Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-14

that am estimate made ortwo years past OF the quantity
aS Vaue oil produce coming to Richmond, market
and chiefly through the cana-the estimate will exceed
S5,OOOOOO annually" Now, il is most evident tha I,
this $s0oo,Oo0 worth of product was kept in the State
whe the productive powers OF the State remained Tho
same and excrted in the dire and mai n
would not by any means find to the great market
oil the world agricultural products would most suddenly
ana runousy decline In price; aud that too without the
aid OF canal Internal improvements I'm IsO9 The
port OF New Orleans was suddenly closed bein NJ ,at
ue IN possession OF inc french and other point was
assigned at which western produce could find vent TO
the great market of the world Let us NOW SEQ (o, mo
glowing language of Mr. Benton what was the eG
tect-"l came into Nashville TO sell the summers
crop, (coon) offered TO the nnercbon,o yvor,hv
maii-with whom we dcalt--Nota cent could he 81 ye
Tor the cotton for he was not gper to take il for nomi
nal price Not an article could he advance upon the m
OF inot even the Indispensable item of one barrel of
Every where, at every farm the labor of the wear was
initiated; the produce OF the fields seemed TO be cbon%c
INTO dust-strnck by the wand OF enchan,cr which
transformed cotton tobacco, and hemp into the useless
leaves of the orest."s w ~
Now, let us proceed to enquire into the nature o the
market for raw produce and whether likely to be
materially affected by the increased supply occasoned bv
the opening of new districts of country y
In countries far advanced in wealth and nonur,,;o
produce OF the earth will generally be relatively of o
er value than in countries advanced: for in tho old
country me increasing population an increasing
demand Tor food, which only be procured bv cI,i
vaung the poorer Soils by Improvement of those alrc
dy in cultivation. This increa ed difficulty of procuin
inc increased supply oil food will make all the produce Of
inc earth relatively high in such country. In now
country on the contrary there will be plenty of fertile
land and sparse population; the consequence will be
that only the more fertile soils will be talon into
anu produce will be relatively cheapt
NOW, from this ii would SEEM that il tolerablc freedom
o uaue were allowed the old country should furnish
market Tor the agricultural products o! the now Accord
ngy the experience Of the world has corresponded 10 The
theory; and has been universally found that in Colo
mes most OF 'e Iaoour and capital of the country have
1een devoted to Agriculture the old furnishing
the market, and the Colonies in their turn purchain
manufactures of the old r"s
Thus, having settled this general principle let me ask
DrOtu
answer, LIST. All those parts of the United States in
winch those products cannot be raised as cheaply as i'm
End All those parts of the civilized world whore thew
are so dear as to pay for their transportation from the
States. ~
The first will comprehend all that portion of he limited
States which has advanced beyond Virginia in population
and he accumulation of capital such our North East
ern States The second will comprehend almost all the
civilized world besides and il is this latter branch of the
market which regulates the price OF grain and tobacco
even in Virginia.
siby be produced upon this extended market by the ope
ration OF the internal improvements of Virginia. As well
might you suppose that the subsistence and rise of the
James River would occasion cbbing and flowing in that
boundless extent of water in which it finally loses itself
as TO suppose that the augmented produce which in time
may be made TO oat down that noble river can exert any
sensible influence the great market of the civilized
world must never then, look slight and accident
al causes for the permanent rise or fall in The nr;ce
OF the products of the earth.
when we turn our attention to this subject we must
search OUT such causes as influence whole emprescau
OF he
Danube OF the Seine and the Thames; the banks of
the Hudson, the Mississippi and the James rivers Ii is
mus that nose great conyusions in Europe which have
shaken whole empires, which have called from the pcoce
u pursuits OF agriculture TO the field of battle thousands
oil aoorers, have operated long they existed i'm
producing rise in the price OF produce. On the contra
ry when the peaceful state again arrives and all return
once more TO state of tranquility, prices will again fall
not TO RISE permanently, except from the operation of ST.
iar causes or from the increase fweah and population
throughout the world the effect produced b. the latter
cause being always slow and gradual.
But perhaps may be sad all this doctrine woudbe cor
rect but Tor its proceedingon false premises is not true
mat our agricultural staples received abroad orr
corn and tohedt are received by Jeo nations and these
constitute the staples of State is true there is n 10
reign market for tobacco, rice and cotton but his de-
idnd aoR not justify the assertion that theaaare for all
oar agricultural staples is The whole commercial fgorf
ParadoNical as may al first SEEM the market for these
three commodities amounts in fact a market for the
whole. '.ln consequence of the market which Europe
furnishes Tor these articles the southern and middle States
devote themselves more exclusively the raising of hem
they neglect the culture of corn, and wheat some mca
sure, to which their land is better adapted than the nor
thern lands, and In this way they furnish for the
corn, oil the co-growng States any rate do not COM
pete with hem much they otherwise would do did
not Europe take the above uamed commodities
this way find trade linked together in all its ram
hcatons GU cannot long communicate impulse 10 one
department. without in measure beneftting ALL In
The present case let us suppose for instant that Europe
furnished no market for cotton rice and tobaccoese
articles would Immediately fall in value South Carolina
Georgia, Alabama Louisiana, sc. would devote the at
tehuo more 10 the raising OF corn, wheat hogs cattle
&c They would in this respect compete with the northern
and western States Virginia and Maryland would SOP
the cultivation OF tobacco, and would produce morccorn
and wheat, pork and cattle, and thus compete wise
with the northern and western States. venture ttpre-
dict that the trade in cotton rice and tobacco witlEu-
rope, wholly cease, that in few years we ould
no longer those immense droves of hogs horses niles
becves &C. which have hitherto furnished the greasta
pies of western commerce. crossing our western mouns
and gradually disappearing in the great market of heast
and south, and which have hitherto appeared almoiike
the wide waters returning TO the foun whence they neJ
The northern States too, would find that the wneatt the
South would compete with their own in the doesic I
marNe And thus may we truly say, the whole iv. rC
ized world, in consequence of the intimate CONNEXIONS
and unbounded ramicaions of trade, constitutes o real
market for agricultural products. ID
But even suppoSng there foreign markG but
that confined entirely TO the home and III the
produce of the West capable of exercising an CON
not evident that this influence will be exertcd nohatter
at what point it may finally reach il, whe.herat NV Or
leans, at Baltimore, Philadelphia New York O Nor
tolk' we can never suppose moment, that haeTtie
country oil the west increasing rapidly in wea will
always continue locked up. Sooner later il wi com
municate with the ocean, sending forth 10 a morelistant
Market its abundant products and the great queion is
where shall this communication take place? And til leads
me TO the second branch OF inquiry TO investbe the
great benefits which may be expected to result lower
due reflection, have hesitation in saying lowe Virgil
mia Will be found deeply interested in thsucson
that even Western Virginia itself to the latter that is
necessary is the market, and they but lille who
Their that be Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk ht to
it is matter OF vital Importance hope 10 sbw that
the James river should be the outlet Without father pre-
mnary, therefore, shall proceed to point soho Of tie
advantages which will to the lower cOuntE, from
proper system Of Improvements
We have already seen, while enumeratinc the General i
advantages of internal improvements that they roluce
a proper division Of acknowledgement weah-iromote
commerce, and build up cities. One of the first esuts,