Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-29
Exportation OF Cotton.


The New Orleans Price Current of the 18th inst.
says:
Notice has been taken of a small shipment of cot
ton recently by the river and railroad to the North
and come of the papers at the North are beginning
TO discuss the advantages and disadvantages that
may result from the blockade of all the Southern
ports by the Federal Government at Washington
But far as regards any benefits to the North they
VIII undoubtedly be disappointed, for there is no
probability that bale of the growing crop of
cotton will be permitted to find its way to the sea-
board towns Of the Northern States, either by the
inland routes or by while the present lasts
nor that any cargoes will be allowed to leave for
Europe until the blockade of all the Southern ports
is raised, and exports and imports alike pass with
out the slightest interference the part of the
Federal authorities.
The Congress of the Confederate States wisely
prohibited the expectation of Cotton out of the
Southern Confederacy except through its seaports.
This places the Northern manufacturers and their
dependant emplo yees st the mercy Of their rulers
as the South will be under necessity Of selling
Cotton to them.
In England the Cotton question begins to assume
more and more important aspect, and at last ac-
counts the question: Where is the Gotten to come
from to keep the mills at work." was seriously en-
gagng the attention Of the manufacturers and oper
atives of North Lancashire. One of the leading
London journals (the HeraId) has already declare
that they will have Cotton by stair means or foul
and it is evident that when the British manufactr>
rers and operatives demand that their ships shall
enter our ports to take of Cotton, the British Gov
eminent will enforce that demand. But some of
our clustering Northern contemporaries proclaim
that the LINCOLN Government is determined to con-
troll the Cotton trade, despite any and all inter-
ference. The New York Times, for instance talks
after this fashion:
Our Government, therefore, by the exercise of
an act recognized by the laws of nations, has en-
tre control of the cotton crop. Till our own pre-
sent difficulties are settled not bale of il is going
forward without our consent, and none whateVe.
through southern ports, unless we are driven from
the seas by superior naval force. which must be
that o; England or France. Cotton can come Nsrth
and reach Liverpool as speedy, and just about as
cheaply through New York as through New Or
leans, Charleston or Mobile. Whatever may be its
direction to the market it must pass under the sur
yeilance Of our Government, so that if England or
France want it. they must treat for it at Washington
not upon the evees or docks of southern cities 10
its control over this article our Government if il
does not hold the very existence of southern society
in its hands, hold all that makes life graceful or de-
sirsble. If England has 100000 900 invested in
the manufacture of cotton fabrics, and 1000 900
persons dependent upon the same for food and cloth
ing. she must ask permission of US to keep this
capital employed, this vast host from starvation.
and the nation from bankruptcy. Like Sampson,
we have hold of the pillars of an edfce which
shelters that nation and may bury all beneath it III
common ruin. If England should declare
sgainst US to open the southern ports it is entirely
in our power, by carrying the war southwark, to
prevent the production CT cotton altogether"
This is very big talk i" but will scarcely brighten
British statesmen from their propriety, while it is
equally certain the idle wind would have as much
influence with the Southern Congress.
more reasonable Northern contemporary (the
New York Day Books takes different view of the
matter. That paper says: "The simple truth
seems to be that English statesmen are now eau
tousy trying to grasp the control of the tropical
productions of Americs, which we of the North
have foolishly and wickedly driven from US. Brit
ish statesmen have more experience than
They know how the war of the Netherlands trans
ferred the tropical trade of Europe from Lisbon to
Amsterdam, and how the war in India expelled the
Dutch and French from their strongholds and cen
tered all at London. The North. by cultivating
friendly relations with the South, might and would
have retained her lucrative commerce for years,
perhaps forever, but political passions blinded them
to their interests and it is slipping out of their