Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-08

fore, and nevertheless, that those improv ements
viii be highly beneficial 10 the Lower Country
But, your committee are OF opinion, that the mos,
beneficial changes may be gradually introduced in
the whole industry OF the Lower Country; and tia,
these changes will be brought about, not becaus,
iabour and capital are expelled by competition from
old trades aud accustomed cultivation, but by the
superior advantages ot the new ones
The great mass OF mankind are mainly engaged
with considerations OF the present; they are not ia
the habit OF looking much into the future, nor OF
specializing upon the probable effects of operating
causes. Hence, it is difficult to make them COM
prehend the nature oil thore changes which a par
ticular system of operations may bring about
Hence, too, they always iook'upon innovations in
opinion and iii occupation, with much caution and
Jealousy This observation is no where more strik-
ingly exemplihed than in relation TO Trade and
Agriculture. Let what may be the occupation of
particular district of country, the inhabitants al
ways look with great dread upon change which
may be brought about, and think they are to be
directly injured ching is worthy of more at.
.enlion, says Mr.. Mill, in tracing the causes OF
political evil, than the facility with which man
KIND are governed by their iears and tho degree
ot constancy with which, under the influence OF
that passion, they are governed wrong. The fear
OF EnglshInen TO see an enemy in their country
las made them do an infinite number Of thing
which had much greater tendency 10 bring enc.
mics into their country, than keep them away"
And it may truly be affirmed, that in Trade ami
Agriculture, the fear Of being impoverished by
change, or the introduction OF rival commodities,
has caused mankind 10 abstain from great many
things, which would have been the surest guar
antce against that very poverty and distress which
they SO much dreaded.
we will, consequently, now proceed to point on,
the advantages which may probably result to the
Lower Country, from n change which may take
place. IN the system Of industry.
10 shew the effects which an extension Of Com
MERGE Is always sure to produce in this respect we
VIII at once take an extreme case, where the prin-
ciple will OF course be more clearly exempliiied.
And % this case has been well stated by Mon
seCr IT2cy, in relation 10 France, we will adopt
the same.
g Let us suppose" says Mr.. Tracy, the French
nation the only one in the World, surrounded by
deserts impossible to be raversed 1t has portions
oil ITS territory very fertile in q AIM others hui
inid,which good only for pas,urageoihe form
ed oil arid hills, which are only proper for the cul-
tvaon OF the vine, finally, others more mountain
Gus, which can produce little else than wood. II
each of those portions should be reduced within
ITSELF, what would happen? 1t is clear, that in the
corn district tocrably numerous population could
still be subsisted, because il would still have the
means OF amply satisfying the first of all wants
that of nourishrnent However, this is not the
only want. Clothing, shelter, &c. are also ne
cessary. These people, then, will be obliged to
sacrifice in woods, pasturage and bad vines, much
OF the good land; OF which, much smaller guam.
tty would have sutlced to procure for them what
they wanted by way OF exchange, the remainder
vi "hiSu WUuiu nave UOuTlSncu many other
men, Or served TO provide better for those who live
there. Thus, the people will not be so numerous
as Il they enjoyed Commerce, and yet they will
want many things. This is still more true fthose
who inhabt the hillssutable TO vines. Iftaey are
even Industrious, they will only make wine for their
own use, not being able to sell it. They will cx-
haust themselves in uniriiitiu labors, TO produce
on their arid hills grain of inferior quality not
knowing where 10 purchase they will want every
thing else. The population, although AgricuItu-
raj, will be miserable ami thin. In districts of mar
shes and meadows, too humid for corn too cold
for rice, it will be much worse. They must ne
cessarily cease TO cultivate, and be reduced to be
grazers, and even 10 nOuIiSl as many animals
only as they can eat II is very true, that in this
situation having beasts OF burden, OF draught and
ior the saddle, TO render themselves formidable,
they will soon become brigands, all erraiic peo-
pie are; but this will he evil the more. As for
the country Of the mountains, there would be no
means Of living but the chase, in proportion and so
far as they would be able to find wild animals,
without even thinking to preserve their skins; for,
what use could they make Of them? This however,
IS the state OF France if you suppress all cores
pondence between its parts, half is savage the
other badly provided
To be continued
See Art. Colony, in New Supplement- TO En-
cyclopeda Britannica.
tIr0cy'S Political Economy, chap. s.