The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-24
RAISING THE nLoCKADE OF NoR.


The late proclamation Of the President, de-
cl0ring the blockade Of Norfolk and other
certain ports raised, should afford all good
citizens in this section Of the Union the sim
cercst qualification. The fact itself shows
that the Government has so implicit faith
in It's ability to hold the particular points on
our seaboard named in the proclamation of
Mr.. LINCOLN, that II no longer heSitates to
open them to trade, and to guarantee all due
protection TO those citizens who may avail
themselves Of a privilege and benefit soiong
necessarily suspended.
Philadelphia once had a most advantageous
commerce with Norfolk, and with a vast ex-
tent Of interior country which our merchants
reached through thatporL The time i, favor
able for renewing that commerce at once and
extending it to the utmost possible limits to
which capital and enterprise can extend it.
1t depends entirely with our own citizens
whether they win reap the first fruits Of a
revived commercial intercourse with the
South as fast as the Administration can and
does open the way for iL or leave those fruits
to be gathered and appropriated by their more
active and thrifty neighbors of Baltimore,
New York, and Boston.
We make no doubt that the peODle of the
cities named will be wide awake TO the golden
opportunity that is presented to them by the
removal of the blockade of Norfolk, and unless
we bestir ourselves in the same direction we
shall exhibit our old-time slowness and apathy,
and deserve to remain stagnating in the midst
of more natural resources for trade than are
possessed by all the cities of the North
besides.
Why should Pennsylvania allow New York
and Boston to grow rich on her fields, and her
mines, and her forestsP Why should she suffer
the people Of other States to be the carriers
other products to profitable markets, and tC
realize enormous wealth in the sale of then
at large advance on the first price paid tC
the procurers? This Is what has been done
| in the past, and is yet being done. Is there
| never to be q change for the better? Will our
| people never arouse themselves TO a right
understanding of their interests, and put forth
the energy that is necessary to promote and
secure those interests?
No better chance could be offered to begin
the work than that which the gradual re-estab-
lishment of commercial relations and inter
course with the South presents. Norfolk
Virginia, is naturally one of the finest harbors
on our entire sea-coast; and with the close o
the war, and the new elements, social anC
political, that will no doubt be brought Il
bear in the development of the material richie
of the Southern country, it must in course O
time become one Of the most prosperous O
: our American ports, both as respects tn
: coastwise trade and foreign commerce.
5 line of railways will connect Norfolk with al
{ parts of the South, even to the uttermos
limits of Texas and Florida; and it is but res
sonable that, for much of all that the Mort
= can pour into the lap of the South throug
e her ports, the South will be able to return q
IS equivalent in her principal staples, whose pr
NJ duction free labor will increase in amount Ol
of hundred fold and more.
Je And let us, while on this interesting subieC
lie observe, generally, that one of the mo-
is efficient, because powerfully ConCiliating me-
ID sures which the Government can employ
IS effect conquest of the Rebellion and rene
Is amicable connections between the people
h the whole country, is the re-establishment
commercial intercourse between us as speedil
e as circumstances will admit of its being don
y The President is evidently aware of thi
y and his recent proclamation shows tn,
Is he Is determined to test at the earliest pra
J. ticable moment the virtue of bringing I'll
s. two sections ofthe country together in friend
Il association, and binding them to or
&c another by the gentle, yet strong bonds (
n mutual interest. II has been said that th
't war has put implacable hatred between I'll
y belligerents, and nothing can ever unite the
y in peace and affection again. The propheC
o Is made by those whose wish is probabl
o father to their thought. But be all that as
may, the problem can only be solved by e!
pertinent, and it is the duty of the Governmel
z to lose no time, and spare no proper means
r trying the question practically. This openin
$ then, of the port OF Norfolk, is fair beginniu
e of the work, and we shall soon see how it vi
IS result The effort, at all events, can do l
II harm, while it may prove productive Of Il
et greatest good.
Ne