SUGAR CROPS OF LOUISIANA, 55 The cession of Louisiana to Spain, at that epoch, appears to have put a stop to that industry, for no farther traces of sugar-making are to be found until 1791, when the first sugar-house, under the Spanish government was erected by a Mr. Solis, at Terre-au-Bœufs, in the parish of St. Bernard. The next was established in 1796, on a plantation situated where now stands Carrolton, and belonging to a Mr. Boré; it produced a crop of $12,000, a sum considered at that epoch as very large. This result may be said to have laid the foundation of the sugar industry in Louisiana. Its progress, however, was at first extremely slow; and at the epoch of the cession of Louisiana to the United States, the number of sugar estates was very small, no doubt owing to the want of capital. The statistics from 1803 to 1817 are so deficient, that it is extremely difficult to arrive at any correct data as to the progressive annual increase of the sugar crop during the above period. The crop in 1818 had attained 25,000 hogsheads. only power used, up to that period. Cattle was the In 1822, steam power was introduced; the first engines and mills cost about $12,000, and were chiefly imported by Gordon and Forstall. This power, however, was used but by very few, until our own foundries placed it within the reach of all, by reducing its cost to $5,000 or $6,000. Each hogshead averaging 1,000 lbs. net, and yielding from 45 to 50 gallons of molasses. Number of Sugar Estates in operation in 1827–8, 308, worked as follows: 21,000 slaves. Manual power, about 82 engines. 226 $34,000,000 Number of Sugar Estates in operation or preparing to work, in 1830, 691: 36,000 slaves. 282 engines. 409 $50,000,000 Number of Sugar Estates in operation in 1841-2, 668: Manual power, as ascertained by the last Federal census, 50,670 slaves. Steam, Number of Sugar Estates in operation in 1843–4, 762: 361 engines. 307 50,670 slaves. 408 engines. 354 $60,000,000 It has been ascertained by Mr Champomier, in a late excursion throughout the State, that not less than 410 cotton estates are now in full preparation to go into the sugar business. The tariff of 1842 has truly created a new era for the sugar industry. No doubt it will now be seen in the ascendant until we shall have reached the full amount required for the consumption of the United States, which, at present, is not under 350,000,000 lbs. Until 1831, it was the general belief that Louisiana sugars were too weak for refining. Questioned upon this subject on the floor of Congress, the late Messrs. Edward Livingston and Josiah Johnson, were compelled to confess that it was so. This supplied Messrs. Lea and other politicians of the East, with a most powerful argument to demand a reduction of the duty on sugars imported for refining, to wit: that no protection ought to be asked by Louisiana against an article it could not produce. This would have been a fatal blow to this State. At that epoch, however, Gordon and Forstall had just introduced into the State the vacuo process of Howard, and the argument of Mr. Lea and supporters was met by shipments of several hundred tons of sugar, refined from pure Louisiana, which obtained the medal in New York. This, for the time being, put an effectual end to the crusade preparing against Louisiana. Five or six years ago, two of our planters adopted the same process, and they have been eminently successful: not less than six estates are now upon the white system plan; and such are the improvements now going on, and the skill brought into action, that it requires no prophet to predict, that but few years can now elapse before Louisiana shall have it in her power to supply the whole Union with white sugars directly from the cane. OPELOUSAS. Art. VIII.-THE CONSULAR SYSTEM. "COMMERCE," we are told in the words of Thomas Carlyle, "is king." There is as much of truth as quaintness in the expression, and we could not, upon reflection, think of a more appropriate motto for our work. No empire was ever established so universal in its sway, so powerful in its control, so capable of binding indissolubly together the heterogeneous masses of mankind, as the one over which "King Commerce" wields his sceptre in the nineteenth century. When the rod of this potentate is broken into pieces, we know not where the influence is to come from, to bring together again and unite its disjointed fragments. Despite of all the beautiful theories and specula tions of philosophy, the INTERESTS of mankind constitute the strongest and most enduring bond of their union. The Empire of Commerce began its growth in what we are accustomed to call the "dark ages." The flint and steel were in its hand, which struck out the sparks of light that are recognized at that obscure period. The best authorities on international or public law and modern civilization admit, that the stipulations and compacts which commerce induced, were among the first in the order of those influences, which resulted in the resuscitation of letters and arts, and in the entire redemption of mankind. The lordly barons in wresting from King John the rights he had usurped, stipulated at the same time in behalf of the rights of all merchant traders visiting the empire." The London chapmen, in losing their insignificance and in growing up to princely wealth, established a third estate in the kingdom; too respectable to be despised, too powerful to be resisted, and bold enough to declare for or against kings and dynasties, for the Henrys or Edwards of the middle ages. Whether for Britain, for France, or for Russia-for India, for the South Seas and the Pacific, or for republican America-there is but one voice now, and that cries for "trade." "Give us of your labor, and take of ours." 66 Buy or "sell" are the pregnant words in every language under heaven. The RIALTO is the centre of the world's negotiations. For this navies float upon the ocean, for this grave embassies receive audience from the Tammahamahas of the Pacific, and talk Chinese with the potentates of the Celestial Empire. What has become war in the lexicography of " King Commerce's' subjects? Will men apply torches to the granaries which contain their bread? Will they batter to pieces and sink in the ocean the elements of trade, which are to warm them amid winter snows, and defend them from summer suns? The lines of consolidation between nations and men are verging nearer to each other; and they meet in the unity, the entire "oneness" of us all. To watch over and protect the great interests of trade, permanent departments of government have been instituted, which, taken together, constitute what is called the Consular System of the world. These agencies, representing their sovereign and country, are located at every considerable emporium of traffic, and by the theory of their constitution, are supposed to possess the sleeplessness of Argus, in watching over the rights and privileges and interests of their countrymen abroad, and the many-handedness of Briareus in providing for their security and defense. This Consular System was scarcely at all understood