Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-10-26
POLITICS FOR FAR ERS.
Ef.crl .Niies' Rewistrr.

rlcan system might be rendered more familiar TO
the Farmer and other working classes, who have
MT read leisure to investigate the
important subject though more deeply Interesting
to themselves than any other persons IN tic UNI
It'd States 1t has been delayed however from
various causes and the facts collected are mere
examples of the many that might be OBJ AIMED, were
time and opportunity allowed for the gathering OF
them. We proceed to the task-so tar de-
sirous of brevity, to apprehend that we may
not be fully understood, unless by them, VINO
while they read, Will also think upon what shall
b. presented to them.
The primary interest IN the UnNed States Is
certainly that OF the Farmers; the next thai oil
the manufacturers; the third, that of narisnt'o"
and &c; the fourth that OF the planters,
proper. The last furnishes the largest amount
in value of articles for export; but its general
of production, is at vast distance behind the
first second, and much IN the rear OF the third.
1t may be well to say few words IN regard to
each.
DR.. Cooper calculated the subsistence, only, of the
people of the United States, at Gao mill ons of dol
lars. IN i9I3,-and exclaimed, Hon do the boasted
pinegyric6s IF FOREIGN trade, dD,ndfe into ns'Sntt
ohen competition toh his!" He rated the
support of each individual for food drink and fuel at
SIS year Wshave materially differed from the
Doctor-tbnkiDg then now that he eXtrava-
rlnt IN his '.Catcutntions'-but have supposed that
the average cost nigh be S25 per aunum for the
whole United States, considering The cheapness of
food in many parts OF the interior, and that we have
two millions of slaves. This moderate sum will give
800 millions of dollars, the cost of subsistence,
the product OF our farmers-bu when to tins Is ad
ther WORKING ANIMALS, the value oftmber and its
transporatons, &c. of, he wool, fax, hemp, &C. &oc.
we think that the whole ofihe commodities produced
supplied by the farmers OF the United States may
he reasonably put down at 600 millions of dollars a
year.
We place the entire clothing of the people of the
United States, including all the clothes required for
household other purposes, at $40 per head. This
embraces all manufactures of cotton wool, flax lea
ther, fur nd silk, &c anu is surely below the real
value. The aggregate is S24O,OO0 OO0--of which
many thousands consume more than their proper
ton boots and shoes only, for 1t includes shoema
kers' bills well tailors and matters, &c. And If to
TINS we add the manufactures ofron, and other me-
tails, ofwood, III houses and ships and furniture of
numerals and earths, such BRICK, glass and wares
the aggregate cannot be pus down at less than $50
millions.
The amount earned in freights, coasting, inland
fishing and oi eign including passengers aud goods
transported in steam boats and canals boats, with
the profits on exchanging commodities cannot be |
less than 100 millions year, all which put into |
the domestic crcuia and invigorates branch
OF business, especially the agricultural for subsistence,
fuel, &c consumed.
In addition these we verify believe that the dis
huTsement or the people of the United States for
travelling on land with Stage hire. horse feed, turn
pike rates &c. Is ola larger amount than what we
have regarded as the 4h great branch of the busi-
ness OF people!
fifth whole cotton crop be million of bales or
800 millions of pounds, $50 000, 900, the tobacco
sugar and rice may he estimated millions more;
but, say, 45 m'lons as the whole product of the
ing OF transportation large amount to be de-
drc,ed from, The general sum. Forty FIVE millions
OF dollars are more than the worth of all the cotton,
tob.cco sugar and rice, annually supplied IN the
Unite' States. Well may we exclaim in the words
OF Dr. Cooper, chow do the boasted panegyrics,' on
the planting interest, ''dwindlc insigni6cance
when compared With the farming or manufacturing!
And though as before observed, the planters supply
n ler9e proportion of our artcns FIR export the
whole proceeds would go but 4 short wav towards
FEEDING the people OF the planning states, if the
Ia hol prn mot Far TIT ri
gram, grass &c are worth much mic1ter sum
than those of cotton, sugar, tobacco and fce
We invite careful consideration of these .hinos
Mathematical accuracy is aimed at for then. and
cannot be attained. l. is sufficient that our calcr,
tions reasonable The oggrera,e for subsisten'o
and clothing of all sorts, all kinds of ia rnno or fam
Iiy utensils he building and repairing OF houses md
ships, IN the rents of houses &c are put down Mt
less sum than 800 per head, per annum; or for man
his wife and three children, $3.50 year-about the
amount OF the wages OF respectable journeyman me
chanc, winch Is below tho average value consumed
what is the sum of the rents of all the houses in our
cities and towns' And the product of these il must
he observed are az well added to a general amount
OF subsistence, as bread and clothing.
We shall proceed to more particular notice of
certain products of the farmers, by which we mean
the growers Of gram, grass roots, meats wool &
distinction 10 those Of cotton s,pnr tohecco al
Iicc.
The people Of the United States consume. each 1lb
OF hour day' or Its equivalent in other vegetable
to1d-this Is less than the amount given to decently
fed slaves, peck of corn iOlbs.) a week beipo al
lowed per head, with other vegetable food. The an
nual supply, for l2 millions, Isl them 1880 600 600
lbsor y m lions bbs. of flour. 1t is no matter ofI
what this food consists. If Of wheat flour The ove
rage cost wd not exceed two cents for each person
per day. which we think is pretty moderate rate of
living. and suppose TINT DR.. Cooper and Mr.. McDvf
ie mus, admit il.
The greatest expor of -four was in 1911 49,
I38 barrels because Of the very short crops Europe
but IN 1919, only $50, $50; showing decrease of
one half III two years and the destructive
OF The foreign market In 1925 the export was
s60,aoe b6ls--in 1920, 857 1886; of which latter,
2io'j34 went TO England, on speculation of short
crops, bnt was nearly all reshipped to the British
west Indies or elsewhere retained until it became
sour, because that the duty required upon il could
not be paid, for British food.
We shall here explain That this duty is II falls
rs he price of grain rises hus-wben British
when' 10 at SOS the quarter of bushels of 10 his
each ,or about $50 cents for tie American busfo of
~ los the duty IS l4s Cd per quarter equal TO q a