New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-08-22
DIRECT TRADE WITH FRANCE.

The Hon. q. Butler King one Of the Confederate
Commissioners to Europe, has published PAM
phlet Paris on the subject of direct between
| France and the Southern Gonfederaey. He urges
the establishment of steamship lines between the
principal ports of France and the principal ports
Of the South and more especially those OF Savan
| nah and New Orleans
We make some extracts from this publication:
The secession Of the Southern States has de-
prived New York of her influence over the com.
merce and business of the South, to which the
commercial powers of Europe may now aspire.
The immense export and import trade of the South
ern States, the large number Of travellers who have
hitherto visited the North for health pleasure, and
above all, business: the great amount of cores
pondence, which will result from the commercial
and individual revolution now taking place, will
amply suffice to furnish a very profitable support
to several lines of steamships plying directly be-
tween the Southern Confederacy and Europe, and
more particularly France. ..~
To these considerations may be added the repeal
of all tonnage duties thus throwing open the coast
ing trade to foreign shipping; and the adoption of
tariff which, being based upon free trade prnci-
| pies is exceedingly moderate.
What contrast is presented by these conditions,
compared with those imposed by the North, whose
tariff is SO highly protective that it excludes the
| Importation of foreign manufacturers, and lays
upon foreign shipping such excessive tonnage au.
ties as to reserve to the North alone an exclusive
monopoly of the coast trade! +.
The expectations of the Confederate States VIII
amount to about $3.50, 100000 per annn, and their
fimportations will nearly balance that sum- VINO,
| then, can doubt for one moment, that vessels
1 trading directly between France and the Conted-
ate States will obtain the most abundant treights:
The commercial activity arising from railways ana
transatlantic steamers will assure to france me
command of the import and export trade OF the
| countries which bound her on the Nsrth and
East, as well as the postal service of these coun-
/ tries
During the winter months, when trade is most
| active, when immense quantities OF cotton and
tobacco arrive from the Southern States the ports
| of the Baltic are closed by ice, while those of
| France remain open and accessible. -
Ought not France to take the initiative, and by
placing herself at the head of the movement, profit
by the advantages of priority? In order to accom-
piish this permit metto suggest that the law au
thorzing the establishment Of a, line from Havre
to New York, be modified or amended, so as to I'M
pose upon the steamers the obligation of proceed
ing directly from Hapre to Savannah, Georgia. and
that the projected line from Hayre to the West In
dies be prolonged, so as to include New Orleans.
| Savannah is situated in 90 degrees North lati-
| tade. Next to New Orleans, Savannah is the
Southern city which exports most largely. Tho
network of railways running west from Savannah
is completed as far as Montgomery, Ala and is on
the point of being finished to Ticksburg, on the
Mississippi, more than $50 miles from Savannah.
On the north, the railways extend far as Mem
phis, Tenn, distance OF about9 900 miles on the
south, they extend to the State frontier, where
| they join the Florida lines, and junction with
| Mobile, Ala, will be soon effected.
Mr.. King then gives minute description Of the
geographical situation Of Savannah, depth of water
IN the river, means Of approach and lading large
vessels, etc. Similar details are given relative to
| New Orleans. He further says:
| Although it is clearly evident that the immense
/ import and export trade about to be established
/ between Europe and the Confederate States will
4 yisid magnificent profits to q steamship company,
it may not be without utility briefly 10 recapuate
| the principal elements which will tend to secure
i the success Of such an enterprise
1 Nearly the entire export and import intercourse
Of the United States. falmost threefourths) will
| be carried on directly between Europe and the
Confederate States. This intercourse has hitherto
been of great aid to the steamers running between
| New York and Boston and Europe, About LOO, 600
| inhabitants of the South have hitherto annually
| travelled in the North. Admitting that only one
fifth of the number (200O0) will now visit Europe
instead. at rate of $3.50 passage fare, to and
| from Europe, we arrive at the sum of twenty-six
millions OF francs ts5, 000,000) from passengers
alone -. ~
! If to this be added the transportation of the
| mails and full cargoes, going and coming, it is
evident that the first lines which shall be estab-
lished, and shall, by advantageous contracts with
| the railways, assure to themselves continual and
regular fEeights, which will be easy Of accomplish
| ment will command the commercial position and
1 realize splendid profits.
| As regards the question Of coal, may state that
| the Baltimore Company which supplies the best
coal to the Cunard iine at New York, has offered
I
| or 223 francs, per ton,] at Savannah.
Mr.. King, argues the question well, and his cal
eulations and anticipations are not unreasonable.
It may be too soon, yet, 10. attempt to carry out
this scheme, as we have our political independ-
enoe to gain before we can give our attention to
anything else. Still, it is well to prepare the pub
lie mind for the establishment of direct trade as
soon as the IS ended for there is danger that
we sla oil -pt, Ill
commercial dependence upon the North.
Our political independence will be robbed of
half its value if we continue, after the war is over,
to permit the North to carry on our foreign trade
for us. We recellect that the London Times, in
the beginning Of our secession movement, de-
clared that the South might not have sufficient ex
cnse for resistance in the triumph Of the anti
slavery party, but we might find ample justiGca-
ton in the wrongs we have suffered from high
tariffs and other oppressive measures of Federal
legislation. 1t is certain that 10 other free people
would have submitted as long as the South did,
and as patiently to a Federal policy which an
nually transferred to the pockets of Northern peo
pie the fruits of Southern industry, thereby making
us merely overseersfor our Northern task masters
By means Of her railroads extending in every
direction, France can concentrate at her seaports
all that we wish to buy from the different work
shops OF the whole continent, aud by means of the
same railroads distribute our agricultural products
to all of Europe. Her maritime cities would thus
become great commercial capitals. The terInini
of trade across the ocean would be Havre and ST.
Nazaire on that side, and Norfolk, Charleston, Sa-
yannah, New Orleans and Galveston on this, in
stead of Liverpool and Havre on that side, and
Boston and New York ou this, as is now the case,
hi Mr., King pamphlet is written, evidently; in the
interest Of Savannah; but it will be easy to show,
When the proper time cones that while there will
bestrade enough for all our seacoast cities New
Orleans, from her situation, must become the great
exporting and importing emporium of the South.
TALK ON ,caAelGE. .