Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-02-09
VOL. X.NO. "a.


trade, inns and shops must be opened all
along the route, so that il would not be
strange, if nearly the same amount of ami
NAL power should be still required by the
business OF the country while at the same
time, more distant markets are opened for
our produce ..,.f.q ~
1t is objected, also, that Rail Roads tend
10 concentrate the business of the country
in few hands; to give a monopoly TO the
capitalist; and that they are, therefore anti
republican. e.ot ..6 - ~
II is curious fact, that every body is
toling TO accumulate capital, and yet jeal-
Gus of the capitalist; every body commend
ing the industry and frugality that lead TO
wealth, and yet, denounciDg the possessor
of wealth. every body aiming at it as u
great earthly good, and yet, dreading the
influence of il upon society. There must
be some delusion in this matter some. prev
alent misapprebenson Of the agency Of cap
ital a misapprehension it is sad to see, fos-
tered always by the envy and bad passions
of our fallen nature, and not seldom, by the
selfish arts of designing men.
Without capital, the accumulated fruits
Of past industry, what could future industry
effect Want of capital is, at this moment
one the obstacles to the progress of agri-
culture itself, as well as of all our other pnr-
suits Business is often conducted to dis
advantage for want Of means; men may be
too poor to be economical Without the
use of capital, we tend backward towards
barbarsm The difference of successive
ages is not chiefly in numbers, or physical
strength, or native intellect it is even more
in MEANS, in resources multiplied by pre-
ceding industry and ingenuity, and handed
down from one generation 10 another. The
same skies are ever above US; the same
agencies Of nature minister 10 us. But
how widely different the condition and pros
poets of ages distinguished by the extremes
Of poverty and wealth Under stable gov
ernment, rendered safe by the administra-
ton of law, labors for US as truly as human
minds or human hands What else erects.
the noble structures Of useful art, which pro-
tect us in war, and accommodate us in peacei
What else clears the channels of the rivers,
walls out the fury Of the seas, maintains our
armies aud navies, and supports the govern
ment and the schools. What pays all this
untold expense, What feeds and clothes the
industry, busy every where, and every
where cheerful, in the thousand offices
which execute the vast enterprises of
individual and national wisdom and
economy Il is poll tar? Has
Stephen Grard or William Bartlett no
more TO do with it all, than the man who
copies his invoices or drives his dray? There
is a benehcence, which consists in giving
aim. IA sublime, divine charity But
there is also, benefcence of acquisition
as well as of communication. 1t may be
more blessed 10 gives but il is blessed to re-
ceive. He may be doing good who is gath
ering together, no less than he who is scat
tering abroad. Peevish discomfort, OF wick
ed ambition, would provoke unkind feeling
toward the successful in every line of life,
who, by pains and perseverance, have reach
ed the envied eminence ofwealth. But let
us repress tins sprit it becomes us not;
it is as unpatriotic as it is unchristian. -
Wealth is talent, great power inherited
or acquired, il is bestowed for good and no,
BILE endsi aud, by whomsoever possessed, is
accompanied with great aDxietes and ie-
sponslbilities lie will indulge least in de-
claiming upon its vanity or its immortality,
who best understands its uses and its power.
It may be abused, as what gift may not ? One
is obliged, sometimes, TO blush and hang
his head at the sight of reasoning and spir-
itual beings paying devotion to golden
image.
Mrs CHILp, in giving an account of an
interview with Miss Dix, the heroic woman