among the ancients. Mr. Lester, our able and efficient consul at Genoa, whose work upon this subject is now before us,† observes that we get the term consul from the Romans; and certainly we get little else. The * This provision of the Magna Charta drew from Montesquieu the concession that the people of England, above all other people in the world, understood the value of commerce and liberty. † A Letter on the Establishment of a new Consular System in the United States: with Glances at the Origin and History of the Consular Establishments of Ancient and Modern Nations-the evils of our present system, the remedy, &c., &c. Addressed to Hon. Wm. W. Campbell, Member of Congress elect, from the City New York. consuls of the early republic were scarcely less in authority than the kings they superseded. Still the interests of Commerce were not neglected in antiquity, but agents were located in different trading states, charged with duties of a similar nature to our modern consuls. The codes of international law, which obtained, for the most part, in those ages even among the most enlightened nations, were such as to speak little for the advancement of mankind. The ships of Athens were characterized as a "piratical fleet,"" universal spoliation abroad, and cruel oppression at home," is affirmed of Rome, and Phoenicia, Tyre, and Carthage, recognized no rights or duties in their intercourse with foreigners. Mr. Lester confesses the difficulties of tracing out the origin of the modern system: "It has long been a disputed point with whom the modern Consular System originated, and what nation first led the way in the establishment of the commercial code, which was finally adopted by modern states, and has in our own times worked itself so deeply into the laws of nations. Nor could it be placed in its proper light without great toil and learning, aided by all the facilities which might be derived from investigations conducted on the shores and islands of the Mediterranean." pp. 165-66. When the decayed tree of Rome had fallen and lay massive in its ruins, there grew up on the soil of Italy a few republics of contracted territorial limits, but of genius and enterprise which astonished the world, and of power and influence which made themselves felt among crowned potentates, and extorted from Rome's proud pontiff the confession, that Genoa alone was more "adequate" to the conquest of the Saracens in Africa, than any other power in Europe. That noble Commercial Code, the Consolato del Mare, which has been attributed to the Spaniards, is now said to have originated in the councils of Pisa. The Pisans conquered Amalfi in the 12th century, and carried off the copy of Justinian's Institutes, which had been deposited there-the only copy existing. The Consolato del Mare recognizes the existence and regulates the actions of the Consular System. Venice and Genoa were not long in adopting and carrying out the wise policy of the Pisans. They had commercial agents throughout all the East, and wherever public interests appeared to require it. These officers were held in the highest regard; they were required to be diplomatists; they were sent in public vessels, and were not allowed to participate in any traffic. What were the results? We are told of Venice "Her daughters had their dowers From spoils of nations; and the exhaustless East Poured in her lap all gems in sparkling showers." And Shakespeare says: "Since that the trade and profit of the city "Venice, which had been founded by a few old men, women, and children, who had fled to the marshes of the Adriatic, to escape the rage and devastation of the northern barbarians, who were sweeping over Italy, became, in a few centuries, the first power in Europe. ABUSES IN THE CONSULAR SYSTEM. 59 Pisa, which had been obliged to struggle for many years against the most formidable obstacles that can ever impede the growth of new states, with a malaria which annually swept off a multitude of her population, soon made her name feared from the pillars of Hercules to the shores of the Danube and the banks of the Nile, and became the commercial law-giver of all future ages. Genoa, which stands at the head of the Ligurian sea, hemmed in by almost impassable mountains, the Apennines and maritime Alps (which she could not cross), could not get her bread from the barren and rocky hill-sides, and she was driven out upon the Mediterranean. In the 8th century, the little city of Genoa drove the Saracens from their hold on the continent to the island of Corsica; from Corsica, she chased them to Sardinia; from Sardinia, she forced them out upon the open sea, and at last fell upon the seat of their power in Africa, and laid their capital in the dust-seized uncounted millions of treasure, liberated all the Christian captives of all their wars, and dragged back their dreaded chief to an Italian prison, where he died in chains." pp. 176–78. It was not till 1485 that England commissioned an agent to reside abroad for the performance of consular duties, and not until the 17th century that these commissions came to be generally granted throughout the European States. We have alluded to Mr. Lester's letter to Mr. Campbell. This active representative of our merchants abroad complains bitterly of the defects of the American consular system. He regards it, in fact, as no system at all; and trusts that a government such as ours will not long endure its abuses. Surely there needs no elaborate argument at this late day to establish the importance, the absolute necessity, of a proper vigilance over our commerce and our shipping, now scattered over every sea in the world, and over our citizens, who find their way to the uttermost ends of the earth." If there be any deficiency in the present establishment, an American Congress will look to it-an American people will demand its removal. We make a few extracts from Mr. Lester, which establish the abuse, and propose the remedy: "The office of a consul is generally held by American merchants or foreigners; for, with a few exceptions, no American who is qualified for such a station will ask for or accept an office which is only a bill of expense, except with a view of making his official standing contribute to his own speculations. There are many ports where an American business cannot be supported; and, in such cases, those consulates are filled by foreigners." p. 191. In regard to the evil of appointing a merchant to be consul, Mr. Lester gives the following example in point: "In 1842 or '43 (I am not certain which), an American merchantman arrived at a port in the Meditarranean with a valuable cargo, which the captain was authorized to consign to any house he might select. He addressed himself to the consul, from whom he had reason (as his constituted adviser) to expect safe and disinterested counsel. The consul requested him to go on making the necessary arrangements for discharging his cargo, and call the following day. In the mean time the consul laid a scheme by which he should receive no little profit; although, with an appearance of disinterestedness, |