The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-09
CONTINENTAL COMMERCE.

We publish to-day tho memorial OF the
Chamber of Commerce Of New Orleans to the
President and TO Congress- II asks the aid Of
these departments with o double object |.
That the treaty making power Of the govern
ment may review It's commercial conventions
with all Spanish America. with view to
breaking down the Chinese barrier to COM
MERGE established by the rigid and intolerant
rate Of tariff imposed between the United
States and certain Of these powers, and secur-
ing such reciprocal modification Of these
duties as will favor commercial intercourse
among the continental States
O. That the national legislature shall Co
operate in this object by granting an appro-
priation adequate to the establishment and
maintenance Of two lines Of bi-monthly postal
steamers, one to connect New Orleans with
the ports Of Rio de Janiero, and the other to
connect New Orleans with the port OF Aspin-
wall on the Isthmus of Panama, upon such
schedules Of time and station as to each as
Congress may prescribe. Congress shall also
consent to such special reduction and adjust
ment Of our revenue tariff rs will give effect
TO any convention Of reciprocity negotiated
by the treaty making department Of the ma
tional government
We regard this movement as Of infinite
Importance Not only has the trade between
the upper and interior West and the nations
OF Europe been taken across its natural
highway, and from Its natural outlet at New
Orleans. but the trade in provisions and
tropical goods to which the Western, and
even the Southwestern, people are entitled,
has been diverted from the most direct and
economical route by rail and river and COM
PEELED to pursue the Atlantic coast route to
New York. and the railroads and canals of
the Eastern States to It's Western destina-
tion. In like manner Western provisions are
compelled to pursue the same indirect and
expensive course to reach their tropical mar
ket In the Unjust and unequal monopoly OF
the European and the Continental trade by
the Eastern cities, New Orleans not only loses
her just participation in this trade, but the
West loses that employment for her steam
boats. barges and railroads To which she Is
undoubtedly entitled.
It Ia unnecessary that we should recapitu-
late the facts or arguments employed by the
memorial, but we may remind our represent
atives In Congress that the only undevelop-
cd field of national commerce Is to be found
in the thirty millions Of people and the five
or six hundred millions Of commerce lying
on this continent and adjacent islands. The
immense surplus production Of the United
States demands more market. The West
requires cheap and direct way and outlet
to this trade, which Is host to be- found by
way Of the Mississippi Valley and the outlet
port Of New Orleans. Our representatives In
the Senate and House will perceive the
advantages Of our position and will
not fail to favor an international
policy which will trace its path to
empire past our doors, and unite insepara-
bly, the interests Of all the States and Terri
tories along and adjacent to the great route
Of water and Of rail, which connects the Gulf
OF Mexico with tho Lakes Of Michigan and
Superior. We have no hesitation in express
Ing the opinion that tho President could not
do an act more favorable to his plan Of sec
tional pacitlcation than to assure the great
productive interests and the carriers Of the
West and South access TO continental mar
ket destined to rival the indies and especial
ly to furnish the means to conduct that com
MERGE and It's correspondence by one line Of
postal steamers between New Orleans and
Rio, and another between New Orleans and
the Isthmus Of Panama.