Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-11-07

iaCi5.o IiCu uGn q v Ohiii'Nh1 S'h~ 49,
bluoders in Agriculture. But their mistakes should
only teach us 10 avoid the errors into which they have
fallen, end TO seek more confidently for the truths al
which they aimed.
There is q class of individuals, who, it seems I"
me, have never been duly appreciated by the world
They are generally known by the name OF "experi-
mentors" Ac;uated by The mos, laudable desire Tor
knowledge, they wear out their Ives, and often empt'
their purses, ia the search for ,nforna,ion that rebounds
TO the advantage OF others. This self devnted class,
IL seems TO me, should have monuments erected l."
their memories. There was one CuRTIUs, ohce, wa"
leaped into a fnlhomless gull, TO The good OF his com.
try, and his name, at This DAY, IS only spoken 10 be
applauded. But these modern Curtnsss OF ours, "h"'
for the good of others, have plunged into ;Ae dafk
abyss Of poverty, pass unrecc gnIsed through their own
generation, and are, | fear, doomed TO be forgotten by
posierity.
| congratulate you, gentlemen, upon the increasing
interest of orr exhibitions. am delighted to see here
SO many specimens Of domestic manufactures. Some
Of them are fully equal 10 any that can be found IN THIS
country. | most heartily wish they were taore gene
rally appreciated but the fact is, a most unfortunate
and fatal propensity exists upon The part o. our people,
10 clothe foreign products with q fictitious value, tha'
has no existence, except in their imagin tons. Now,
pretend 10 have some little acquaintance with the me
chanic arts, as p.aclisej here and else where: and he
state not TO declare, that SO far as l have observed, and
have been able TO Judge, there are specimens OF manu-
features produced IN Richmond that cannot be excelied
in the Union; yet, we daily see our townsnen pass By
the products OF their fellow citizens, mechanics whom
they have known from their infancy; go to the North,
and, as | know, frequently pay a higher price tor an
inferior article.
Now, do not mean 10 disturb the turbld pool OF po.
litics, by entering into a discussion of the Tariff ques-
ton, although for SO doing | could quote very high
authority. But whatever my opinions may be- of the
policy of Governmental interference with The liberty Of
private action, 1 profess myself, heart and soul, for
that best Of all Tariff principles, which leads the ind
vidual purchaser 10 give The preference, even Ut the
a nj Ina pnrEot In la nstrnbor and rrIaud rer /
u stranger aud al alien. One would think, TINT he who
was continually invoking the ad oil Go"ernnentt 10
cherish domestic manufactures, would nj all times b.
possessed OF sufficient patriotism Ia set Ell example IN
his own person, and that he would be The last ,ndivi
dual in the world, who, in supplying his own wants,
would seek a foreign market. But, ! imagine, if you
will enquire of the Mechanics OF Richmond, you will
find, that their best patrons are not always those who
profess the warmest devotion to domestic industry
Sterne tells US, that whilst he was in Paris, having
need of & shoe-buckle, he said 10 the Jcweller, who
was submitting one 10 MS in .pecton, " You are sure
the setting is not false" His reply was, "Monseur,
you may dip it in The ocean," which, 1t Is TO he re.
nembered, is not within 100 miles of Paris. An Eng,
llshman, Slerne remarks, would have said, "Si-, you
may try it in that bucket OF water The Frenc!imau
Is grand, airy, and sublime the Englshmln more
homely aud practical. So, SIR, with some Of The friends
of domestic industry. For the magnificent scheme OF
legislative protection, they are the most noisy edyo-
Gates; but, to the homely, practical, everyday exercise
u III IiihIiIi ~ ~ o"h '~N W w. ''hN'I |
averse; and when 4 wardrobe, or a CRATE, or a saddle
is TO be purchased, 10 the entire neglect of our own ex.
cellent artisans, their patronage is bestowed upon foreign
workmen.
Nor is this absurd prepossession in favor of foreign
productions confined 10 The citizens Of Richmond. !
was fortunate enough 10 be present a few days since
at the exhibition oil the American Institute in New
York, where the splendid display ofAmerican produce
made me proud of my countrymen. My attention
was particularly attracted to a table, upon which were
q rhIlited Sc ve raj sDecimen rs of most exquisite WOrkman-I
ship, with the word LoNDoY stamped upon ihrm.-
How is this: SAID to the exhibitor: | thought this was
an exhibition of American, no, English manufactures.
