[Non-Sequitur]

One would think that point of entry would depend on where the demand was. If 91% of all imports are consumed by southerners then why weren't those imports routed to Charleston and New Orleans instead of New York and Boston. Economics would dictate that, if nothing else. Millions of bales of cotton were exported from southern ports but very little imported there. Why were all those ships arriving to load up on cotton coming empty? Why weren't they loaded with all those imports for southern consumers?

[PeaRidge]

They were planning to make that change:

Harper's Weekly, February 9, 1861

A Southern Transatlantic Steam Line

We have reason to believe that negotiations are on foot which may lead to the establishment of a line of ocean steamers between Norfolk, Virginia, and Havre France, touching at New York going and coming.  The political troubles in the Southern States seem to have thrown obstacles in the way of the usual exports of cotton from Southern ports. 

Some of the leading planters and their financial agents have, consequently, begun to examine the facilities afforded by Northern ports for the export of the staple.

The advantages of New York as a shipping port naturally strike the eye at once.  We have the capital, the apparatus, the ships, the harbor, and the internal communications.

Cotton can be sent from points south of Memphis to Liverpool, via New York, about as cheaply as via New Orleans.  Such is the rivalry among our railroads, in fact, that if the trade became brisk perhaps this route would prove the cheapest.

But if Norfolk or Baltimore entered into the competition, they would enjoy advantages over New York,  By the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, Norfolk is now in direct connection with Memphis.  If a line of steamers were established between Norfolk and Havre, they could rely upon a full cargo of cotton each trip eastward; and there is very reason to believe that they would come westward heavily freighted with French goods for New Orleans and St. Louis.

At present New York receives all the European freights for the Mississippi cities.  They could be imported more cheaply via Norfolk, if only a steam line were established to Norfolk.

Memphis being the distributing point for the Upper and Lower Mississippi.  We understand that arrangements have already been made with the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and with the Mississippi steamers, by which passengers and freight can be sent through from Havre to New Orleans or St. Louis, via the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad and the Mississipi River, at a considerable reduction from the present rate via New York.

The subject has been laid before the leading steamship men of this city and is now under consideration.  The chief difficulty in the was seems to be the doubt whether Virginia will be a member of the Federal Union at the time matters are ready for the establishment of the ocean service.  If Virginia goes out of the Union, steamship proprietors apprehend difficulties about clearances, and foreign alliances, which might seriously interfere with the success of the enterprise.  Their apprehensions may be gratuitous; but capital is proverbially timid.  If it were certain that Virginia and Tennessee were going to remain in the Union, we think it morally certain, from what we know, that the transatlantic line from Norfolk would be in operation by the 1st of April next.