The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-27

stronger bond, what guarantee of union moro
enduring can the mind of man conceive than
tons Of the Mississippi Valley? 1t seems to me-
that it would be easier to run division lima
through plain Of . thousand miles Than one
OF one mile across this river. The acquisition OF
the mouth OF the Mississippi by Jefferson, in
1903, was even more important, if possible, than
that OF the imperial domain by which it was 40
compsnied. Yet it was not the result Of state
craft,s though it was triumph Of lar sighted
craftsmanship. which looked beyond mere na-
tional aggrahdisement and saw in it q national
necessity. The control Of the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi by any foreign power menaced and might
have closed the highway OF national progress.
Can you think that the men who live upon tha
many rivers Of our valley, far off though their
perity9 l tell you no! You may hear it in tho
loud voice OF the interest ed demagogue, but that
Is no true echo Of the strong, calm beating OF tho
popular heart, which throbs in symp .thy with al
who dwell in our great valley, and rejoices in the
music OF its meeting waters.
Inc most superficial observer must compra-
bend and appreciate the importance of pros
porous South as market for the products Of all
its tributaries. Upon that subject need add
nothing. But l should not fill the measure "a
the obligation which this occasion imposes upon
me did fail to call attention to the great IN
fiuence which your staples exercise upon the in
dustrial, commercial and financial condition OF
the whole country. Passing eastward, and be-
yond the mountains which define the Mississippi
Valley in that direction, We find vast populations
employed in the manufacture Of beautiful and
useful fabrics from the cotton fbre. By that
home production, not only is employment given
to labor, but the country is saved from the ex-
haustion which foreign purchases of these inds-
pensabe manufactures would occasion. The
extent Of the general beneHt in this respect can
best be seen in the number of persons to whom
employment is given, and the value OF the goods
manufactured.
From the census of 1870, it appears thst in tha
SIX New England States, together with Pennsyl-
vanla, New York and New jersey, one hundred
and twenty thousand one hundred and sixty three
persons were employed in the manufacture OF
cotton goods.
Their annual wages amounted to-. -. .$35, S73, 256
the raw material used amounted to-: 9s.4s5, 9l7
And the manufactured goods were Of
am able to state these statistical facts, but I
am not able to tell nor can you estimate the
prosperity and happiness that brightens hum
dreds Of thousands of homes, because of the
employment gwen in the manufacture Of your
greatest staple into useful fabrics It seems to
me that between you, the producers of the ma
terial and the skilled Industrious people engaged
in its manufacture, and whose labor adds 80 much
OF value, there should be sympathy, almost q
brotherhood.
This production of home labor is thrown upon
the channels OF trade, forms an important ele-
ment in our domestic commerce, aud adds to our
reports of. 1874.
In our present financial condition, no question
can be OF greater imp Drtance than that which
relates to the amount aud sources OF our ex-
ports. Our public debt has bsen largely and
lmprovidently converted into . foreign debt.
The interest upon it and upon our other secure
ties held abroad causes an exhaustive with
dr.wal OF our gold. Our wants and our habits
make Us large consumers of foreign goods, and
to meet our obligations, and at the same time to
increase our supply Of gold, our exports must
be corresp6 ndingly large.
To what sources are we to look for the In
creased supply2 Our exports Of sugar and rice
are small, while our imp ,rts are large. An
increase OF your production OF those articles
will to that extent, reduce our foreign purchaser
and retain our gold.
There has be n gratifying increase in the az
portation OF agricultural products OF the North
during the last few years. I will make state
ment Of the expectation Of the most importante
articles grown, produced and manufactured in
the United s ates during the last six years,
emitting 1873, IN respect to which have not
accurate information.