Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-06-14
PWGIWIUAIa
POLlTICAL

POLITICAL ECONOMY.
In recommending TO the reader the following article
rom the Banner oil the Constitution. we beg leave to
accompany II with a few remarks.
Iii to be lamented that the science OF political econ.
omy has been, and Is still, so much neglected in this
country. And 1t is indeed surprising. how ignorant up.
intelligent citizens. They are well acquainted with the
constitutions, and with the laws emanating from Il; thew
are wen acquainted with the fundamental principles up
ON which the public institutions Of the country have
been erected; but they have no knowledge of The in
fuehce commerce., navigation, agriculture, and manu-.
Iac,ures' exercise over the operations of the government
anu inc weuare oil nations. They have no conception
Of the relative weight OF The commerce. sgreui ure
aud manufactures OF q nation, end OF the desSee NJ inn.
Portanee Of each, as eonpestsd with The power o. ,bat
nation. Not only in the State legIsla,ures, bu, in
C~onGress, ign rance Of political economy he, bean
often exhibited. 20 the shame Of this country, end bv
men too who pretend 10 a Q title Of statesmen, and 20
the hishes, Offices which the people can besiow.
4 IL In Congress this Ignorance IL manifested, n mu,t
Foe confessed that II 10 worse Ia The State le gi,la.ures.
and % much 90. that We have wondered how they have
managed IL to commit less blunders, when Il xisiaNns
tor their constituents, than they have heretofore done,
though God knows, enough have been done. II ID !
Tact which cannot DO denied, that men vote for internal
ing OF a YAK, or the imposing OF a duty, iora memorial
against the tariff, without understanding IN. frs, pdi.-
eiPIes oil the objects upon which they are eg,slaiinr
Ask them what internal improve m .n,s are, and whst
influence they have on the sgrieul ue aud commerce
Of the country, they are dumb.-They know very we'll.
mat Internal improvements comprisc good roads, canals,
s"o otheP Ieitsbodut, n tndto all fhey KNOW. their
knowledge does not extend beyond this. AK ttem
wha, 4 bank TO-, and they will readily tell YOU, that 4,
$ 40 establishment which issues bank notes and lends
money NJ interest. AK them what influence this b.pt
exercises 10 tho fiscal concerns ofthe country. In or.
tabiishing q solid CT Fictitious circulating medium. or In
Increasing or dimiuishins the value Of property, and tksv
,sn .,sn.. Az them The rs T, why they approve .
mute they know very well that cotton 10 worth no.
thing tha''hey are ruined, sankrup' they know that
me-, pre- 'hren OF the Norh are wsliowing in luxury.
Wlllo poverty ataY0a them in tbs fara apI m .-:- a
the lar fl but thsrs all they know. They do no, re-.
Meet on the money they pay, in the form Of duty, for
INC eonse and tea hey drink, for tho cotton and vol
len cloths with which they cover their backs tbev
cannot trace THE duty, taken from their pockets, 10 the
pockets Of northern Capitalists and mauuiacturers. 80
IL 10 high time the peorls Of the South should open
their eyes TO tho subject under confederation, MS
high time, that our intelligent men ,hould turn their
attention to a subject which is so Intimately connect.
ed with tho bes, Interests Of the South.
From TIL. Banner of TIL. oss SsSss,a Journal.
II tho science oil Polineai Economy were laugh, in
81 our schools, not merely as a brauch Of liberal edu.
cation, but as a familiar study. the in,sresis of socistv
would be immensely promo ed. There 10 scarcely a
Transaction 10 life, connected with tho adminisira,lon
oil affairs, from The Goverumeh' OF the whole Union.
and tina, OF each particular 8 ate, down to the govern.
ment OF every indivi iuai family; which 10 Tot depend
ont for its laws upon this important science. No man
deserves 10 be classed amongst Statesman or Issi.Is.
tors. who does not thorough y comprehend il. A mem.
