DIRECT IMPORTS OF COFFEE, SUGAR, AND SALT AT NEW-ORLEANS. TONNAGE ENTERED. Sugar, Havana, boxes..... July to September, 1850. 1850-51, 1849-50. 1848-49. Coffee, Havana, bags....... 10,367 20,627 16,341 American from foreign ports. 61 Coffee, Rio, bags... .274,690 225,013 299,129 Foreign. 29,293 18,843 14,775 No. of vessels. Tonnage. 16,176 94 42 14,347 29 ..205 63,083 40 January to March, 1851. 306 121,858 94 American from foreign ports. 178 64,104 41 American for foreign ports..114 53,946 18 Foreign... 97 45,207 51 .365 125,032 82 October to December, 1850. 640 234,344 79 Foreign.... Coastwise. 66 20,937 40 .275 76,789 20 Schoo- Steam Ships, Barks. Brigs, ners. Ships Total, Boats. 1846-7........764 451 663 989 109 2,981 3,022 1847-8........955 509 462 795 206 2,927 2,977 1848-9... ...757 462 375 456 136 2,186 2,873 1849-50.......654 363 362 666 147 2,192 2,784 1850-51.......615 320 315 704 190 2,144 2,918 2,197 775,081 69 A gradual decline will be observed in al...775,081 69 most every description of vessels. The flat.773,783 19 boat arrivals during 1850-51 were 1,261; also a decline, as will be seen by our previous 1,298 50 volumes. Comparative Arrivals, Exports, and Stocks of Cotton and Tobacco at New-Orleans, for ten years, from 1st September each year to date. Comparative prices of Middling to Fair Cotton at New-Orleans, on the first of each month, during a period of Five Years, together with the Total Receipts at New-Orleans, and the Total Crops of the United States. Receipts at New-Orleans. 1,053,633.. Crop of United States.... 2,350,537. Comparative Prices of Sugar on the Levee, on the first of each month, for Five Years. September....... October........................................... 3a6 3 a 4 3 a 5 December.. January 3 ............ 8 51 31 & 61 3 a 6 21 a 5 51 41 a 5 a ............ April. 34 a 6 2 a 5 2 a 51 2 a 5 5 a 54 5 a 7t May.. 3 a 61. 2 a 5 31 a 51. 24 a 5 5 a 7 July.. 34 a 4 a 6 Comparative Prices of Molasses on the Levee, on the first of each month, for Five Years. -IMPORTANCE OF IN-in our power to make New-Orleans a large imCREASING HER FOREIGN COMMERCE HER porting city, by carrying out the objects of this BANKING CAPITAL.-Mr. President, I now pass Convention, and facilitating accesss between to another subject of great interest to New- New Orleans and every portion of the valley Orleans, and one intimately connected with of the Mississippi, which is tributary to our the progress and completion of railroads in the trade; and without railroads this communicavalley of the Mississippi. One of the chief tion cannot be established to compete successdrawbacks to New-Orleans is the absence of fully with the active enterprise of our northern an import trade; and why are we without imports Why is it, that a city exporting eighty or ninety millions of dollars annually, is so insignificant in that important branch of commerce? Because of the remoteness and uncertainty of our market-our being without a speedy, rapid, and cheap communication with the interior country that seeks New-Orleans as a market for its agricultural productions. It is rivals. Under present and past circumstances, this city could not pretend to carry on importing extensively, when imports from those countries we trade with, were such here, were either cut off by distance from the country that would become customers for these imports by delays or uncertain navigation; or, when these facilities were at command, the goods. imported had either become unsaleable or un The fashionable, leaving the importer the alterna- millions of banking capital, whilst New-Orleans tive of waiting for the return of another sea- has about seventeen millions of fixed capital, son, at the expense of interest and multiplied or about ten millions of active capital. expenses, which, under any circumstances, cities of New-York and Brooklyn have a banktakes away all chance of profit. But, build ing capital of twenty-eight millions, Philadel the proposed railroads, place it within our phia under ten millions, and Baltimore under power to travel to Nashville in twenty hours, seven millions. New-York and Brooklyn have Memphis in twenty hours, and all the impor- nearly six times the population of New-Orleans, tant points of the eastern valley of the Ohio and less than three times an excess in banking and Mississippi in a like quick time, and our capital. Philadelphia has a population nearly own western borders and Texas in a few hours, four times greater than New-Orleans, and her then New-Orleans will be a city of imports, banking capital is not so great. Baltimore, the produce of this rich agricultural empire that has a population near fifty per cent. will flow into her lap, not as a mere place of greater than New Orleans, has three millions transit, but to be exchanged for the productions of other countries; then will New-Orleans begin the fulfilment of her destiny, and become renowned and famous among