Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-02


Friend Snotoden:-As thy newspaper hath
often contained much matter for amusement,
sometimes for instruction, and generally aug
menring stock Of knowledge suisd TO the taste
and capacity Of rIain unIearned people, have
therefore yenlured to Commit some Of my crude
thoughts, and opinions to paper. Believing ,ha,
in the multitude Of council there is safety
feel disposed to contribute my mite to the &C.
neral stock.
Having, at times, directed my attention to
the wants and priva,ions Of the laboring poor,
have thought their situation and circun,stan-
ces could be materially beuered, by little more
exeriion and attention than is commonly be-
slowed on this important subject Adam
Smith. 10 his admirable treatise on the causes
OF the wealth of nations, has said that pruduc-
tive labour constitutes the real riches Of ma
ton, and not superabundance Of the precious
metals, which are only the sign Of labour.-
Now if this he correct petition, which pre-.
sumo il is, | conceive we are not in prosper
Gus condition, Possessing, as We do, SO small
quantum of productive labor, during This In
element season Of the year, there are many OF
the Iaboring poor out Of employment, and no
doub: much real suffering is the consequence.
I have thought the funds usually eonlri>
hu,ed for their relief, By public ant. private
contribution, may be appropriated in way
TO produce far more substantial benefits than
they have heretofore done. That by the 10
vesrmeut Of small capital 10 the purchase o.
certain raw materials, which are to be had in
abundance, am inclined 10 think substance
may be thus afforded by their own labor; and
then those who will not work deserve to suffer.
ed to labor wher they can get work TO do, aud
that they will work On moderate terms too.-
Last winter my wife, who is an economist you
mus, know, concluded she must have what she
call. domestic carpet: SO we purchased the
materials, and ] kept an account Of the cost OF
the spinning, coloring and weaving; and ~ con>
clusion We got good, substantial and a hand
some carpet at seventy-hve cents the square
yard. This article is allowed, by judges, 10 be
equal in value TO an imported carpet, which
would cost one dollar the square yard. Our &C.
count stands thus: .a.,.,.
Take aoalbs. clean sleeps wool at % cts. S47l
Allow l2A cts for spinning and doubling
2olbs. Of warp 2 so
Do. lolbs Of cotton at 10 cts. and 2olbs.
Of cows hair at cent, 20
Do. spinning 3obs. Of filling, at 10 cents, 5 90
Do. coloring 20
Do weaving 20 yards a, l2a cents. so
BIS II
found TO difficulty 10 procuring the materials
o. the work for the construction of this piece
Of carpeting; and believe one hundred yards,
or any reasonable humber Of yards, may be thus
produced by the investment of small capital,
under a moderate degree Of care in the pur-
chase Of materials, and pruaen, distribution
Of the work. Thus the inference is most evil
dent, from the above premises, that large
portion Of productive labor is lost 20 the com.
munity. Those funds. which from time to
time are contributed, in order to mitigate the
sufferiugs Of the poor, and from which little or
no permanent benefit hath BE- en- derived, yet
may be rradered subservient 10 the general
good Of society, and species Of goods pro-
duced which are in dema In this way large
sums Of money may be saved, which now are
drawn from our country, and goes to reward
foreign industry and skill. Thus we go on
from year 70 year in voluntary dependence,
contributing our support to foreign capital and
industry, TO the manifest injury and neglect Of
q yss, fund Of productive labor al home.
AFR.END TO THE TARIFF.