New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-06-02

Ex-Speaker Randall has recently adj
dressed the following letter to the lsAdine
citizens of Galveston, Texas, in reply to
an invitation to visit them. II contains
some important comments on the COM
mercial interests Of the United States and
their relations to the Central and South
American States, and was undoubtedly
written with view to its effect upon his
chances for the SpeGkership of the next
Congress:
PhLLADEPHIA, May q, 1877.
GRNrLESIESE-Your invitation to visit
Galveston was received.
Accept my sincere acknowledgements
for the honor conferred.
have delayed my reply until could
know the purpose of the President in
connection with the calling of the extra
session of the Forty-ffth Congress. If he
had adhered to his purpose of calling it
for the fourth day of June, then it was
my wish to visit your city during the
month of October. Political considera-
tons and necessities have induced him to
change his original intention and delay
such call until the fifteenth day of Octo-
not now name q probable time when l
can be in your city. had promised my
self the pleasure and the instruction of
seeing your citizens and to learn directly
from them the needs of your section.
The time has come, in my opinion,
when the policy of the government should
be to enlarge our trade relations with
Mexico and with the Central and South
American States
1t is well for us to study the statistics
of the trade between these countries and
the markets ST the world, from which we
find that the people of the United States
are not receiving due share of the COM
merce of the countries I have named.
We need more favorable commercial re-
lations and more comprehensive trade
connections with other nations. Let me
cite few figures to prove the truthfulness
of my assertion.
The public documents show the foreign
commerce of the countries lying south of
the United States on the American CONT
nent to be about $500 600, O00 Our share
of this amount is about SIP, 000, 900, of
which only about $37, 900, 900 is trans
ported in American vessels and under the
American flag, Such a statement should
at once arouse our people from their leth-
argy. ,....
The war stimulated the manufacturing
facilities of the North enormously, and
only by the adoption of such policy can
we keep the activity of our manufacturing
districts and secure market for our pro-
auctions.
It is discredit to our enlightenment
that we as people stand quietly by and
do not make sufficient endeavor to in
crease our meagre share of this important
trade
When the extended policy to which
have referred is inaugurated, as it must
aud will be, then will your city, your
State and the entire coast of the Gulf re-
ceive the advantages which nature has
bespoken for them.
do not decline your hospitality, but
must defer naming a time for my visit
until after Congress has organized and
adjourned. am none the less, however,
obliged for your proffered civilities.
Permit me, in conclusion, to thank you
all most sincerely for your emphatic ap-
proval of my course as Speaker during
the trying days of the last session of the
Forty-fourth Congress.
Your most obedient servant,
SAMUEL J. RANDALL,
| To Robert G. Steel, F. Charles Hume Hen A. a
| Willie James osbourne, G. b. Sabine and OF hel
ciuzens Of Galveston, Texas.