the cities of the world. less banking capital than New-Orleans. Cincinnati has not more than one eighth, and St. Louis not more than one twentieth of the banking capital of New-Orleans; and yet these cities have advanced with astonishing progress, and have almost doubled their pop ulations, whilst New-Orleans is comparatively stationary. With these I propose to illustrate the advantages of an importing trade over one of mere export. We all know that the agencies employed in receiving, selling, and shipping fifty thousand The deposits of the banking institutions of bales of cotton are very small, and yet fifty New-Orleans bear a proportion to those of thousand bales of cotton, at present cost, would other cities, equally favorable with that of produce $1,500,000. Suppose the proceeds of their capitals; and I assume that fixed capithis cotton were brought back in the manufac-tals and deposits in any city are an index of tures of Birmingham, Manchester, Lyons, or its aggregate capital and means. any European city, how many agencies would facts, I proceed to make another statement, be required to distribute it through all the warranted by my knowledge of the facts: that channels between the importer and the con- the average price of money in New-Orleans sumer Judging from the subdivisions of such since 1842 has been 33 per cent. cheaper than employments in northern cities, the number the average price in Boston; 25 per cent. would be very great; but these people not cheaper than the average price in New-York, only want storehouses and shops, but want Philadelphia, or Baltimore; and 50 per cent, houses to live in; and with the demand for cheaper than in Cincinnati and St. Louis. stores, shops, and houses, would spring up a When I speak of the average price or the deardemand for builders, artisans, and laborers, and ness or cheapness of money, I mean the curagents of every description; our vacant lots rent price demanded and paid on good and would soon be covered by improvements, our undoubted security; and I am particular on vacant houses tenanted by an active and in- these points of comparison, as intending to dustrious population, that would become per- show that the circulation of capital depends manent and progressive. These are the ele- on the manner of its employment, and that ments of a solid prosperity, and what New- small capitals, actively circulated where emOrleans most needs. A mere city of transit ployments are multiplied and various, achieve commerce can never be a great city. You a great deal more than large capitals, located may talk of receipts of cotton, sugar, and to- in a city with her whole dependence founded bacco-they have done all for you they ever on a mere export commerce. The operation will do. You must now rely on something of unwise laws affecting capital will, in all else; and this reliance is mainly dependent countries, restrain and embarrass its free circuon increased local pursuits and increased inte- lation; and when the laws are not such as to rior communication, such as New-York and endanger the safe employment of capital, it every northern city has established. will certainly disappear. I fear I tax your patience, but our present We have more capital in the southern states circumstances demand from every citizen an for our wants, than any portion of the confedattention to facts; and your time cannot be eracy. The absence among us of the prosbetter employed than in listening to those I perity so manifest in the northern and middle am detailing. It is a constant subject of com-states, does not arise from any want of capital, plaint that New-Orleans has an insufficient but proceeds from the utter neglect of the banking capital-that moneycommands a high south to her true and substantial interests, and price. The error on this subject is very pre- the discouragements that stand in the way of valent at home and abroad. Boston, which is investments. The unfortunate circumstances constantly rung in our ears as an example of of the public credit of Mississippi and Arkanwealth and enterprise, divided from her com- sas, and the overthrow of confidence, public merce and manufactures, has about eighteen and private, when public obligations are dis Attention to these interests will achieve far more for the south than the discussion of the platforms of political quackery, invented to advance the pretensions of their projectors. regarded, visit on the whole southwest penal-prove an element of increased security to the ties that are fatal to the spirit of enterprise, south, one which will hasten the recovery of and, above all, to that confidence which nour- her lost power. ishes and protects it. The demoralizing influence of blighted public faith weakens the attachment of the people to the government, and capital and property will never trust its protection to a government without this moral support. Capital will never flow into a state that