The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-09

the few, and of production from their
pockets to the many. Labor is looked upon by them
precisely the capitalists regard it, 1t is the amount
that be employed in production at the lowest cost
1t ia Of consequence, considering the abstract
question of national wealth, in whose pockets the
wealth Ola nation is deposited it be in those
OF few, those of the many but it liz vital ques-
ton to the Iaborers themselves, and that en-
larged and liberal view of the subject embraces"
Now, it is entirely clear, that if the modern
free trade opinions should prevail, no article of
manufactures or Of agriculture indeed
which enters into the list of the common wants
and comforts Of life, can be produced in this
country to any considerable extent without re-
ducng the rate of wages for labor as low as in
any of the nations Of the earth producing the
same articles We must in fact, produce them
at the foreign cost, with the triling addition Of
freight-and to do SO, labor in this, as in other
nations, must become but another name for po-
verify, suffering, tears, and degradation-or else
we must abandon our market to the foreign pro-
Queer. No American statesmap--no ph.lan-
| thropist-would surely desire TO see this state of
things, even if it could be submitted to by those
most deeply Interested. 1t should not be for
gotten thai producing classes in this favored
land are not to be dealt with, or estimated by
any rules of calculation adapted to the condition
of the operatives of other nations. With them
rests very large portion of the intelligence,
and of the moral, as well as physical, strength
upon which our destiny as a nation must rest
We have observed another common error
adopted by some who have engaged in the dis
cussion of this subject. In estimating the i'm
portance of our manufacturing interests, and
their claims the legislation of the country, it
has been common to referto the 8or 900, 900 ma
nufacturers and arrlsans as the individuals alone
interested in this matter; and upon the capital
directly invested in manufactures
1926, 0,000-as the only capital to be effected
by legislation on this subject. AS well might
we attemptto establish a scheme of separate
interests between the head and the heart, or the
right hand and the left as to divorce the inte-
rests of agriculture, commerce, and manufac-
tires. ''Nether agriculture, manufactures, nor
commerce, (said Mr.. Calhoun, in the Senate,
February, 1859 taken separately, are the cause
of wealth: it flows from them combined, and
cannot exist without EACH The wealth Of any
single nation or individual, it is true, may not
be Immediately derived from the three, but it
always presupposes the existence of the three
sources, though derived Immediately from one
or two Of them only" And again: "When our
manufactures are grown to certain perfection,
as soon they will, under the fostering care of
Government, we will no longer experience those
for has surplus produce, and, what is Of al
most equal consequence certain supply Of
his oamts. HIS prosperity aoiN difuse itself
| to euery class Of the community" We quo tie
tho above not to endorse the sentiment there
expressed by the Senator in relation to the fos-
tering care of Government, but to strengthen
our view of the intimate relation and sympathy
existing between the three great sources of ma
tional wealth. as we'll as of strength and indie
pendence.
Without dwelling on the immense amount of
agricultural labor and capital employed in pro-
viding the means of subsistence alone for
100000 manufacturers and those Immediately
dependent on them, let us glance at the employ
ment of these agents on the land and on the sea,
in producing some of the raw materials for the
operations of the artisan, and in convey ing them
to his hands.
Astounding as the fact may appear, it is be-
leved to be near the truth that in sheep, and the
lands necessary for subsisting them, not less than
$l20 100000 are invesed-saying nothing OF
the large amount required TO perform the various
duties required in the of them, and the
transportation of 100000 pounds of wool
produced from them annually. We have alrea-
dy alluded to fact, not sufficiently considered,
that a large amount of tonnage, both in the TO
reign and coasting trade, is employed in trans
actions depending Immediately on manufac-
lures but there is another fact in relation to this
branch of our subject, which has received still
less attention. The ships employed in the
whale fishery of the United States are now
about 600, requiring at least $4,000 men for
their navigation. The amount Of capital invest
ed and the annual products are very nearly es-
timated in tabular statements, which we have
not at hand but the aggregate sum it may well
be supposed is enormous. One-thrd of the pro-
ducts of this fishery is consumed by the various
manufactures and when it is remembered that
beside the number of men directly employed in
these ships, at least an equal number connected
with them are constantly employed on shore IN
the making of casks cordage, iron work, sc.
for refttng them on their return from their long
and perous enterprise, we have good illustra
ton of that intimate and harmonious relation
which the three great national interests bear to
each other. 1t is interesting to trace this con-
nexion and to see in thousand ways where no
necessary sympathy would appear to exist, how
this mutual dependence runs through the whole
structure of our system of business and inter