The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-23
A British Cotton Route Through Mexico
Recommended.
From the London Post, Government organ }
Jupe -

June 70
On the 2lst of last month an act was passed
oy the Congress of the Sou thern States at
Montgomery, prohibiting, under heavy penal.
Ties, the expectation of cotton OF cotton
yarn, Except through the seaports of the said
Confederate States" And this prohibition
is 10 con tinue so long any Of the ports OF
the South are blockaded by the Government
OF the United States. The object of this act
clearly is to retaliate upon the Northern
States, by proven ting them from obtaining for
terial overland. 1t " ould appear, therefore,
that for the present all commerce in Ameri-
can cotton is effectually cut of. The block
ade OF the Southern paEts by the navy of the
North on the one hand, and the strict pro-
hibition against the inland traffic on the other
must entirely shut up at least the ordinary
channels Of traffic But there is a clause in
the recent act passed by the Ccnfederat te
States which indicates that q new ou utlet may
De found In the present crisis for the great
staple of the South. The provision to " hich
we refer is in the following words .'Nothing
in this act shall be so construed as to prohibit
nous frontier
Now, as the Northern States are at peace
with Mexico, they cannot of course interfere
with any exports that may be shipped from
that country. Still less can they blockade
any Mexican port. The question Of the prac-
ticability of establishing transit for cotton
across the Mexican frontier is, therefore, one
Of Very great Importance, and more especially
the Russian war traffic of a similar kind
was established with great success. Although
ali direct intercourse with Russia was pro-
hibited, the produce of that country found
Its way overland TO the ports Of Prussia, and
was thence shipped, without let or hindrance,
to England. The land traffic had, no doubt
the effect both of raising the price and dimin-
ishing the quantity. But we deemed il bet
ter 10 submit to this Inconvenience than to
the still greater Inconvenience of being
deprived OF Russian produce altogether. The
truth is, the more commercial the world
grows, the more difficult does it become to en-
force the laws OF war regarding trade. The
spirit of these laws is so essentially opposed
to he spirit of commerce that we need not be
surprised at this, nor at the various attempts
which have been made of recent wears by diff
ferent commercial bodies, both in Europe and
in America, to overturn the ancient doc ctrines
upon this subject, and to Introduce an entirely
near maritime code.
Whether or not the contemplated cotton
traffic through Mexico is likely TO succeed, we
are not prepared to say. Tampico, we be-
lieve, is the nearest port TO the American
frontier, and the route from thence through
Texas 10 the mouth Of the Mississippi is long
and difficult. But we know that in India,
cotton is still brought from the in terror Of the
country by the most primitive modes of con-
veyance and in the event of protracted
struggle in America we have no doubt that a
por lion of the produce of the Sou thern States
will fndits way to Mexican ports, and from
thence in neutral bottoms to Europe 1t is
astonishing TO what channels commerce will
adapt itself when its ordinary course is in
terrupted Napoleon could march in tri-
umph from the Tagus t0s the Eistula. He
oyerthrew, as If by magic, the best appointed
armies and the most ancient dynasties in Eu-
rope. He could make and unmake what la WIS
he choose, excepting only one-the simple
and eternal law of demand and supply.
His famous Milan and Berlin DEGREES were
more injurious to his subjects than to his ene-
mics. British commerce found its way in to
q dOminiOnS M
obstacle, and American cotton will find its
way across the Atlantic in spite Of all the ma
vies in the world. But it is possible-nay,
highly probable-that the demand for it will
diminish in the event Of a protracted contest
There are numerous instances in the history
of commerce where the accident of war, or
even the alteration of a law has entirely de-
stroyed some partic ular branch of trade The
present state Of things has stimulated and
must con ntinue to stimulate the production of
cotton, not in one, but in many countries.
Who can tell that the misfOrtunes of America
may not prove the salvation of India? Rev
oIutions in commerce far more remarkable
have frequently occurred, though to the
Southern mind such a con tingency may at
present seem beyond the bounds of posi-
bility.
In the meantime the fortunes of war seems
to favor the Northern States. Instead of ad :
vancing upon the Capital, which according to
the public boast OF Mr.. Jefferson Davis ad
herents, ought to have been in their possess
sion month ago, they have not only made a
retrogade movement, but they have evacuat-
ed Harper's Ferry, a post of great Importance,
which they had taken all possible pains to
fortiiy. 1t may be a wise thing of the South
ern President to retreat under the circum-
stances, but it was unWise to boast of his in :
tentions OF taking Washington when he had
lot the means Of doing SO General Scott has
managed better. He has kept his plans en-.
tlrely 70 himself, and he has for the present,
at least, secured Washing ton from any attack.
AmeIi ;ans have at length encountered Ame-
ricans in deadly conflict, and although the
loss of life has not been great, we fear it will
prove sufficient to render peaceful solutio
OF the quarrel impossible. The strife must
now go on ; but how tar and with what re-
suit he would be bold man who would ven e.
ture TO predict.