Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-18


lands. The magnitude of the interests at stake
10 this part of public affairs ought not TO APP
pal u nom approaching il. II should rather i'm
pei us 90 lock OF 1t with the more earnest desir.
tolsIrivs at co;rect opinions on any course OF le-
gislsuon that may effect, primarily, or remotely
an interes, 40 full of importance. The maxim is
held TO be a sound one, that the ratio Of capita
to population should, II possible, be kept on the
Increase. When this takes place the demand and
compensation for labor will be propcrtionsbly in
creased add the condition OF the most numerous
Classes oil ids community become improved. If
the ratio OF capital TO population be diminished
contrary state OF things will be the result. The
manner In which the remote lands of the Unite,
States are selling and settling whilst il may pos
sioy tend to increase more quickly The agg' egate
population OF the country, and the mere means of
subsistence, does not Increase capital in the same
proportion. II is proposition too plain TO re-
qure e!ucidaton thst the creation Of capital is
taded rather than accelerated by the fusion of 4
'hln population over great surface of soil. Amy
thing that may serve to hold back this tendency
10 Diffusion irom running too far, and too long,
INTO an extreme, can scarcely prove Otherwise
than ssluiary. Moreover, the further encourage
ment ut manufactures by legislative means, would
De but COUNTER balance, and at most partial one,
10 the encouragement 10 agriculture by legsla;iv
means, standing out in the very terms upon which
the public laLds are sold. IL is not here intended
to make the system of selling IL the territorial
domain OF the Union a subject OF any commentary,
and still less OF any complaint. The system is in
terwoven beneiicialy with the highest interests
and destiny of the nation. II rests upon founda-
tioos botb OF principles ard practice, deep and
iminoveatle; foundations not TO be uprooted or
shaken. But our gravest attention may on this
| account be but the more wisely summoned to the
consideration of corIelative duties which the exis
tence OF such a system in The heart of the
stale mposes 1t cannot be overlooked, ,ha, the
mr. zpts. ,scT, Fa.ft l,.t,.
OF the Gove'nm ent under this system operate az a
perpetual aliurement 10 their purchase. II mus,
theieioTe be taken IN the light OF bounty ndelbIy
written in the text OF the laws themselves in favor
OF agricultural pursuits Such il is in effect thoLgh
not In form.
Perhaps no enactment OF legislative bouDties has
ever before operated upon scale vast, through
out series OF years. ard the face of an entire
nation, TO turn population and labor into one mar
ticuar channel preferably 10 all Others. The Ut
most extent Of protection granted TO mann cures
or commerce, by our statutes collectively, since
the first foundation OF the Government has been
IN Its mere effect, of drawing the peopls of the
Usited States iito those pursuits, nothing 10 il
NO scale of impost5, no prohibitions or penalties,
no bo1nties, no premiums enforced OF dispensed at
the cusiom-house, has equalled It. 1t has served,
and still serves, to draw In an annual stream, the
inhabitants of majority of the States. including
amongst them, a, this day, portion lot small of
iairls, lying still farther and farther off II the
population of these States, not yet redundant in
TACT, though appearing TO be go under this leeisla
1--we Indictment, TO emigra'e, remained fixed in
more instances, az il probably would by extendinp
the motives 10 manufacturing labor, II is believed
that the nation al large would gain in two ways:
/. BY the more rapid accumulation of capitsl.
audi next, by the gradual reduction OF the excess
OF its agricultural population that engaged in
other vocatons. 1t Is not imagined that il would
ever be practicable, even ii 1t were desirable to
turn this stream of emigration aside; but resources
opened through the influence of the laws in new
fields of industry to the inhabitants of the States
already sufficiently peopied TO enter upon them,
might operate 10 lessen in some degree, and use
fully lessen its absorbing force. The eye OF Iesis
ialion' inten! upon the whole good OF the nation
VIII look TO each part, not separately, as mar,
bu, in conjunction with the whole. The rapititv
with which, after all, civilized population
iouncsnS new and sovereign communities will
grow up in those e4nberant portions OF territory
presents considerations favorable to the main poll
cy ncu!catel. This population Carrying with il
HE wants and habits OF society, VIII create de-
mand Tor manufacture, which mu-t, al LEAST for |
some time, be supplied from other sources. II
VIII hence ioiin the natural market of purchase !
and con:umrtions for those produced ia other |
parts OF the Union rather than in foreign coun |
tues. by this intercourse we may hope TO see !
multiplied the commercial and pecuDlsry ties !
which II Is fl should grow up and be cherished
throughout the whole federal family, superaddins
themselves TO all other ties, and haInonZins and
conpacting The elements of great empire e.
should II sIill be appreh ended by any that eviIs
VIII be generated ia state OF society where large
classes co-exist with full popuia
ton, 10 such minds the reelection must prove con-
soatory and re-assuring, that in The public lands
check 10 these evils will be at hand Tor ages IN
come This immense domsin. besides eubo iying
an The IngT edents, material and moral of riches
sad poa er, throughout long vista of The fuitra.
MAJ therefore also be chung TO, under the yariops
springs and ccDJoint movements OF cur happy noe
Ii'icai system, as a safeguard against cUntngeot
dangers Ats v0ry possession is conceived to fur.
hisn paramount inducements under all views for
qlckeniDS, by fresh legislative countenance, man
uiaciuTng labor throughout Other parts of bs IL
mon II is a power TO be turned to the account
Oh manifold and transcendent blessings, rather than
ieposec upon for sggrandizng TOO exclusiyeIy In.
interest OF agriculture, fundamental az that mus,
ever be IN the State. Agriculture itself would be
essentially beneftedi the price OF lands in all the
eA'ssung States would soon become enhanced, as
well as the produce from them, by a poIitv that
would IN any wise tend 10 render portions OF their
present population more stationary, 10y supp. wing
new snd adequate motives to their bsJo;nIbp IN
ana, as II is the laws that hayslsrgey, in eiTect
throughout long course Of time, suurrin,I,,c.J
diSnt iinaIions 10 manufacturing labor, BY ,bej,
empowering calls 10 fuFsl lsb0r, in the o,ots Of
setting oil The public domsio, the claim Of further
reg" protection to the former ki OF labor at nj.
than Of eXpediency. ' TO-
Finally, the great plans O. ia;ernal fn,-or.,,o ;
80 wisely IN prosecute. or conienlr!ated IN die
iereni portions Of the county, viii - - as
ihsC checi and value, if activity lie 90, 49,;
10 manufacturing Industry. The increased fscjli.