Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-08-02
For the Southern Argus.
To THE CITIZENS OF MIssIssII


No. 7.
"To be independent for the com =
forts OF life, we must fabricate them
ourselves. We must now place the
manufacturer by the side Of the agri-
culturalist." Jefferson.
All application of labor, in a country,
nect ssOry for its wants in the various de-
partments Of consumption, whether of ne
cessity, convenience or luxury. is alike
beneficial TO the community, and should
be alike fostered. The cultivatGr Of the
soil has no claims to prominence over the
mechanic, who furnishes him with the in
struments with which he clears away the
forest, and turns it up. What would our
cotton be worth were it not for the eIn to
prepare it for market,-the bagging and
rope 10 contain it, and the screw TO press
it. 1t would be nearly valueless. A
question arises whether the mechanic and
manufacturer have not claims 10 pro.ec
ton that the agriculturist has not.
The necessity for their labor is absolute
Without the mechanic the agricuturist
can do nothing. All the mechanics es.
tate is his trade, his shop and his tools. If
revu!sion takes place in business,-if
short crops deprive the agriculturst of the
means purchasing, or, if from any other
cause n demand fer his manufacture cea-
ses, his labor is valueless to him,-hIs tools
lie idle, and he has TO fall back on his for
mer earnings for sus.enance; or. if some
foreign country, when population is over
abundant, and the aT'izans are willing to
work at starving prices throwing their
manufactured articles into ours, at such
low prices as amounts 10 a prohibition to
our own mechanic to pursue is trade
in acquiring which he had spent the
prime cf his life, he must cfcourse aban
don il.
His tools are useless, his shop must 90
TO decay, his estate is gone. lie has 10
begin the world anew. He must turn far
mer 10 gain subsistence for himself and
family, and the community be deprived
of the services of this useful member; aud
that which should have been bestowed On
him, 10 enable him to educate his family
and lay up something for old age, IS trans
| ferred TO 70 eign nation 10 al1 It in sup
porting their population, however. poor
that support may be.
While We had him with lis. we could at
| all times command his services under a
specified contract,-in case ofany impcr.
fiction in his workmanship we had our
remedy, he was one Of us,--remove
him aud We subject ourselves to the
cupidty ard extortoE of foreign ma
ton. The same principle runs through
all departments of consumption. The
| mechanic, the artlzan, and the manufac-
turer can resort TO agriculture for subsis-
tence, but can the agriculturist turn me-
chlnic and manufacture the implements
necessary for his agricuiture,-his fine
clothing, has, shoes, cutlery. &c, &c,
Certainly not. ask my fellow citizens,
whether, they believe the mechanic and
manufacturers Of this country can com.
pete with the pauper labor of Europe with
cut the fostering care Of our government,
| and if not, Whether, while we encourage
their downfall we are not placing oursel>
YES al the mercy Of the specie from our
country to pay them, when, if manulactu,
red at home We pay much of it in hire.
and the balance is preserved IN cur own
country.
But it is said protection enhances the
cost of the manufactured article. This
deny. and it will be my eEdeavor in my
next to falsify that assertion and place The
subject on its true practical merits.
close this with another quotation from
JEFFERSON. SHE THEREFORE,, WHO Is NOW
AGAINST DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES, MUST
BE FOR REDUCING Us TO DEPENDENCE on
THAT FOREIGN NATION, OR TO BE CLoTHEI
IN SKINS, AND LIVE LIKE WILD BEASTS IN
DENs AND CAvERNS."
9 BEN FRANKLIN.
Colu mbus Miss. July 30th, 1912.
81 rt1tYra