Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-08-20

i FHi inFy NOT toHkfHtdl WIFI fsputliChN IH-
s,ituiions, To each of these we will give a
| brief Reconsideration.
l. The want Of comfort ofthe nujaeiurers,
That those, who are employed in the manu-
factories OF Europe, have been often compelled
10 undergo excessive labor, and endure great
| pfiyation, cannot be denied. But this is far
less the case now than formerly, and the
change Is 70 be attributed partly to the exten.
ded use of machinery, which nj once lessens the
labours of the body and allows more time for
mental improvement, aud partly to the higher
station this class of persons now hold IN the
public estimation.
But we have, in the United States, an cnectu.
nj security against these evi 5, In the facility
with which any man may beiHke himself 10
the occupation of hushandry. and thereby OBJ
Tain the comforts OF life. So long as we pos
sess fertile, untitled land. the average profits
aud comforts OF agriculture will furnish II stan.
dard below which those OF no other employ
meni can fall, aud our manufacturers will not
long submit 20 lower wages, or 90 less comfort
than they can Obtain by cnivaIing the earth
The philanihropists, then, whose sympathies
have been alarmed for the misery TO which
the supposed manufacturers were inevitably
doomed, may dismiss their fears nj least MS TO
those OF America, aud may assure themselves
thai this class of persons arc destined 10 expe.
fortune. aud that degree OF suffering, which are
incidental 10 tho other classes, aud are the lot
of our common nature.
II Is true that the security, here spoken Of
does not extend TO slaves. But as to them,
public opinic THE mild spirit of christianity
whose benign influence Is in nothing more felt
than IN the treatment OF the slave---and, moi
least perhaps, the permanent interest Of the
masier--all of which have 50 eoncurrsd 10
ligalening the bonds of slavery in the United
States,-ahord the most ample guarantee
that this class Of persons will he more opprcs-
sed or abused in manufactures than IN sgrIcul.
ture.
.. That manufactures degrade The iaJorer.--
This opinion was first advanced by Adam
Smith, who speaks Of the manufacturer in Ian.
guage hat must have been exaggerated even
IN this day. lie says, " the man whose whole
life nspeni IN performing few simple opera
lions, of which the elects too, ARE perhaps,
always the same, on very ncnrly the same. has
no occasion to exert his understanding, orio ex-
cercise his invention in finding out expedients
for removing difficulties hioh never occur.
lie naturally loses, therefore, the habits of such
eXerilou, aud generally becomes ns stupid aud
ignorant ms it's possible for n human creature
10 become"
Mr. Nautilus and Nj, Moculloch, who di0er
economy, concur in denying the jusincss Of
this representation. The latter writer says,
" 'nsieaiSo i,s being true that the workmen
employed in manufacturing establishments are
less intelligent and acute than those employed
III agriculture, the fact Is distinctly and com.
pletely the reverse. The weavers aud other
Mechanics Of Glasgow, Manchester and Dir
ming possess infinitely more general aud
extended information, than is possessed Ivy the
agricultural laborers OF any county in he en-
pre- Aud again - We do mol believe that
they ever were less intelligent than the agri.
culturists, but whatever may have been She
case formerly, O0ae will now yenture 10 al
firm that they are inferior 10 them in intellec
tual requirements, or thai they are mere ma
chimes without sentiment or reason We will
add TO this, the testimony Of indlci ous hirnd
who WAS native Of Lancashire, one of the
principal manufacturing counties ~ England,
and who sometime since assured us thni lie
considered the manufacturing part oil the pop
nlatloD OF that county, superior TO the agrlcul'
tural. both in Intelligence aud morals,
OF the general effects OF manniac urcs, Mr.
Maltaus thus speaks :" Most of tbs ELECTS
oi manufactures and commerce on tnc general
state oil society are IN the highest degree bene.
fetal. They iniuse fresh lie aud ACTIVITY into
all classes ufthe slnie Afford opportunity for
exerlion, aud stimulate the higher orders to de.
pend for distinction upon Other grounds than
men oil rank and riches. They excite inven.
Ton, encourage science md the useful arts;
spread Intelligence aud spirit, inspire taste for
COnvenIences and comforts among the labor.
ing clbsses; aud above all, give "A new and
happier structure 10 society, by increasing he
propo lion Of the middle classes.' The truth
49, that the same ci cumstHnces which imprOv-
we'd the comfort OF the manufacturing classes in
Great Britain, have also imp owed their moral
and intellectual character.
or the elects which manufacturing estab-
lishmenis have had ia country, lei rs take
the testimony the experienced, rs given 10
The committee already referred TO. Mr.
Young of Delaware, SAID -" our village con,
sisls OF population of ab0u, 800 souls, more
or less and, since the esiabll.hmen, Of our
mandatory. the mota and pecnuiary con
ditIon Of It's Inhabitants have maiteTia ly im
proved.
Mr.. Dupont Of the same state, said -" from
an experience oil twenty six years IN different
branches of manufacturing, | can say that |
beliv the moral aid pecaniafy condition OF
the aborers have employed, have as gener-
al rule, been materially improved aud this,
b ieve, will continue 20 be the case, so long
as this country offers 10 labor a safe employ
ment IN the purchase Of unimproyed land, al d
10" pice, Il SO long as thu Constitution of the
Government remains free as il now il. All the
children employed III. and dependant on, our
factories, are regularly taught IN Sunday
schools, until they acquire tolerabe educr.
ton
Mr.. Clapp of Boston, in answer TO the mqui-
ry into the comparative Stale Of morals" be
tween the agricultural and manufacturing pop
uaoh of New England, answered -" mink
the opportunities Tor moral aud religious in
slructiou, are decidedly in favor of the manu-
featuring community II being OF the iirst
objects of Inc prop ietors OF the large estab
lshnen's, 10 provide schools, and houses for
religious worship"
Mr. Pierce Of New Hampshire, said q" from
all my observations, believe the morals Of
those employed in manufacturing 10 be as good
as those Of any other class in Society. aud