The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-24
Signs Of Direct Trade

SlQn8 OF OlFCCk TdoG
1t is nearly SIX years since the South
received the severest blow to her com
merce that vas possible 10 be re-
ceived at the hands of her " sons.
Senator Gordon. Gov. Colquitt, Gen.
4. X. Lawton. and other Confederate
leaders who held popular conf'ence IN
hirh degree. secured the endorsement
Of the Oranges in Georgia, South Caro-
lima. and yearly all the South-Atlantlc
States. for a scheme OF Direct Trade
with Europe Gen. Hill. C3l- John
sion. Or. Mills. and leading North
Carolinians also endorsed tn Diove-
ment: though they had no yolce n It
management.
Then succeeded a wonderful series of
m~istakes-to use the mildest term.
Gen. Lawton was chosen European
AAeut. with q salary Of $4,000. Sa-
~vannah was chosen IS main shipping
pert. Adequate railway arrangements
were not made. Cotton lay for months
at the ports of shipment, and longer
still at the ports OF receipt LaYton
was well received in English soci.ty; but
appeared not TO learn the Whereabouts
Of the cotton ~spinners. The small far
mcrs OF sIecklenburg, Cabarrus, Ire
dell, and adjacent regions, who had
shipped their Is or 20 bales apiece be
came frantic at the delay. They had
offended The merchants by chanting
the Grange sibboleth Of Down with
the middle man consequently could
not ask for credit while awaiting re
turn. from Liverpool. Lavton report
ed that he was awaiting a rise IN price.
Telegram- were sent him to sell at once.
The regulations OF the Trade Union
provided that any farmer could order
his cotton sold %instantcr. But Lawton,
of course, wished &c manage things.
Finally the cotton was sold. So were
the cotton owners. For, Lawton, III
stead Of selling directly to the .pluners,
turned the cargOes over to certain mid
die men Of Liverpool, (who charged
commission and storage). and closed out
the whole lot IN JuHt What were the
results? Well, the chief result was IA
killing blow to Southern Direct Trade !;
a Gripping blow to the Grange IN the
south; a considerable frost upon some
regulations; and a loss to a great man5
pocket books. For example, the cot-
ton having been sold without ciassitica-
ton, the Granger who shipped a lot OF
dirty, stained, or inferior staple was
tolerably satisfied with the price even
though he had had to wait SIX months
for 1t. But the owner of a prime lot of
extra fibre was enraped to find that he
had been annoyed for months, Only to
get so less on the bale than he would
have received by selling 1t to the Mid
de man in Charlotte!
In short, the Direct Trade" scheme
was laid on the shelf with the South
ern Life Insurance scheme, and the
university Publishing Co.. etc, etc.
Happily the dawn of a new era seems
at h and. Several ships have recently
left Savannah, Charleston, and VIII
mington, bound for Europe, with heavy
loads Of cotton. And last week three
vessels (two steamships sailed from
Norfolk for Liverpool with l6, 900 bales
of cotton. These be cheering signs.
All that is needed is for the South To
work up an Immigration Scheme thai
will give freight to ships coming from
Europe to Southern ports to r. reload
with cotton. Just as 0 as cargoeo
for both ways can DE assured, there
vii! be no lack oil shipping: aud then,
and not till then, shall we have great
seaports at the South.
HOW TO Make IMMIGRATION A SUCCESS.
How shall this be accomplished ?
There can be no trouble as to cotton
..-oo-. ~, bo-r ebojI tha rn.cn1, L.
ladened for our ports?
The answer is already indicated by
migrants and their goods and chattels.
Alas says one, we have heard a great
deal about immigration TIC Far H.er
and Mecauuic has hammered at it for
years; agencies nave started aud failed;
Railroads have tried it, and failed so
what hope of success Is there
Every hope, if the work be done
right. TO be done right it must be gi-
gantic in extent. 1t must embrace the
whole South. It must be another
Southern Confe4eracy; embracing every
State from Virginia to Texas.
1t must be conducjed In SO bold and
striking a manner as to attract the at
%tention Of the civilized world, as the
Atlanta Exposition is doing. 1t must
embrace as a part of its agency every
prominent railroad of the South. Ii
must enlist the services of the leading
press Of the North. 1t must have i
dozen correspondents in each State,
pe3d to write to Northern and foreign
newspapers descriptive accounts of our
section. The Governors of all the
States must Issue a joint address to the
world announcing that we have millions
on millions Of fertile lands awaiting set
tiers; and also pleiging the entire pow
er of the several State governments to
protect the incoming settlers IN every
personal, political, and legal right. The
State Legislatures should issue a SINH
lar appeal, and declare free from taxa
ton for five years the property of all
con Circular letters should
be sent to every newspaper inthe South
urging a combined effort to invite In
migration, and herald our
When a comprehensive scheme Of
this kind is carried out, there will be a
Tidal wave of both Capital and settlers
rushing upon our shores and the total
cost need not exceed $4,000.