True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1845-09-10
THE TRUE SOURCE OF WEALTH.

THE TRUE SOURCE OF WEALTH.
We were so forcibly struck on reading
the subjoined article, with the truth of the
remark, made by way of caption, "the
aoeaLM Of a country depends upon its far
merS and mechanics" that we cannot de-
NY ourselves the qualification of quoting
it entire. Ii is subject of deep regret that
so few of our newspapers ever even alIude
at all to these subjects-much less make
them the leading features of their journals
What is wealth? These things which
are necessary and convenient to use, and
which administer to our wants and COM
folts. Money alone, cannot, therefore, be
considered as wealth, because if the arti-
cIeS or things above mentioned are not to
be had, or are not in existence, a man
would be poor indeed, though he was loa-
ded with gold and silver. If he were hun
cry, and there was not to be bou ght, his
gold would be oflittle service.
1t istrue, mankind, by common con-
sent. have agreed that gold and silver
should be the signs or evidence of proper
ty; or, in other words, the measure of pro-
perty; and he who has certain amount
of it, has evidence Of so much wealth. He
can exchange it for the very things or arti-
Giles which do i'll fact constitute wealth.
Thus, a man who has hundred dollars
in his pocket, has a ticket, as it were, TO
entitle him to enter into the possession of
hundred bushels of corn, or hundred
yards of cloth, or hundred acres of wild
land, or yoke Of oxen, or horse and wa
gon, as the case may be. But if these
things do not exist, and he needs them, his
ticket is of no more use than if he had
ticket TO go into a theatre, and it should
have been burned down before he used
it.
The elements, therefore, of wealth con-
SiSt in natural productions brought iogeth.
er, changed and modified by the hand of
man, ofthe farmer and mechanic. Com
merce, though necessary and honorable, is
nothing more than the mouiRg or chang.
ing of these productions from place 10
place.
II has always appeared singular TO US,
that merchants should consider them
selves as too many, far too many of them
do, above the farmers and mechanics, mere
ly on account of their profession, when
they are, indeed, only the teanSterS TO the
other. They are the agents to transport
their productions hither and thither, as
calls may exist for them.
But to return to the subject. If we are
right in the position we have taken, that
wealth consists in natural productions
changed and wrought upon by the labor of
man, it follows that the country which
possesses the most of the elements or mate.
rails TO work upon, such as good soil
abundance of water power forests of tim !
ber-quarries of different kinds of stones,
mines, aud beds of different kinds of mate. !
rails, &C., &C., must have the most natu-
raj wealth.
II then only requires the hand Of indus
Try and skill TO put these material into |
shape, and to put them together TO form !
real substantial wealth. This is the duty
Of the farmer and the mechanic.
The more industrious and skilful this
class is, the more wealth will be accumu-
ated in the country. Do farmers and me-
chanics consider these things rightly? Are
hey not too apt to think themselves mere
1lodders and servants in the production
md increase of wealth? And, indeed, is
here not a false standard of responsibility
90 much in use in society, and are not the
productive classes apt TO measure them
elves by itl This standard appears to
'e idlenesS and a fine coat; and, conse-
.uently, the more idle man can be, and
he finer the dress, the more of a gentle
nan. Not so. Respectability should con-
ist in an improved mind, and skiful and
ldustrious hands. Moral qualifications
eing equal, he should have the most hon.
7, who, by the combination Of the efforts
{ his mind and physical powers, has con-
-ibuted more largely TO the increase Of
hose things which constitute wealth.
Such one has done more for the amel-
,ration Of society, than a thousand unpro-
uctive ddHdies, who Toll in the shade
nd wash in cologne. And society should
sstow upon such corresponding need
'honor.-U q. s. Journal.
The Chiokdsdo SpeculafiOn-Th dem
ratio presses IN Mr.. Thompson's neigh
'rhood assure the public that he will in
ne time, fully expose the "enormiliesp Of