The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-04

1ns subject foes not appear ID have entered into
success or those splendid commercial enter Will n
in time will be carried on by steam navigation OF the
Niger. Indeed, IL would seem that all knowledge d .ais
part Of the African continent, from lattu ie 81 north ~
attuce 10 SOUTH had been purposey concealed by the
Of Europe from the rest of tbs world for
81 numerical enterprise IL is the region of country that
offers greater facilities for trade than any other portion %
that continent The true reason OF this apparent nalne
renee is easily copjectured II Is the interest OF both
England and Fran ~ retain what they now possessan
almost exclusive monopoly Of this trade-and sacn
monopoly would be broken up were its great advantages
elpoeed to the competition Of the rest OF the com
mercial world In opening the ports in the ati
tuaes namea 70 commerce, tne urAde now CAT
red on by caravans TO Tripoli, Tunis, Al
giers and Morocco would be seriously iuterfered
with and the present monopoly would cease 70 exist The
trade Of the United States TO these ports would be direct
and more convenient TO than TO either England or
France while climate Of tho most salubroas character
would be additional incentive to embark In this new
Of enterprise Even Dr.. Brth could not wholly
esIaOrdnaly section q coss and r dirccsins shs I'M
ton on this branch x commerce that Great Britain sends
already by the exercise VI her superior activity
and she intends sr tiles IN her power, 70 keep the
monopoly 70 herself by opposing every attempt 70 open
this seconded by France she has been aided by the Bar
barry powers Of Morocco Tanis and Tripod, whose reve
monopoly. VI
Do these considerations offer just ground Of some
effort the government 10 TO the
terprise Of our own Gil zens their own fair share In COM
merce from which England and France deriving great
advantages 10 exclusion Here is aqueston in which
the civilization OF Africa and the prosperity Of
commerce are happily blended. And yet Congress,
thus far, seems to have regarded the subject
unworthy Of serious attention Not So however with
our commercial community. Petitions from merchants
have repeatedly been preseaed calling for Information
the subject and requesting such advice from the govern
ment might enable the 70 receive at least share Of
the benefits Of this trade trade which they satisfac
toriy info med is and must be greatly the increase
ice, not strange and partly from this want OF nfor
nation that the subject shuied aside The enterprsng
chant who has possessed himself Of all the information
within his reach this interesting question naturally
supposes that archives u his hs may be
farther enlightened. But az no commercial relations
exist with many portions Of that country the informs
ton he seeks is asked for Ia and Congress
to regard the subject unworthy its Consideration no
dons hts projected enterprise.
Ar seine small evidence Of what the commerce with
Africa might be- is enough TO state that during the last
year eighty millions OF pounds OF wool imported
for consumption considerable portion Of which
from africa but the secret where II Is obtained Is kept
concealed Western and Northwestern Africa essen
TALLY wool growing country and the amount grown
could be increased fifty and hundred fold were direct
channels opened for its transportation.
The government Of the United states has already been
approached by the government of Wadnon in the dis
trict OF Sus to engage in commercial relations, but
strange TO say the proposition has met with no success
perhaps from the apprehension Of giving offence 10 Eng
land who by her policy in dscouragng the opening the
ports of this Power the better able TO the
Of the Emperor of Morocco, and their trade
with that empire by divertng the same from Wad non
IL shown by travellers that al Wad all the large
caravans stop and take up their line Of march across the
desert This trade that could at be made profit
able to the United States If commercial relations
established with the government Of that section Of
country. Its importance in q commercial Wow Is recon-
mended by every traveller who has visited the place and
have spoken highly Of its character than Br
tish travellers British officials We have before spoken
OF this subject and have given facts and statistics OBJ
tanned from official and responsible channels, which prove
the importance Of establishing with
IL, so that our citizens might partake OF
while il already tends that way stops short for want OF
government action. The Canary Islands are opposite
this fruitful and enterpsing portion Of Africa It's CHI
mate IL unsurpassed II invites the embrace Of our
commerce. but for want Of government Intervention II ia
withheld The only obstacles in tho way Of the enter
prise Of our merchants comes from the inacon of our
own government. But few years since not a steamer
engaged in the trade Of Africa at present less
tom, are actively and probably employed in The com.
Of that country But few years ago the idea Of
our holding intimate commercial relations with Japan
would have been secuted at as ridiculous but those rea
tons have been established simply by the exercise Of
energy, good sense and fair dealing.
Az regards the interesting portion Of country TO which
have referred willingness has already been expressed
to to enter upon treaty Of commerce, that cannot
Is shrlh and foolish to refuse The ony Scu,sy IN
the way that because 20 little Of the resources Of that
portion Of Africa known Congress seems 70 feel tina,
objection existed in tenfold degree in relation u
japan, and {. Is certain that In the history Of
merce no event has ever been deemed Of higher i'm
than establishment Of commercial
istions with that country. ~ 81 HT
1he deficiency can however, be easily supplied BY
sending Of ships Of TO tina, part Of Africa
which, strange 10 say, has never yet been visited by
is employed very great distance the north Tho
southern portion Of the coa<t ia frequently visited
70 the commanders of squadrons At either Of these points
instructions TO make friendly visits to this section Of
country, and make reports 10 our government Of us
character and Thus, at comparatively snl1n
expense preliminary steps wouid be taken which MIL
be followed up as the occasion demanded BY other acts