Der OF Congress, who 10 not acquainted with the prin.
siPies that teach the mode by which The creates,
wv Va s"o q UtlU0 ~ III d q 0fAmnl.I
cd Is ~ NJ qualified for biz post % an individual
would be to teach algebra, who was ignoran, Of
the simple rules OF arithmetic. 10 Ike manner,
a Member Of Assembly, who knows nothing Of bank.
ing, ef currency, Of the principles upon which CAPT.
tai may be accumulated or wasted, Of the sound
Jules by which taxes should be apporiioned, Of the adj.
miL!esf'ion oil the Poor.laws. OF the regulation Of the
interest OF money, and the various other matters which
appertsin 10 tac iunctions Of our S,ste Governments,
must always legislaie in the dafk.-Even the corpora
tons Of ei-ies and boroughs, and tho administrators Of
the hnAtrG OF a cOuntV- t0ynablD. or DarIfh. A neyAr
fulfil their dutiss TO the public, without some acqusir-
lance with the laws which relate to Income aud expen-
dilute. And lastly, what family can enjoy as much
substantial comfort and Independence, 40 one in which
the domestic economy is regulated, not by the laws of
parsimony, but by the d:stsies of science which ie,ch-
o. now inc greatest extent OF enj,ymenis is 10 be Sc
cured at the Least eos. of labor!
The Idea that political economy 10 an abstruss, dry,
and unlnssres,inG subject, is founded in error. IL i.
rue maj me most abstract principles Of the science,
Ike those OF any other branch OF philosophy, are DO.
yond the resch Of ordinary minds but is more plain
and practical elements are as easily 10 be apprehend.
cd as any other matter Of everyday concern. IA Ia M,
however, intended hereby TO advance the position tina,
tho attractions held out by this study are sufficiently
strorg TO induce every one TO enter upon il. Such
universal power Of attraction belongs to no pursuit.
whatever. Loek at the beautiful study Of botany, per
example,, or the useful science Of chsmisrty, or tie
amusing researches Of natural history, aud professors
will tell you tina the number Of individuals WIN embark
with zeal in those departments of knowledge, 10 com.
para,ively limited. Still there are many who devote
tosir attention to these studies, and who End a sa,i,fae.
"oh Wnicn amply compentates them for the labor
a.'hough 'hey may net be 10 a situation 10 apply
the knowledge hey may acquire to any practica ut,Ii
~. And would not political economy be studied if
Il were generally krown that i's principles are as In.
tma'ely connected with the daily transaction of So
cieiy, as the principles OF domestic economy are with
the daily trsnsaehons Of On individual family! Nine.
TENNIS oil the misery and suffering of the poor and la
boring classes arises from the absence of ali knowledge
OF political economy on the part Of those who are cho.
sen to regulate affairs. In reference, especially, to our
poor laws and charitable institutions, the most Iamenta-
bic ignorance prevails. Instead of striking at the root
OF the evil, and cutting out the cancer which is con-
Stunning the body polite, we are content 10 apply an ex-
ternal plaster, which only coHceals from our sight the
mortal ulcer, but leaves the disease more deeply seated
than ever. The whole system of our charitable insti-
buttons, designed for the temporary relief of the poor
requires revision. Instead OF diminishing the parIper-
ism, they increase il, by holding out inducements for
those who would other wise depend-aye, and success
FULLY depend, too upon their own exertions for their
support, to rely upon charitable aid. They multiple the
class, already sufficiently large, of those who calculate
upon public patronage for their maintenance, and create.
in the humblest walks of life, a class of people CORES.
pondiHg TO that which 10 found in he higher grades.
who rely altogether upon public Offices for their sun
port. Charity, when we'll regulated, Is a cardinal virtue.
but every 'pecies of alms-giviDg is not charity. A good
motive must be tempered 10y a sound discretion. Hos
pitfalls and asylums, for the deaf and dumb, and blind,
Tor infants who are too young TO obtain their livelihood.
for aged people who are too old or infirm 10 labor. for
lunatics, idiots, and those who are physically incapable
OF helping themselves, are deserving Of all support.
hut where persons labor under none of these disabili-
ties or Affections, the claim for charitable aid ought 10 be
very fully established, TO entitIe il to attentions; and
where, it is ascertained to be foundsd upon casualty or
misfortune, aud not misconduct, the relief should be af-
iorded 10 the way oil furnishing employment, rather than
In the payment Of gratuities.
Upon this subject, We are aware, Their, Is In our com.
muoi'y a morbid sensibih,y. TIE take an active part In
charitable inftituiions, 10 quite . mania, and those VIII
venture 10 advance opinions intended TO show tina, more
mischief than good may result nom a blind indi,eriui.
mailing zeal. are lODking uDon ss nnrharitahl. a~d h..l