Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-05-10

eemng earth holds IN its capacious bosom are every
day becoming better known TO us through the
geological surveys which have been so periodically
undertaken by several Of the States, and by the
general spirit Of inquiry and investigation which is
prevalent among our scientific men. The salt, the
coal the iron, the lead and the copper alone form
an element OF our greatness, the Importance and
extent OF which cannot at present be appreciated,
and the due development Of these FIVE articles would
furnish employment for a hundred fold the labor
and capital al present employed upon them. We
need not import dollars worth Of any Of these
articles in their crude or state ncipient form
ofmanuiacure, and yet the annual statement from the
Treasury Department shows that from 1899 to ls43,
inclusive, we imported an annual amount of more
than $2,7OO,000 in copper, (partly in sheets for
sheathng,) coal, and salt. Our importation of pig,
bar, and scrap iron, during these FIVE years, has
been to an amount of more than So, 500 900 ann,l-
ally and of iron, steel, and copper manufactured
goods we have imported more than $4,000 900
worth annually. Cannot the necessity for. our con
tinuing TO. do be remedied, or at least greatly
diminished, by a reasonable attention to the develop
ment of our own resourcesi Again, we are told in
the last number OF Sillnan's scientific Journal that
there are Zine mines in New Jersey and Tin ore
in New Hampshire lei hope the time is APP
preaching when we shall cease to send 100000
annually 10 foreign countries to purchase the former,
and more than 81 100000 annually for our supply
of the latter. Many other articles in this class
might be pointed ont, each deserving the attention
of every friend To his couutrys best interests, each
adding To her wealth and independence, and each
promoting the prosperity and well-being of her
citizens.
Again, look at the roads to construct, the canals
to excavate the bridges to build, the morasses to
drain, the rivers clear of distractions, the harbors
to improve, and the delences and projections to
erect; all so necessary 10 aid the country in its
social and commercial intercourse, and to assist its
onward march. What the General or the State
Governments will not or cannot execute of these,
individuals either separately or combined should
dedicate their exertions TO accomplish.
But let us rise to still higher objects than these Il
o objects OF moral, social, and philanthropic
description. Is the country sufficiently stocked
with hospitals for the destitute and needy sick, with
lsyums for the pauper insane, with schools for the
children Of the poor, with jais for the safe custody
IF those who break the laws, and with penentiaries
br those whom justice, whilst il Furnishes, seeks
% amend and reform! Here are objects enough
worthy the attention of every patriotic legislator
every benevolent individual, and we should not halt
in our course nor abate in zeal until they are all
fully accomplished.
Once more, are literature, science, and art
paronised as they ought to be among usl Are the
rich products Of mind fostered. and encouraged Fl
Whilst we protecting domestic industry are we
protecting and encouraging domestic intellect? Wet
are busily employed developing the stores of our
forests, our mines. and quarries are we doing
all we can TO develop our rich stores of native
thought feeling, and genius? We facilitate inter-
course between our cities and States by railroads
and canals, and communicate intelligence with the
lightnings speed facilitating the extension
and the Transmission Of knowledge by the establish
mo tofli ar,1 IL
not think il presumptuous to answer all these ques-
TONS at least TO a considerable extent in the affirm
ative but we feel that much is necessary to be
done TO satisfy the just demands which science and
literature have upon us as a nation.
Without calling upon the honered dead TO bear
witness for rs, we can adduce the living testimony
Of host of eminent men, in proof of what we have
done, and capable Of doing, in the various walks
of literature, ART and science.
We have done much ndipidually, nothing, or
next to nothing, asa nation. The Exploring Ex-
petition was, it is true, splendid exception, and
the erection of the Observatory in this city was
credtable commencement. But the Government
has done nothing for our National Institute srug
Cling as IL Is for existence, and has neglected even
10 give proper direction and employment to the |
Smithsonian fund.
We are aware of course, that The power Of the
General Government, in respect To the encourage
nent OF Literature and the Arts and Sciences, Is
United except within the District Of Columbia. 10
ueh objects necessarily and properly included
IN the powers expressly conferred upon 1t by the |
Constitution the powers not thus conferred remain
ing with the State Governments, whose powers are
generally comprehensive enough TO embrace all
these objects The views expressed in the pre-
ecding paragraphs, however, are not intended for
those alone who WELD the Legislative and Execu-
tive Government. They designed for all
classes Of our readers not only for those who are
clothed with power under the General Government,
or even under the State Governments-but for the
whole body Of the People, upon whose intelligent
action il depends whether Government itself be a
blessing or curse TO those who are subject to its
authority.
Our object, in word, is to extend the area Of
freedom by the extension OF those things which give
value TO freedom, and by which alone il can be
tanned by knowledge, truth, and justice by com
merce, agriculture. and manufactures +; BY industry
frugality, and peace by the cultivation Of the head
and the heart.
Let us aim at filling mp our present area" with
furnishing cities and towns, with pleasant villages
and productive farms let our desire be TO people
that area with men freed from ignorance and
vice, free in the possession Of knowledge and nieg-
rity, and strong IN the strength which those attributes
alone can bestowi
TnE ZISc Mrxys New JEHsEr.--The last number Of
Smans Journal contains among other papers o general in.
teresf original article by Mr. r. AIarR, Of Boston, on
the Zinc Mines Of Franklin, Sussex county, New Jersey BY