The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-10-06
Tbs Press and Banner. L.
W ednesday, October 6, 1875.
Direct Trade With England.

The subject of direct trade with En-
gland is now exercising the Southern
mind, and DR.. Thos. d. Worrall, the
agent of the Mississippi Valley Trading
Company, is now urging upon the
Southern people the necessity of going
heartily into the work.
The Augustol Cuasti'utionalist reports
u recent speech Of this gentleman, in
which he presents strong argument i'll
behalf of the enterprise, and explains
clearly the plan of operation. Il he Doc
tor shows the folly of the South, With
its annual cotton crop of 1000, 900 OF
bales, and with nearly all the sugar and
rice, and most Of the cotton produced,
and with one billion, three hundred
thousand bushels of grain grown on the
shores of the Gulf and in the West,
sending these products fifteen hundred
ped to England, and thus enriching
others by a trade which she should carry
on herself. The South and West are
the great producers of the country, and
other sections are but pensioners on
their bounty-furnishing indeed the
money, but money which comes at last
from England. Why employ these
middlemen, and enrich them at our ex-
pcnse, when we--can do the work our
selves and keep the profits to ourselves?
Any other course is the extreme of folly.
The remedy proposed by the speaker,
was the cooperative system, or "Roch-
dale plan," the details of which he
clearly set forth-a plan in which the
members Of the Society shall receive all
the profits of the business carried on.
These Societies, he said, had spread over
England, and had now al aggregate
membership of 100000, with one thou
sand stores, and large investments in
manufactures Of all kinds, and in every
department Of industry. They number
among their leaders some of the best
thinkers of England, and are governed
by congress which meets once year,
and in the interim by six congressional
boards, without whose sanction no great
movement can be undertaken. The
Mississippi Valley Company has been
endorsed by these boards, and by the
congress, and by the leading journals of
England. According to the statement
OF the speakcr:-
"Thc capital Of the company is $685.
1000, and the business is to he COLI
Quoted by two boards of eqnal author
ity; one to be called the English and one
the American board. The funds to be
used in England will be under the eX-
elusive control of the English board,
and that now being raised in America
by the American board, yet both will
act in perfect unison while carrying out
the objects of the organization. The
ocean ships will be owned and controll-
ed by the English branch of the COM
pany, but it is now quite clear that
smaller ships for coast trade must be
built by the American branch, and with
these we shall be able to enter every
Southern port, and thus control the
whole coast trade from Norfolk to Gal
weston, and convey in these ships our
goods and products to an from the ocean
vessels. 1t is also quite clear that cen-
trail wholesale depOts must be establish
ed in every State of the Gulf and the
Mississippi Valley proper, in which
manufactures and supplies Of every kind
will be sold both to the members Of the
society and the business community
generally. These stores will be man
aged by picked men in each State, who
will be responsible to the general board
and manage the business under their
general supervision. BY thus dividing
labor and Responsibility, the whole bu,
siness can be conducted much better
than from one centre. The profits will
be divided between capital and trade, on
the true Rochdale plan"
The effect of this enterprise will be
greatly beneficial to both countrics-the
English will find market for their sur
plus manufactures, and a safe invest
ment for their surplus capital, at the
same time that they get their supplies at
reduced rates; whilst the Americans
will be able TO purchase manufactured
goods at low rates, and find a ready
market for their staples, and above all
will be freed from the tyranny Of Wall
Street sharpers, and keep some $50 ,0O0,-
600 at home, which 60 now to enrich the
on-produccrs of the East. Liverpool
will be brought to our doors, and at least
- per cent. saved in the cost Of British
goods, at the same time that capital will
be kept at home which now goes to the
East.
The speaker stated that he had met
with the most encouraging success, and
that the stock would soon be raised-tlat
he had received assurances of support
from every State and territory, and es-
pecially from the leading members and
officers of the State and subordinate
oranges. The success Of the enterprise
he regards rs assured.
For years the South has been the slave
of the Northern capitalists, and her hard
earnings have gone to swell the over
grown wealth Of Northern cities. Her
great staples, rs soon as made, have
passed into the hands of spectators,
and other parties have reaped the profits
of their production. We hail this move
in behalf of commercial independence,
and trust that it will inaugurate u new
era of prosperity for our section.