Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-16
solp;-hs Aisiery, faeiuaiiens . d prsssni ie,sr

Goip;-hs histery, fluctuations d prss.ni ,o,,y-
ess-ts the title Of very learned article in the No
vemeer Number OF the Eclectic Rsvi,.s, from the
pen OF the celebrated traveller and mineraloei.,.
Humboldt
That which make. the stronee., impression upop
nc readers mind in perusing this article is the fact
'na' Ia every country where gold has greatly
se0nnded, the condition OF the people, morally and
intellectually, has been deplorable And this pte
coos and idolired metal, so far from giving perm,
nent wealth to its first possessors has. in great
]or'y leases, reduced them to squald poverty. The
fo''ons OF Asia and Africa and South America, in
which Il was found in the greatest quantities. are
cases IN point But the most impressive instance OF
It's deprav'ng and impovershing effects is that Of
SPAIN This country, when the mines of the New
word were emptying their treasures mo its Ian.
was the hrst power in Europe, and the ,rbi,er n,
the dss,inies Of Chrstendom. Its resources, scanned
ineShausnble. But whilst the process. of d,,;,;,v
the American mines going on, and Snai,. to m.
sasuaI observer, seemed surfeitea with wealth al.
"asoiheent Charles died, and did no, leave eno,sh
|" MS e0hers To supply his household troops with n
gu" o' mourning. The poverty OF ths Prince Ma.
'"'' sample OF that of the people In the mean.
'"e' England, mere speck upon the man oS Nh.
world, without a gold mine, was rising "a
reeeded-to 10 a FRS, rate power. bo,h - -,
innuenee and national wealth. She relied upo, ,h.
and industry OF her citizens, and by these
means reaped the benefit Of the precious metals.
""eh Spain' acquiring without labor, dissp,,.d
WIN needless proiusion and folly. In the one mo-.
PFC the easy acquisition engendered habits of dI,
ness and wastc-in the other, the difficulty NJ ~,
curing H. caused it to be husba nded wh.n On, ,ns
INFUSED habits of industry and economy ,brouoho,,
'he whole mass:-Thus demons,tatins thu, 600
my anu industry are more important to perm,n.p,
"auoIa' wealth, than all the mines in the world.
inc contrast between England and Spsin-,b,
effects Of redundant wealth upon IN,
anu the enfichirs influences Of industry upon The
o'her, expose the folly Of that clos, Of ,ol;,;.
nomieal charlatans amonys, ~, v.h,
SIMPLE importation of specie \, Tho
~, ''eanS OF creating national wealth.
persuaded OF the correctness of this
'S'"'e'ou' 'ailaey they have labored for wear, to
make gold how up the Mississippi. and ,.h.
~, u lot the fruits Of enterprise and industry
"e" iaoofs have been attended with the -.
SUITS which all sensible men fores,w and No..
oieted. Gold has been made to a,w 49,, IL.
Hiississ'ppL it has been o,tsn,a,ousv w,r.or.d
!.on Guy 10 city throughout the sseat West. and
"e "naSinations of the people deluded th the M.
Non Of inexhaustlble riches. In the me,n,,,,.
INDUSTRY relaxed from its abours being superseded
0y spini oil gambling specula,on-lss,s pL.,,n,i,i
wealth. was crea'ed-eOmmerce was deranged.-,b.
goo has taken wings and hown away-le,v,ns h.-
h'nd worthless paper money, and the eopn,rv :,
~" worse condition, physically, financially and
10y Una" was when these political quaeks
began to administer their golden potion.
NC true sources ofnationaI prosperity and hap.
P'"es'' are to be found il industrious, moral
people, and "iihou, these, the golden cavern, Of
.ne y raj Mountains, and the exhsustes, mines =,
Mexico and South America, cannot make them and
"eeP 'nem rich. Experience-thc fate of Spain
'eache' it--and reason confirm, the les son.