The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-12
From the Nc,odrk Daily Advertiser
PROPHECIES OF FIFTY YEARS AGO.

The Able RAYNAL was accounted in his day an
acute and profound philosopher. With many of his
contemporaries, his opinions had the force of oraces
and his predictions passed for prophecies In his cell
ebrated Historic PhiIosophque ct Potique DIES Es-
ablissemens ct due Commerce DIES Europlens dams les
deux lndes,' which was published in 1880, he thus
speaks of these States then struggling for political
istence
"Our imag nations infamed, and cur sympathies
enlisted, on behalf of the Americans. That love Of
justice which delights in recompensng past misfor-
tunes by good fortune to come peases itself with the
belief that this part of the New World cannot fail to
become one of the most fourishing countries the
globe Some even go so far as to fear that Europe
may one day receive its masters from thence Let
have the courage to stem the torrent of opinion and
of the public enthusiasm and not permit ourselves to
be led asray by the sentiment which delights in
ting beautiful Illusions and realizes to itself whatever
it hopes for. The highest obligations of historian
is truth, even when truth may seem opposed to the
nearest wish of hearts. At this time perhaps,
shall not be believed but bold conjecture, which is
the historian than the recital of long series of
incontestible facts. write not only for my cotempo
raries, who, at the most, can but survive few
years give my ideas to time and to posterty 1t
is for them to Judge me-"
Nearly two-thirds of century have passed away
and the posterty SO confidently appealed to
judge of the justice of opinions formed with much
predictions with the results, let glance at the pre-
misses on which they were founded
Throughout these regions, (the thirteen united
coonies,) the lands are very generally poor or of
middng quality. Hardly any thing but maize is
raised IN New England The sole resource of its in
habiants is the fisheries of which the annual produce
does not exceed ST. 100000.
"Wheat is the main del endence of New York
New Jersey and Pennsylvania. But rapid is the
deterioration of the soil that the which yield
ed as high sixty bushels of wheat rarely yields
twenty.
"Though the lands of Maryland and Virginia are
far superior all the rest they cannot be considered
very fertile. The old tobacco plantations yield only
one third the crop which gathered from
them. 1t is no longer possible to form ones, and
the cullivaors compelled to turn their attention to
other objects
uaIity SO inferior that it is sold twenty-five thirty
per cent below the price of other grain in every
market.
South Carolina and Georgia perfectly level
for fifty miles from the ocean. The excessive rains
which fall there, finding no outlets, form numerous
marshes where rice is cultivated, to the great detr
ment of the health of freemen and slaves In the in
tervals between heseswamps grows an inferior kind
of indigo Where the land becomes elevated, it pre-
sens only ungrateful sands frghtfu rocks broken
at long intervals by pastures of rush grass.
The English Government unable to conceal from
itself that North America would never enrich the pa
rent country by its own proper productions, devised
he powerful expedient of bounties to create in this
part of the New World the husbandIy of fax, of
wine and of silk. The first failed through the po-
yer,y of the soil the second from the of
he climate and the third from the scarcity of labo-
rers The London Society for the encouragement of
he arts met with no better than the govern
nent
Great Britain was forced to content herself with
selling annually to these countries merchandise to the
amount of about ten millions of dollars She re- !
,eved in exchange exclusively the indigo, iron, to-
,acco and furs of the colonists. They delivered to
Ter also whatever of money and raw material they
received from the rest of the world, in exchange for
heir lumber, grain, fish, rice and salt provisions.
Nevertheless the balance constantly against
he colonies that when the troubles between the two
countries began they owed twenty-four twenty five
Millions of dollars to the mother country and had no
pecie in circulation"
In spite of these disadvantages, there has collect
d within the ID provinces population of 1881 67S
ncluding 100000 blacks. Oppression and intole-
ance drove thither daily settlers. The war has
losed this refuge to the unfortunate, but peace will
eopen it; and they will resort thither in greater
umbers than ever. Those who go to cultivate the |
oil will not succeed to the extent of their expecta
ions, for they will find not only the best, but even
he middling qualities of lands all occupied and |
carcey any left for them but barren sands unhealthy
wamps, rocky mountains. Emigration will be |
lore advantageous to manufacturers and artizans
hough perhaps even these will have gained nothing
y the change of country and of climate.
at would be hazardous to fix the limits Of the future
opulation of the u nitei States. Such calculation
ways sufficiently difficult becomes impracticabIe Tor
region where the lands degenerate very rapidly, and
where the reproduction of the of supply by
means keep pace with the demands made upon them |
ten millions Of people find assured subsist