The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-21
THE TARIFF.


THE TARIFF.
In recent article, we alluded to the intimate
and harmonious relation which agriculture,
commerce, and manufactures, bear to each other
AS no branch of our subject is less understood
than this and as we think its consideration
peculiarly appropriate at this moment to awaken
that NATIONAL spirit which we would fain en-
courage, and assist in disseminating, we will
before leaving the topic illustrate this connec-
ton by single example.
Let us take the case of one Of the large sati-
net factories, many of which are scattered
through the country. Satinet is fabric of cot
ton and wool in about equal proportions it is a
result of modern ingenuity, first produced in the
United States, and never successfully initiated
by our British rivals, though they have often at
tempted it, 1t has become a leading article
among our manufactures and probably great
er number of yards of it are annually u anuac-
tured than of any other one article of woollen
goods. Many large establishments are devoted
exclusively to the production OF satinets OF va
rous grades of fineness but often ii is manu-
featured in the same establishment with fan
nels, or with negro cloths, coarser article OF
the same general description, we will take one
Of this latter class as an example.
In travelling through New England 1t is by
no means uncommon when the road follows the
course of stream, perhaps through thinly
settled farming township, to come suddenly
upon miniature city clustered around one OF
these establishments, and forming indeed part
Off In the centre is ''lhe factory" proper
with its great water Wheel which gives motion
to the carding machines, fulling mill, spinning
and weaving machines, the hum and gathering
of which are heard from within as you approach
the busy settlement. Even the great water
wheel itself seems instinct with life, and the
type and Embodiment of logged untiring indus
try, as it turns rapidly and steadily on its axle,
tossing off in sheet of foam the clear stream
that rushes down upon it from the dam above,
kissing and frothing for moment, while it
spends its collected power on the huge object OF
it's attack and then gathering its scattered forces
in the sluce beneath, glides bubbling and dane
ing off, to have dash at the grist mill further
down. Here is the dye house, and yonder the
dressing and finishing shop, the machine shop,
SC. &C. from all which come sounds of active
industry The snug and neat looking dwellings
scattered around-each with its well kept garden
are of the same size and general appearance,
indicating that they are part OF the same esta-
blishment How different are these quiet hall
rural dwellings-both in their external ap-
pearance and in the air of comfort and plenty
evident in such OF their domestic arrangements
as meet the eye-from the homes of the opera
tives of Old England, as described by Lester
The gin shop and its Observation-Disclosures
vice and lowering despair-fnd no place IN the
factory village" the only tavern is |" tenn
perance house." and its keeper is deacon of the
neat little church on the HILL and teacher IN
the Sunday school. Nor is the parish work
house to be found here, sickening the heart
with its exhibitions of decrepid and querulous
pauperism cast upon the cold charity OF the
world, when most requiring the consultations
and kind Offices of indulgent affection and the
vet more painful sight Of blighted childhood,
haggard and careworn in those days when the
heart should be light, and the young spirit JOY
Gus and elastic.
The little troop of children who come rushing
from the village school-house, their shining
faces lighted up with animation on their escape
from temporary restraint, already look forward
with Impotence, instead Of dread, to the period
when they too will be permitted to enter the
factory or upon some other active employment
not 10 shield themselves from poverty and wan
-fShoC 1hl5 they have no dread, and know no
thiae x as they read of them,-but to Sc
cure ii dependence which they are taught
10 cosSS1te Is the object and the sure reward Of
industry when attended with frugality and IN
tegrity.
No one can visit such hive of industry as
factory village presents to the eye without De-
inc impressed with the importance OF brancf
ot INDUSTRY, which in one of its establishments
affords employment and comfortable suosist
ence 10 so many persons of both sexes and OF a.
ages as are here seen directly engaged In SOM
occupa,ipn connected with it. There are Jew
however, who would suppose, that, except a
the village would require portion OF the surplu
products of the neghborng farms, for the sub
sis,ence of its inhabitants, that it bore any rea
ton to the agriculture of the country; ana s''
fewer who would suspect that satinet factory
in an obscure village, far removed from any
the great thoroughfares and marts OF trade, coul
exercise an important influence upon its ioreig