Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-03-13
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM,

OR THE WHOLE MATTER IN A NUT SHE'LL.
Extract from the Addres Of Gen. Harri.
son 10 the Hamilton county (Ohio,) Agyi.
cultural Society.
Among the objects TO be accomplished
by the establishment Of such societies as
yours, gentlemen, one not the least impor.
tant, is the influence they may exert 10
procure the nactment Of laws which mey
advance, or the repeal of those which may
be considered prejudIcial to the intererts Of
agriculture. There are two subjects com.
ing under this description which may pos
sbly require the interference Of the socie.
~. There!ls no person who hos turned his
attention TO the situation Of the western
country that does not know how much the
prosperity Of the agricultural and mechan-
lcal interests OF this section of 1t depends
on the trade to The Mississippi. We may
multiply our means of communication with
the eastern ports, as much as we may BY
means of canals and rail roads; still from
this part of The Ohio, and below us, for
many Of our articles we must manly de.
pend on the states Of the lower Mississippi.
This market will be good or bad one, in
proportion TO their wants or their ability
TO purchase. Their wants will be in pro.
portion to the increase Of their population:
and their ability to purchase will depend
upon the success OF their agricultural pur.
suits. 1t is obvious, therefore, that zoe
have o deep interest IN whatever concerns
their int erest. Their prosperity must be
our prosperity their adversely must newt.
ably bring correspondent depression upon
US. One OF the principle articles, (perhaps
The most importantly of the produce OF Lou
isiana, is sugar. Its cultivation 10 any
considerable extent, lie posterior to the
cession Of the country to the United States.
Under the fostering care Of our govern.
ment, which afforded It protecting duty,
it has been greatly extended, producing
advantages 10 the country as we'll as to
the planters. Among the former is the
abstraction of q large amount of labor, from
the cultivation of other articles which had
been produced to an amount beyond The
demand IN this way the southern states.
particularly the cultvators OF cotton, were
greatly benefited. While The western
states reaped he advantage Of an increased
demand for almost every article Of their
agricultural and manufacturing products,
and Cimunition in the price OF sugar, in
the last twenty years, of at least three hun.
dred per cent.
Before sugar mandatory can be put
in operation, an immense amount of iron
work, machinery and cast ings. as vel as
wagons, carts. drays, &c. must be procured.
natl, or Louisville. Horses, oxen and a
supply OF provisions must be obtained and
these are purchased Of The western farmer.
Sparlngly and economically at first, but al.
ways increasing as the cultivation and
manufacture progresses. 1.-THE enterprise
is successful, where are The surplus game
of The planter expended Who is there in
this part Of the country so ignorant as not
10 know, that large portion Of them comes
into the pockets of The farmers and manu-
facturers of the upper western states? As
his means increase, the sugar planter makes
more ample provision for The support Of
his family and laborers the comforts OF the
negro are increased. by the allowance Of
larger portion of better food. By these
additions to the expenses Of the planter,
The western farmer and mechanic are bene.
fitted When enabled to obtain better The
planter is no longer contenled with the
homey furniture Of his first establishment.
Orders are given for more costly and eIe.
CANT articles. And on what places are the
orders given, Not on London or Liver.
pool, or even on New York or Philadelphia:
but to some city on The Ohio. And this is
one. not BY any means The least. of the
vents for those splendid articles which are
poured out 10 such quantities from the shops
our Wards. Porters, Lebmans, SINNERS.
McAlpns. Lees, James, and hundreds Of
others. The trade Of the lower NJ lsslssippi,
is peculiarly beneficial to the farmers on
the Ohio and its nav,gable tributaries.
From their situation, hundreds, | may say
thousands, are enabled 10 dispose of their
products in that distant, but convenient
market, without the intermediate sale 10
merchant. or the employment of factor OF
carrier. They manage the whole matter
Of transportation and sale themselves
effectlng the latter immedatel y TO the con.
sumer upon his plantation. or TO The ex-
porter at New Orleans. There is not one
that has engaged in this business, that
Goes not know. that it ls frequently the
"hut W '"C WCuHo VI WulCu
prevents the planter from buying a whole
boat load Of provisions rather than a small
portion of one and that if he would take
sugar and molasses from the planter, in ex.
change for his own commodities, he could
sell the latter at higher price, and obtain
the former at a cheaper rate than by cash
sales. This fact was stated 10 me a few
days ago by al intelligent farmer of my
ueghborhood, who has for many years
been engaged in that trade; and shews
that the planter finds great difficulty in dis
posing of his crops, even at he most reduc.
ed prices, and that he is willing to reduce
them still lower to obtain the produce Of
our soil.
If the facts have stated are true and