CHAPTER VI.

AN INCIDENT CONCERNING THE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF THE SOUTH.-THE ZOUAVE DETACHMENT OF JOHNSON'S ISLAND.-MILITARY LOG-ROLLING, AND SOME POLITICAL INCIDENTS. VANITY OF THE AUTHOR.-" ALL IS VANITY."-HON. JAMES B. JONES, DOUGLAS, AND OTHERS.-WHAT I SAW AND HEARD IN PARIS.

YROSSING from New York to Brooklyn, some years

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ago, I met with one of those incidents, that often occur to travelers, and by which they are taught to see the necessity, for always being on the look-out for swindlers. The incident, however, to which I allude, was one of much service to me, and by which I acquired more information, at less expense, than is usually the fortune with susceptible gentlemen, who too frequently travel with more money than brains, and who are generally genial and familiar, not realizing that familiarity with superiors is indiscreet, with inferiors to suffer an indignity, and it is a difficult matter, to select your equals in a jostling, moving crowd. I had reached the middle of the ferry, when a venerable looking gentleman, encased in a seedy suit of black, with white cravat, and a portfolio under his arm, accosted me, in a bland, persuasive manner :

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Lovely day, sir."

"Yes."

"Ah, from the South."

"Yes, sir. Why do you think so?”

"You speak broader than we do, sir. I hope, sir, you will excuse this intrusion, but knowing the literary taste of the South, I always endeavor to make my largest list of subscribers represent that section, which we of the

North, who are debarred its enchanting domain, look
as the promised land.”
"You are complimentary, sir."

upon

"Ah, no; the South is the future base of operations, for this progressive continent. She has an area of territory, less some few hundred miles, equal to our own. Look at Texas, six times larger than the State you are now in. Can you imagine the future of such a territorial power? Give her the ratio of population to the square mile, that we find in Belgium, four hundred, and what an empire you make of the 'lone star State.' Of the three thousand millions of production, forty-five per cent. is Southern, sixty per cent. of the exports of the country are from the same source. The importations of the country, a great part of which is for Southern consumption, only ten per cent. of it is introduced through Southern ports. We in the North have everything in our own hands. We import for you, and export for you, make your wardrobe and your toilet, which should impress you with the fact, that producing regions are always in a state of vassalage to their trading neighbors, of amanufacturing, shipping, and mechanical interest North, as is exhibited in revolutionary Mexico, the West Indies, and Brazil. And it seems strange, that with so complete a theory, as when you bring the producer and consumer together, you realize the last, which is the greatest price, to the former, the latter obtaining his supplies at the first, which is the least price, that your section will not endeavor to establish a commercial chain, uniting you to the continent of Europe. You have had the political influence of Congress, of the Cabinet, and of foreign representation, and you have accomplished nothing, and why? because, while you have had power, you have not preserved its balance, which is trade, which resolves into interest, and ultimately into a balance of political power. The sails of England dot every collection of water between the poles. Her commercial drum follows the sun. Look at her efforts in our own country, granting subsidies to steamship lines, for trade purposes, one item, in particular, of eight thousand dollars per trip, to the Montreal and Liverpool line of steamers. The legislation

of the English government, is identical with the commercial prosperity of the country, the strength of her monarchy, the wisdom of her aristocracy, are united with her honest democracy, on trade questions, if no other. She has profited by the experience of the Hanseatic League,' and other past lights of the commercial world, and is now reaping the benefits, derived from a proper consideration of this powerful element, in a nation's prosperity.

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"In 1820, we inaugurated a system of manufacturing, that has grown to a consumption of nearly a million bales of cotton, thus driving out the English supply of heavy cottons. Our Globe,' 'Dunnel,' Sprague,' Merrimac,' and other prints, compete successfully with those of Great Britain. John Bull is aware of our competing progress, and trembles for his prestige on this continent.

