The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-07-26
A New Route for Cotton to Europe.

The London papers are specializing on the
opening of new route, for the transporta-
ton of cotton from the Southern States to
England. This is by way of the Mexican
ports. In the act which passed the Con-
Tolerate Congress, prohibiting under heavy
penalties, the expectation Of cotton or of
cotton yarn, (" except through the sea ports
of the said Confederate States" there was
clause which provided that nothing in this
act shall be so cons' rued as to prohibit
expectation to Mexico through its con-
terminous frontier The London Post,
the government organ, has the following
comments on this method of obtaining cot.
ton supply:
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 practical
bility of establishing transit for cotton across
the Mexican frontier is therefore of very
great importance, and more especially to our
Seiues. We may remember that during the
Russian war a traffic of similar kind was
established with great success. Although all
direct intercourse with Russia was prohibited,
the produce of that country found its way
overland to the ports of Prussia, and was
thence shipped, without let or hndrance, to
England. The land traffic had, no doubt, the
effect both of raising the price and diminishing
the quantity. But we deemed it better to SUBJ
NIT 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 enforce the laws of
war regarding trade. The spirit of these laws
is so essentially opposed to the spirit of COM
merce, that we need not be surprised at this,
nor at the various attempts which have been
made OF recent years, by different commercial
bodies both in Europe and in America, to over
turn the ancient doctrines upon this subject,
and to introduce an Entirely ne,U maritime code.
Whether or not the contemplated cotton
traffic through Mexico is likely to succeed we
are not repaired to say. Tampico we believe
is the nearest port to the American frontier,
and the route from thence through Texas to
the mouth of the Mississippi is long and diff
cult. But we know that in India cotton is still
brought from the interior of the country by the
most primitive modes of conveyance; and in
the event of prOtracted struggle in America
we have no doubt that portion of the pro-
duce of the Southern States will find its 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 interrupted. Napoleon
could march in triumph from the Tagus to the
Vstula. He overthrow as if by magic the best
appointed armies and the most ancient dynas.
ties in Europe. He could make and unmake
what laws he chose, excepting only one-the
simple and eternal law of supply and demand.
His famous Milan and Brlin DEGREES were more
injurious to his subjects than to his enemies.
British commerce found its way into the heart
of his dOminiOns in spite of every obstacle, and
American cotton will find its way across the
Atlantic in spite of all the navies 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, oSeyen the alteration of a
law, has entirely destroyed some particular
branch of trade. The present state of things
has stimulated and must continue to stimulate
the production of cotton, not in one but in ma.
ny countries. Who can tell that the misfor-
tunes of America may not prove the salvation
OF India? Revolutions in commerce far more
remarkable have frequently occurred, though
to the South IN mind such a contingency may
at present seem beyond the bounds of posi-
bility.