade-league
are very limited. They possess no reserved rights
worth mentioning. The element of Capitalization
Is complete in Germany. As to State sovereignty,
it is not known in sense of that term And yet,
| with all these disadvantages, the people have
found means, within the German Confederation, OF
giving unity and power to certain interests having
i a destiny in commerce. This is fact, and facts
I are very stubborn things.
Now the Southern States have much more local
| liberty than the German. and State sovereignty is
carried to point not recognized anywhere in Eu-
rope. The Southern States have, under the Con-
stitution, greater power than the German States
embraced within the Zolyerein. If, therefore,
these German communities can SO combine under
such disadvantages why cannot the South, with so
many advantages and such vast State powers,
combne2
will take occasion at some future time to fur
nish the Exchange translation of the terms of
organization by which the German States have
succeeded in realizing commercial unity, power
L
| to initiate.
DIRECT TRADE.
From this ii appears that the obstacles in the
way of forming such combination are much less
with US than with the States of the Germanic Con-
federation. In that country Federalism and cen
trazation exist to such an extent that the indi
vidual States have very few powers or privileges.
Notwithstanding this, the trade league they have
formed has been productive Of the happiest and
most beneficial results The writer in the Exchange
reasons with FEASIBILITY, that our Southern State
governments with almost unlimited political and
commercial privileges, and free from the erampng
restrictions Of the Federal center could combine
with much more success and profit than has at
tended the trade-nnions of the Germanic cities.
The great obstacle, heretofore in the way of
direct trade between our Southern cities and the
markets Of Europe has been the prevailing impress
sion that we could expend orr lsbor and capital
more probably in ste pursuits of Agriculture.
Our idea has been that it cheaper to devote all
our energies to the raising of cotton sugar, bread
sstdfs, etc, and employ Northern merchants and
factors to do our importing and exporting, and
Northern manufacturers to supply us with the pro-
ducts of their industry This idea is beginning to
be dissipated. We are finding out that our foreign
trade is building up Northern cities and enriehing
Northern people, instead Of building up our own
cities and enriching the people Of our own section
Moreover, besides the economical reasons for
change of our policy there are also political and
social considerations scarcely less potent. All
these have combined to give an impulse to the
movement in favor of Southern direct trade and
we daily see evidences of it not only in the com
merclal cities Of the Atlantic and Gulf seaboard
but even among the people of The Agricultural
Districts. All this is step il the right direction.
Nothing will be more available to secure the peo-
pie of the South their rights, if the guarantees of
the Constitution should fail to be respected than
cur commercial independence and the retention in
our midst of that wealth which has for many years
been diverted into Northern channels.