Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-11-11

~rsr,innsof she ronfearracy. Thk frst

of orr whole products with the inccnsider- |
liable value OF that portion OF thc.n which is !
,SeXported &c. foreign countries. Ale whole |,
consumption of native articles in the Uni /
Ted States cannot be computed at less than |
1--WE hundred millions of dollars. The value !
of those productions exportedis almost for |
ty millions, which is less than d twelfth |
part the former. The diierencebetween |
> 5000, 100000 and 40,o00,c00 consequently |
consurnedeither in the districts III which they |
are raised, or in the other districts Of the |
'~United States. And of theforty millions Of !
= raw materials annually exported very con- |
siderable part is re-imported in the shape |
:of various fabrics made ont os them. Eve !
Try year will lessen our dependence on the !
:. European world, byour successful cu,tivs- !
: tion OF those articles we now derive from T,
fthem, or BY the erection OF niaastac- !
lures Already our dependence lI1oa the |
! foreign market is inConsiaerable compared |
: with our dependence on each other IN the |
tcourse OF no long period, from the causes
1--WE have mentioned, it will be insignificant.
Is, lastly, the climate OF these states 50
different as to produce character and
course of habits totally opposed The Uni
nited States embrace fifteen degrees of la
titude and about twenty five of longitude,
q extending thirteenhundred miles in one di-
Tection, and fourteen hundred in the other.
But, Notwithstanding the great extent of
= this territory, there is perhaps, nohe ether
OF near its size which is equally subject 10
the same natural laws. The climate ofthc
whole possesses one common attribute,
which seems distinctively TO characterize
this portion of the globe, which IS a tempe
nature of the air so extremely variable IS
to combine almost every variety OF weather
: in every season. Hence the extremes of
heat and cold are experienced in every
part of the union. 1t is sometimes as cold
1
rs warm at the latter as the former place.
1t is, perhaps, owing to this circumstance
that many of the same products are raised,
nor however with equal fecundity, i'll the
remotest sections of the country. 1t is GER
Ii nly owing to this, that the physical ma
bits of our inhabitants, in Whatever quarter
they reside, by being habisuatcd to thee
= tremes ofheat and cold, acquire great ST.
milarity; so great a similarity that it can
= nos be affirmed that the effects which flcw
from such characteristics are radically diff
terent. Neither the past experience or
& the present situation OF the country JUS
tiiies the belief that there is any material
difference in martial spirit, in simplicity OF
manners in industrious habits. The mi
ltary ardor Of the south during the revo-
lmtion. was not less conspicuous than that
o. the cast the physical strength and size of
the inhabitants OF Virginia do not Weld to
southern states are at present actually
Palmer and less ostentations IN their man
ners than those CT the middle states not
because there is any thing in the climate
which produces this effect but because COM
mcrce has showered down upon the latter
greater riches than on the former; and
with regard to industry, the difference,
q though it does exist, is greatly over-ratcd.
q 1t does indeed, in some measure arise from
climate, but much more from accidental
- circumstances-irom the great number Of
y slaves iii the southern states. Pass through
the whole world, and you will find it uni
u Versally true, applied TO communities,
that those VINO can set others TO work for
them VIII &c less industrious than those who
Is arc obliged to work for themselves. This
= evil, great and serious as it is, is Fortunate
a ly on the decline. The whole force of mo-
raj principle is bent towards its eventual
destruction and that It VIII ultimately dis
r. appear from among us there can be no doubt
But 1t is sufficient Tor us in this dicussion,
to show that it is actually in state OF a cra-
dual dcclension, and this is completely pro-
vetl by the two censuscs which have been
taken, from which it appears that in pc
riod OF ten years there has been a co76a-
,rttiuc diminution Of nc number OF slaves to
Che amount of74,122. Let the Ike ratio of
diminution progress, and ina few centuries
the relative numbers of the slaves WILDE
trihing. This eject, certain and decisive
as it will be, will be aided by that spirit Of
justice, liberty and humanity which must
influence the conduct of governments
1t would be injustice to this branch CT orr
subject TO omit the distinct notice of the
powerful, not to say omn:potent influence
of moral principle in the modification of
physical effects. The true pride of man con-
>sists in the power Of his mind to regulate.
to elevate and to direct his animal charac-
teristics. To the beast of the field nqt0rc
has given an instinct, that either admits Of
little or no improvement. On man alone
she has bestowed those powers of reason,
whose progressive improvements only short
ofin6nite. Ontlie excitement, the improve
ment & the application ofthcse, his condition,
his happiness, his dignity depend. Under
theirguidance many Of the most active phy-
steal evils vanish, and those which remain
are deprived of much of their maignitv. Re-
gions naturally unhealthy are rendered sa-
luxurious, those naturally sterile are fertil-
Used, and the rigors of the seasons resisted
BY the dcvises Of art, OF these prime ples
too,it is the constant effect, under good go-
yeTnments, TO unite men together by tics of
increasing strength, and to produce a gradu-