Then came the shameful confession, shameful TO Ame-
rcan citizens, that although these articles were made
in our country, it was found absolutely necessary to
stamp them with a foreign brand, before they would
pass current among US,
These beautiful specimens of needle work too, the
handiwork OF our far country. women! | was hurt to.
day at hearing some rude passer-by observe, that they
were evidences of time i'll spent, and thai, superior arti-
cles could be purchased from public manufactures for
n mere trihe. But, surely, this is not the way 10 es,,-
mate these IN teresting productions. They are not Tor
saie-they are for the most part, presents 10 some loved
one. Here is Z counterpane, the work ot her own
hands, the gift Of n mother 10 her daughter, and tokens
of the deepest, the hottest affection are Interwoveu with
every fibre OF the fabric. 1t is prizsd, let me- tell you,
and Justly too, beyond the dyes ofTyfe, or the RICHEST
productions If Eastern looms. | conid not help being
forcibly struck with the delicate sentiments and most
Appropriate manner in which that distinguished and
accomplished gentleman, Mr.. Henry Clay, lately re-
ceived some such gift at the hands of one of his coun
Try. women; and could well understand, that the asso-
cialions connected with such u token OF esteem, ar
calculated 10 bring repose 10 the pillow OF the wearled
and harrassed aspirant for public favor
A very old writer has very Justly observed, that there
are two WAYS Of e%nrching a country, one by conquest,
which increases its products by adding to It's territory;
and the other, by Improvements in the art OF Agricui-
ture. BY which tne products of The same territory are
.l,nhI.d flo IL. IRhn supcepds in accommodating I
either. is a fIERo.' Ii General returns from a sue
cessiul campaign, has brow IS bound with g%arlands,
and the warmest oifer rim s ofthe human heart are laid al
his feet. We are now about 20 s;ngIe ot the indlvi-
dual, who, having Dustin guished hrmself as the most
successful agficullurallst, is, in the opinion of cur old
author, entitled 10 equal honos. Have you no CIVIC
wreath for him? Or, is human nature 80 constituted,
that il is only the reeking sword of the conqueror and
the mournful cry Of the widow and orphan, as 1t rises
from their dssolate hearth, that can attract our ADM.
ration and elicit our applause? Let US hope, that the
day is not far distant, when a higher state of civilization
will teach US 10 estimate more properly the peaceful
arts of Agriculture, and when, 10 be called the first
farmer in The Stale, will be the highest NEED Of public
APPRECIATION.
And now, gentlemen, in conclusion, permit me to
descend from Agriculture in the general, 10 the Agri
cultural Society of Henrico, in particular. They are
very intimately connected, and the success Of the one
has a powerful bearing upon the prosperity oi The other
This Society was organized and has been chiefly sup
ported by a few philosophical gentlemen in the neigh
borhood. Its beneficial effects are felt and seen by all
of you. To form a proper appreciation OF them,
you have only 10 ride in any direction about the
suburbs Of the city. Rude grounds have been con-
verted into productive gardens, and barren wastes
into smiling fields. | recolect a lndy's saying 10
me last Summer, that she meant 10 make Der hns-
band become q member of tins Society, because
i, had done SO much TO brautIfy the rides and walks
about the city. She declared, tie time had been
when it gave her a fit Of the horrors, (she was
n nervous LADY, TO order her carriage for an evening
drive; but that now, there was nothing she and her
children enioycd so much. But this is not all. Let
him who h1s been familiar with your market for the last
eight or ten years, compare lis present abundant sup
plies of the finest fruits and vegetables, with the meagFe
exhibition of former days; and, after all, let us be as
sentimental as we will, a good market plays q very IN
ror,ant part in The comedy of human happiness. Oar
and mechanics too should remember, that
thes exhibitions are annually becoming more and more
attractive, and that they are By no means ineihc'ent IN
increasing the trade of the city. But, over and ab9"e
all considerations of dollars and cents, lei us, one and
all, come forward and enrol our names as members o
this Association, which represents the great Agricultural
int crest Of the State, and which should be the pride and
Of its metropolis.
ALBERT RHETT, Il distinguished memeer oil ihe
Cha rlaston Bar died in that civ on Sunday evening,