Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-09-02

6r9 were inevitably OoOIiouS indy utSullSS
their fears, at least, as to those of America,
and may assure themselves thatth class
of persons are destined to experience only
those yicissitudes of good and i'll fortune,
and that degree of suffering, which are in
cidental to the other classes, and are the
lot of our common nature.
tits true that the security, here spoken
of. does not extend to slaves. Bat as to
them, public opinion,-the mild spirit of
christianity, whose benign influence is in
nothing more felt, than in the treatment of
the slaye-and, not least perhaps, the per-
manent interests Of the master-all of
which have so concured in tightening the
bonds ofslayery in the United States, af-
ford the most ample guarantee that this
class Of persons will be no more oPpres-
sed or abused in manufactures than in az
riculure.
| I'd. That Manufactures degrade the.
| La50rsr.--This opinion was first advanced
by Adam Smith, who speaks of the man
ulacturer in language that must have been
exaggerated, even in his day. He says,
.,the man whose whole life is spent in per-
forming 4 few simple operations of which
the effects too are perhaps, always the
same, or very nearly the same, has no Occa-
sion to exert his understanding, or TO exer-
else his inyentionin finding out expedlentS
for removing difficulties which never oc-
cur, He naturally loses, therefore, the
habits of such exertion, and generally be-
comes as stupid aud ignorant as It IS
possible for human creature to become.
Mr.. Nautilus and Mr.. McCulloch, who
differ on so many of the disputed points
in political economy, concur in denying
the business of this representation. The
latter writer says, "iustead Of It's be-
inc true that the workmen, employed IN
manufacturing establishments, are less in
telhgent and acute than those employed in
agriculture, the fact is distinctly aad com
pletely the reverse. The weavers and o
Their mechanics OF Glasgow, Manchester
and Birmingham, possess infinitely more
general and extended information, than is |
possessed by the agricultural labOrers of
any county in the empire" And again.
I'VE do not believe that they were ever
less intelligent than the agriculturalsts;
but whatever may nave been the case for
merly, no one will now venture to affirm
that they are inferior to them in intellectual
requirements, or that they are mere ma
chimes without sentiment orreGson." We
will add to this, the testimony Of a Judi |
cious friend, who was a native of Lanca-
shire, one Of the principal manufacturing
counties in England, aud who sometime
since assured us that he considered the
manufacturing part of the population Of
that county, superior to the agricultural, /
both in intelligence and morals.
OF the general effect of manufactures, |
Mr.. Nautilus thus speaks: "NIost ofthe
effects of manufactures and commerce on
the general state of society are in the high !
est degree beneficial. They infuse fresh
life and activity into all classes Of the
state, afford opportunity for the inferior or
ders to rise by personal merit and eXertion,
and stimulate the higher orders to depend
Tor distinction upon other grounds than |
mere rank and riches. They excite inven |
ton; encourage science, and the useful
arts; inspire a taste for conyeniences and
comforts among the laborng classes; and
above all, give a new and happier struc-
ture to society, by increasing the proper
ton ofthe middle classes" The truth is,
that the same circumstances which i'm /
proved the comfort of the manufacturing |
classes in Great Britain, have also impro-
we'd their moral and Intellectual character
OF the effects which manufacturing es-
adjustments have had in our country, let
us take the testimony of the experienced, |
as given to the committee already referred
to. Mr.. Young Of Delaware said:-our
village consists of a population Of about
800 souls, more or less; and, since the
establishment ofthe mandatory, the moral
and pecuniary condition of its inhabitants
have materially improved"
Mr.. Dupont of the same state, said
from an experience Of twenty six years in
different branches OF manufacturing, can
say that believe the moral and pecuniary
condition of the laborers have employed |
have as a general rule, been materially i'm
proved; and this believe, will continue to
be lhe case, so long as this country offers
to labor a safe employment, in the purchase
ofuninproved land, at low price, and so
long as the Constitution of the Govern |
ment remains free as it now IS. All the
children employed in, and dependent on,
our factories, are regularly taught in Sun
day schools, until they acquire tolerable
education"
IL NInn, e 49, n nna,l,n. % d. !