The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-12
CH HARLE is TON.
MONDAY MORNING. JULY 10, 1869.
Direct Trade.

Last season nno or 6ate ana oommoul-
Gus steamships piled regularly between
Charleston aud Liverpool. This was un
dertaken at time when the people were
gloomy and depressed, and only the most
sanguine looked forward hopefully to revi-
val Of our trade. There was many difficulty
to be encountered, and much lukewsrmness
and Indifference to overcome; but the projee
tors of the line persevered, and made it 80
successful that the owners on the other
side are highly pleased with the result
Charleston has done what no other South
ern port has done. We have made the first
and most difficult step; and it remains with
us to decide whether we will retain the
vantage ground which We have gained and
increase the strength Of our position, or
throw away ono Of those golden opportuni-
ties which come but rarely to even favor
ed community. Il is no question now Of
establishing experimentally direct steam
ship line between Charleston and Liverpool
That has been done. What We now have
to determine is, whether the trial trips of
last year shall be repeated under better
prospects and with greater certainty of
profit.
We believe that We are justified in say
ing that, if our merchants and brokers take
any active interest in the important matter Of
direct trade with Europe, q Charleston and
Liverpool steamship line will be in regular
operation through the coming business sea
son. The support which is required is but q
small matter in comparison with the magni
tude Of the benefit which may reasonably
be expected; and the active efforts Of our
sister cities should teach us the necessity Of
bestirring ourselves on all occasions to per-
feet our communications and increase our
facilities for the shipment Of the staple. A
little exertion will make the line permanent
and sure, and We cannot think that the en-
terprising merchants Of Charleston will
allow this to be wanting.
The chief points to which attention should
be given, in connection with this question
Of direct trade, are-1. The propriety Of
capitalists in this city being part owners of
the line. 2. The adoption Of measures for
securing the ships good inward freight
8. The perfection Of arrangements for
filling and dispatohing the ships without an
hour Of unnecessary delay.
1. A subscription Of few thousand dol
lars by merchants in South Carolina would
prove our faith in the direct line, and show
that We are in earnest. The ships can be
worked 30 as to make money, and with
proprietary interest here We could obtain
better terms than We can obtain while the
whole Of the line is owned across the At
lantic. There is money enough in the State,
and to spare. 1t could not be applied to a
better purpose than that Of establishing
direct steamship line which, in the end.
would 90 far to make Charleston the great
importing aud exporting city Of the South
VIC law sno oeote hoWi ohV uo UcoeSh
unless we are wilful lsggards in the race.
2 Immigrants will form the best kind of
inward freight for our steamships. They
can be brought here as oheaply as they can
be taken to New York, while the passage
will be attended with less risk and disoom-
fort. The railroad fares for immigrants
from Charleston to the West are lower, we
believe, than from New York or Baltimore
to the West, so that the Charleston line can
take immigrants TO. St L,uis, for instance,
at less rate than the New York lines can
take them. This portion Of the immigrant
business would mainly be arranged on the
other side. Our work would be to bring
over white immigrants for South Carolina.
This can be done by an agreement on the
part Of different farmers to give 80 many
acres Of land to each white family ac'uslly
settling in the State, the titles to DO deliv-
cred when the immigrants have occupied the
farm, say FIVE years. Tnis influx Of white
labor would reduce the price of negro labor
and make it more efficient. In the mean