neglects the fulfilment of her public engagements; but all the savings of capital, derived from industry and economy, in such a state, will leave it-take wings and fly away to places of greater security. At this time, and within the last year, the chief buyers of stocks, for investment in New-York, were southern people—yes, Mr. President, people from Mississippi and Alabama; and yet, if capital is so scarce and money so dear as is daily announced, why does it happen that this country is furnishing capital to buy northern stocks furnishing capital to enable our active and enterprising rivals to extend their highways and power? furnishing the aid that transfers to them supremacy, and weakens and impoverishes us? If you are true southerners, and I believe you all are, go to work and change all this by ordaining such laws as will inspire confidence at home and abroad; go to work and imitate your victorious rivals, build roads, and create stock at home, give the guarantee of honesty and security, and my word for it, you will not only entice back the capital that is leaving you, but invite it from abroad. Whilst regarding our pursuits and laws as unfavorable to that circulation of capital known in other sections of the Union, there is another cause that is dealing out its influences. Latterly, there has sprung up, in consequence of the slavery agitation, an uneasy feeling. The wicked and insane meddling of the enemies of our institutions, of our peace and tranquillity, and the perpetual discussion of the question, north and south, contributes largely to unsettle confidence, and to work on the fears of the timid. I am not among the number to believe this evil is not to be overcome. The south, united in policy and interest, united by the ties of closer inter-communication, united by an extended and combined system of railroads, united by the development of her vast resources, and the building up of a manufacturing interest, will soon be in circumstances of power and prominence that will put at naught all the distractions that have threatened her peace, and endangered the security of the Union. The building of railroads, the erection of manufactories, and the demand for the skill and labor that they every where create, will attract emigration to the south, will augment our white population, who will become more permanent and settled in their pursuits; and this tendency to localizing population will I again repeat that the cry of deficiency in capital is unfounded; we have it in abundance for all our purposes, if it can be concentrated and circulated as it is in Wall street. There has been no period in the last five years, notwithstanding its being marked with great revolutions in trade, that money was not ob tainable in New-Orleans, on good security-I mean available and convertible security, such as is recognized and current in Amsterdam, London, and New-York; I do not mean security with the incumbrance of notarial pledges, tacit mortgages, appraisement laws, fees to lawyers for collecting, and vexatious delays in realizing them. The money-lender is always the most timid of men; he has what you want, and is always willing to supply your wants, provided he is sure of escaping trouble and vexation, and the security you offer is good; but when you ask him to employ attorneys to investigate any titles, and expose himself to any uncertainty, his compliance is at an end. It is unreasonable to suppose a money-lender would be attracted by the securi ties and forms of law known in Louisiana; that he would hazard the profit on his loans by the fees paid to the agents of the law, and their punctual recovery by the delays of an appraisement law that extends the payment twelve months, when the property does not bring two thirds of its cash value. It is the doubt and uncertainty produced by such a con dition of laws, that curtail the circulation of capital, and make it dear to the agricultuaal classes of the country.-Speech of James Robb. NEW-YORK-COMMERCIAL GROWTH AND GREATNESS OF NEW-YORK-POSITION OF CITIES-Origin of NEW-YORK-EARLY HISTORY, ADVANCES, IMPROVEMENTS, POPULATION, RESOURCES, COMMERCE, PROSPECTS, ETC.-The growth of large cities depends upon the devel opment of the mechanic arts, and the facilities they possess for communication with tracts of country around them. The larger the extent of agricultural country, which by means of avenues of communication, natural or artificial, can be brought into contact with a city, the more rapid will be its growth, and the greater the magnitude to which operating causes may carry it. While the mechanic arts and the business of exchange are unknown, it results from the regular and irresistible opera tion of a natural law, that large cities cannot exist. The condition of society would furnish neither the elements of their growth, nor of their preservation. The bulk of the population be ing agricultural-inasmuch as that food is the |