"England is a great power, and must be watched, as the influences of Exeter Hall lights, that shine in the befogged atmosphere of London, will spare no means to accomplish the object she has in view. She has no attachment for America, her sympathies are with the North, through commercial alliances. and she will sacrifice all, North and South, to benefit her trade. Proving to us, as she has to the rest of the world, that she is the commercial Jesuit of the nineteenth century. Let us see what this most christian nation, "so called," has done to attempt the destruction of our country, she emancipated the slaves in the West Indies, not from the mere considerations, but for the effect it would have upon the institution in this country, in attracting the masses of Europe to a contemplation of the subject. Finding that this process was too slow, she attempted the destruction of our cotton interests, by introducing its cultivation in the East Indies, hoping that cheap labor would equalize uncertain crops and defective stable, and by underselling dethrone King Cotton in America, in all of which she has signally failed. I have the proof that every pound of cotton, raised in the East Indies, from 1840 to 1850, cost the British Government one guinea per pound, yet she continues her efforts, and from the year 1800 to the present time, no half dozen successive, regular crops, have been produced in the East

Indies. One season 35,000,000 pounds, another 80,000,000 pounds, another 240,000,000 pounds, then back to 120,000,000 pounds, then again up to 400,000,000 pounds, until at last she has attained 1,500,000,000 or 2,000,000,000 pounds, (these figures are approximating ones.) With such an irregular production, it is impossiblef or her spinners to anticipate orders, and they must wait until the crop of the Indies is ascertained, and hence must look to the South for their regular supply. All political economists know that the cotton area is within parallel, 30 and 35 degrees, is a belt 2,000 miles long and 240 miles wide, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and out of these limits cotton can not be raised in perfection. Indian, African, and Brazilian efforts will prove fruitless, and the whole world must ultimately look to the South for its supply of cotton. It may seem strange at first glance that cotton is so local in its attachments, but the same rule, it will be found, will apply to all valuable products. Tea comes from China, the best coffee from Java, Mocha, and Rio, the best wines from France, a peculiar kind from Madeira, Holland for gin, England for beer, Brazil for diamonds, Mexico for silver, California for gold, each in their places, have their own specialities of production and manufacture, convincing us that it is the object of creation, that all shall be dependent, yet harmonious, and that the demand of one shall be answered by a supply from the other. We see it in our own country, certain States produce cotton, Louisiana produces sugar, South Carolina produces rice, and Virginia produces tobacco. It is strictly a law of nature that makes man a dependant, either as an individual, or in a national sense, and this dependence is most palpable, when affected by the laws of trade which are as fixed as those of the "Medes and Persians." Cotton is not King, but trade is, and until the South takes the commercial interest of her people more to heart, ceases to think of political progression and the self-aggrandizement of leaders, she will never compete with the North, who have the numerical strength, and balance of trade, which you now understand is the balance of power, and if the South does succeed in

breaking the chain, that now binds her, she will be merely transferred to another state of vassalage, having her commercial shackles forged by the hands of France and England. The South can only escape these dangers, by wise and prompt commercial legislation. Am I right, sir ?"

I answered, "Yes, to a certain degree," somewhat impressed with the old gentleman's reasoning, but the South has ever looked to New York city, as the "Mecca" of her merchants, Saratoga and Cape May, have been her "Spa,” and "Baden Baden," and so potent are these influences when exerted on our people, that should a war break out between the sections to-morrow, and continue five years, one year after its cessation southern merchants would buy dry goods in New York or Philadelphia, brogans in Boston, soap, whiskey and candles in Cincinnati,* all owing to the capital of the North, which enables them to grant long credits. The planter makes a good crop, his surplus is invested in Negroes, the northern man places his profits in trade, and holds the lever, by which he moves the commercial interests of the country, to his own enriching. The south is not energetic enough, she is too much afraid of stocks and improvements, and does not seem to study political econemy as faithfully as she does political histories, however, better days may come, when the South, true to herself, she will arise from her lethargic state, and occupy the true position nature has intended her, that of an independent producing region, and if dependent, it is from choice, not from necessity. At this point in the conversation we neared the wharf, when the old gentleman renewed his original subject, informing me he had expended, and the greater portion of his life, in compiling the work aforesaid, that he was so zealous in distributing, and he felt confident, that from his past success, he would meet with sufficient patronage in the future, to justify his efforts, He referred me to his list of subscribers, in which figured foreigners of distinction, senators, and diplomats, and hoped to have the pleasure of adding my name to the

* The war is over, and the author's prediction is verified. They " "do buy soap, whiskey, and candles, in Cincinnati. The laws of trade are among the most immutable of all material matters.