Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-26

us such OVERLOOKING abundance, that we
have, for many years supplied bread to
those who now harrass US. We have not
indeed the Iuxurics Of diet--but the pa.
triots OF I776 have taught us how fa- H.
berry is to be preferred 10 luxury, the
plain and simple repast of the freeman to
the voluptuous banquet of the colonial
siave.--Thus Astounding in plain and
wholesome food, is there any reason why
We should 20 abroad for raiment, the ether
necessary oflie We believe not, We
believe that we may at once become our
own manufacturers to every necessary
purpose. We can supply to ourselves
the substantial articles of cioathing, We
can do nere---we can Gebricate Tor our,
selves the ;ns,rumcnts OF agriculture, and
those domestic utensils and materials for
building, which we have hitherto been. in
the habit of importing from Europe.
1. Our country abounds in the fines,
scites for tie erection of those wpter-
works, those labor-saying machines. tc
which Europe is 50 particularly indebted
for the Furnishing state Of her manuIac
lures. 1t is believed that there Is moi a
spot in Europe, perhaps not IN the wofld
which combines more advantages for the
erection of such works than the city Of
Richmond itself.
Q. There can be no doubt that the me
chauical genius of this country is at least
equal to the erection of such works -
Casding machines have been already con.
struclcd in several parts Of Virginia, and
spinning machines IL the northern states
and in Kentucky. In neighboring SAFE
,Marylaud,) artists, we learn, have already
rendered themselves TO an institution cor
eespoading in objects with that now sub
rniried TO your consideration, and derlarc
themselves capable OF erecting any spe.
cies of machinery necessary for their pur.
poses.
| 3. As TO the labor necessary to the o.,
| peratlon OF such works, we believe tina, t.
! viii be readily commanded. The idea
that no country can be manufacturing
country, but one Of crowded population
IS aD idea which Great Britain and other
alrufaciuring countries are interested IN
gatiug---li!.e tia, which she former
! ly inculca'ed upon her trooFs, that one
English soldier was equal 20 three Flesh.
which France has nj iaie years OF least 50
completely faisified or that other OPT
mon, which she in common with the other
nonarchies OF Europe, too long and toe
successfully propagated, that republican
form OF government was unit Fnr a large
and extensive county, an opinion which
America under the blessings ofProvidencc
has now so happily diSproved. II belongs
tothe energy ol,this age, to dissipatc thest
Ian,iquated decisions, the offspring of sci
iishness, and design, to bring the power
OF man to the unerring test of fact and
experiment. Acrowded people il 10 true
will become manufaciurers from necessi-
! ~ This has been the case with Greal
y,lsiD. But necessity from whatever
cause it springs, will produce the same eI,
iecl. We, foe example, are far from be-
ing crowded people vet we experience
necessity 10 become manufacturers e.
EQUALLY importunate with that which re-
suits from scantiness ofterritory, and, &c
people who love freedom, equally dire
iu!: for we can no longer get manufac-
lures from abroad, without experiencing
every indignily and every wrong which
arrogance, injustice ard repaci.y can in
iet; without ruin to those who engage
IN such commerce withou,the total pros.
tration Of the honor, the peace and inde.
pendsncs ofour nation. Agriculture ther
can no longer supply all our wants--w,
must of necessity becoms manufacturers
The objection that Labour in this coun
Try istoo scarce and the sUagss too high
has been pushed too far. Some manulac.
lures do not require as much labour al
has been generally supposed. Most o
them employ Iabour-saving machines
These machines are equivalent to as ma
ny labourers as they supersede; and the,
! consequently supersede the 7vages of labou
in the same proportion. There is no rea
son to fear that these machines may no
be constructed at nearly az little expens,
! as those which pervade Europe and there
) fore il seems successfully clear, that il
those manufactures, which admit Of labou
saving machines 30 any extent, the bigl
; wages of the labourers of this coUn,r,
. are nearly saved. Indeed IL il be ono
admitted, as we presume it will b. by all
D that we must rely only on our resources
, for articles OF the first necessity, every o
2 servation as to the scarcity ct labour i
; this country, carries with il the slronges
: argument 10 favor Of the Introduction Q
: machinery, by which that little may be in
I r. A a. g.