The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-08
a New March to the Sea-"
From the New Orleans Commercial Bulletiu.1


Virginia has, after long legislative conflict sue
ceeded IN doing what every sensible people must do
consolidated some of her railroads under sinole ad
mInlstration The Legsla ture has now organised thu
Atlantic and Mississippi Railroad. One terminus is
Norfolk, the other at Memphis With steam connec
t'ons' one terminus Will be at Liverpool and the othe
on the Mississippi One terminus will be on the cot
ton plantation, and the other at the cotton MILL This
route Will trlangulae that by way of the capes Of
FLORIDA, saving distance of little less than two
thousand miles and time to sail vessels of at least
h'teen days. Thus is part of the Mississippi com.
mefce TO De put on new march to the sea =" t. is
one more cross route and to the cotton dealers the
most formidable. In effect it makes little material
difference to New Orleans whether the provision crons
OF the upper river be exported from Norfolk or New
lOrk' LOT much OF 1t will be sent from Que Or the
other We welcome any development of Southern
commerce. There is no reason why that commerce
should not be adequate to maintain ten times the CITY
population now supported by it. If New York and
Philadelphia, st. Louis and Chicago maintain millions
OK people within almost stones throw of each other
why should there be rivalry among Southern cities
separated by hundreds of miless
1t must be by cooperation. not by nonon,,v +ho+
our commercial interest will prosper and our cities be
QUIZ up 10 their destined magnitude. But why should
virginia export raw cotton? Why not pass it through
Tue ms IN that Switzerland of America, East Tennes
see and Southwestern Virginia? why not send ont
long cloths and prints? why not combine the labor
ana provisions of the interior with the Southern stane
why commit the folly and barbarism of seudno ont
raw material which, combined with those elements in
"nlcn virginia and Tennessee abound, is converted
INTO fabrics worth fourod the price of that raw mate
rial? why beg rations for UNEMPLOYED thousands
why behold the life blood of the Old Dominion oozing
away to Texas and Brazil? why cannot the widows
ana orphans be furnished with EMPLOYMENT in the
cotton mill, and the true Freedman's Bureau be found
IN an IRON foundry? The West will march on her
way to the sea by two routes neither of them antaro-
nStS nor even rivals of New Orleans
Norfolk is cur ally, not our rival Virginia is
oouhd 10 Louisiana by common sufferings by COM |
mon sympathy, and if instead of hailing Norfolk as
SISTER city engaged IN developing ascommon treasure
we were compelled to contribute something to her |
prosperity, we should esteem it but grateful Offering
to gallant, a just and a ruined people
with the declaration OF war in EuroDe and the !
possible demand for provisions textile staples and
our tobacco, much of this trade will be conducted
direct, by way Of the routes and eastern ports
possess great advantages as to the ,esu Northwest
no" opening west of the Mississippi because their
european grain freiGhs must be largely borne bv way
OF this outlet But the other march to the sea is NV
the Belize to the Gul the Equator and the great be-
iohu "nieh balboa, and Raleigh, and Law and Maurv
nave painted Ia such gorgeous colors
New orleans will sit at the gate of nations and con-
uucs thlS commerce as the Queen of Sheba came to
:, with very great company and came!s
That bore spices and gold III abundance, and precious
stohes' with all the treasures of oriental and occ
- -, H"ch are Tue Two marches to the
sea upon which the great Northwest has set out She
Will De irresistible as Sherman, because she will be
backed and mpelled by precisely the same resources
d material power which secured his success Is there
my rivalry which will prevent from participating in
JUS expandns-and let US add, inevitable future?
:. Let, however, Virginia and the other Southern
states themselves to the reconstruction of their
MATERIAL interests and their political rights will infalli-
by follow. Right-so-called-s in this world the
power to DO as you WISH subject alone to the dictates
u your own Judgment and conscience. Those who
ave the power of their money, and ships and work.
hops can put their own conscientious construction
lpon their own compacts. Those who rely alone upon
he integrity of others to concede this privilege may
possibly, like the little Republic of San Marno amonc
he monarchies, retain their separate nationality, but
My because they are too Insignificant to be worth
nnihlation.