The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-19
AGRIcoLA- POLITICAL PRINCIPLES.
tn The Editor of the Union;


Dean SIR: Upon my arrival at Liverpool, in 1912,
Dickens's work, "Amercan Notes for General Cir
culaton," had Just been issued from the press. In
the large cofeeroom ofthc hotel at hich took odg-
ngs the first time entered il, found this book in
the hands Of several individuals, who were reading
in under tone to small groups and at the end OF
nearly every paragraph particularly after the tour
line, EXPLANATIONS weie uttered, such as 80, the
brues" 20, the savages!" 30, the merciless ty-
rants!" "A sweet model republic, indeed" "Wbat
better could be expected from knaves, whose leader,
Washington, of whom they boast so loudly, was
the most ungrateful rebel that mankind ever knew
Swindlers regulators! But they wound up
at last; they cannot borrow pound in all Europe.
Their government is about TO smash IL IL so de-
pendent upon imperial England, that II will now be
starved OUT Fla, ha, ha! Or, if it reeuperaes--l
say, Wilson, is that the word! ba, ha, ha-why,
abolition will soon shver II to as many atoms II
has outstanding treasury notes." These, and other
cpithets and remarks of similar character were
the sounds to greet me after my debarkaton, on a
gloomy November evening, from the packet-ship
England. There was harshness in them more
hateful 10 my than the terrific graings Of the
BILE vessel which had just Quilted when climbing
seas Olympus high" amid the fury Of the TEN.
rest.
II will be recoleced that, at the time to which
refer, an agent Was in Europe endeavoriog to nego-
tate the 900 600 loan authorized by Congress, and
any portion of il, however large or however small.
The securities OF the different States, amounting to
some 20O,000, 900, were, according to New York
quotations at the exchange, worth only 40 per cent
upon the aggregate par value, and OH this account
the credit of the general government was unjusty
Ieproached The crisis, assuredly, was frightful
one. One State had rcpudiatcd portion OF its debt
as unjust, and seven others had suspended. VT-
ginia shaking like reed in the wind; and Ohio,
1t was believed and asserted, would fail to provide
L,.,. he, frnt
aspect TO the honor and fair fame Of my country
was presented to me in foreign land determined
To remain no indifferent spectator. well knew, II
Virginia stopped payment, that other States wcuid
I've influenced by her example; and at once resolved
10 exert myself TO prevent such deplorable catas-
trople. There was no question MS to how could
make myself most useful. The press was the only
medium. Did ask myself what press No. That
of the Richmond Enquirer" unequivocay, be-
cause 1t stood dcservedy high in public esteem for
ITS dignity and uniform elevation of character. With
yourself unacquaned, but had a friend who
had known you long, Through that friend | trans
ned from Liverpool, for publication, the first num-
Der of AGRIcoLA. II appeared without unnecessary
delay, accompanied bv editorial in which, among
other things complimentary II was remarked The
advice which he [Agricola) addresses To his coun-
rym the subject Of their finances, and the pay
ment of their debts, Is appropriate as It It were
written in Richmond, and on this I'd day of Febru-
ary l8i3." From this letter extract the follow
ing passages:
"The settlement of the China question has not
been without its immediate benek, to the United
States. Cotton, although still at low rates, has ss-
tanned itself much better than it would have done
otherwise. There is, of course nothing doing this
week, and the prices merely nominal during the
holydays; but at o,o rates strong inducements are
held QUITE operators and aler myself that the art-
&c Is at the lowest point Of depression. The new
crop comes to market in unusually large bass-aver-
aging a weight of about ~ per cent. more than
former years. A large proportion Of that which has
arrived IS Of good quality The yield was so large
last year, if secured TO contribute greatly towards
relieving our embarrassmeDts. AT no period since
our existence nation, have we made so formi-
dabls movement towards permanent wealth aud in
dependence us within the last year. We have
gone to work IN good earnest and the smiles OF the
Almighty seem to have accompanied our exertons.
Was there ever such harvesti Why was it sos Be-
cause the earth iUeiiiltd There crop-failure
in the United States, as in England, when there is
proper industry. The shortness in our products is
generally occasoned by shortness Of labor. Let
none of our planters be discouraged, because his
ground yields too much. He is certain to find pur-
10 idleness. Let his highest ambition be to make
two ears Of corn groo ,rhere grec last year Low
prices create markets.
"Look at what industry is accomplishing. In
1886, vessel after vessel despatched to New
York, Baltimore, &c, heavily freghted with wheat
stances, as high MS two dollars and halfper bushe
and which was manufactured into -four, sent in
some instances to New Orleans, and there profta-
bly, sold .Noip, orders in the United States for
flour from Bremen, and several small lots have al
ready arrived in that city. This is the best of proof
that, when we turn our attention to agriculture
Germany cannot produce with US. England, from
her location, surrounded she IS by pater neper
hare any security for harvesting ohat she pro
ducss; for she is exposed to such ncessant rains
that she can make no reliance on gathering any
thing like the full yield Of her fields.
"But that memorable period, when the United
States imported ,pheai, should never be forgotten
What verifcation Of the adage, Whom the gods
destroy, they first make mad.' This the castle
building era. ldleness hegot It's legion of vices
Our sins We're weghty enough to have sunk any
people less rich in their resources than our
own. II not fashionable TO work, because
IT was not the ,cay 10 make fortune. Com
mon aborers could, III parts of the coun-
try, command s. per day for their services. The
hotels III the Atlantic States crowded with in
diyduals, each Of whom had "a plan in his pocket,
that was TO insure certain wealth to all who be-
came partners III it. Not cross-road, in some Of
the western States, that not to become Brming-
ham; nor the mouth ola stream navigable river
but what was 10 have the commerce of Liverpool
Railroads. and canals were considered Indispensable
TO the transportation of passengers and merchandise
before buildings were erected. Every section OF
land that was entered in any Of the new States, was
to return forthwith the purchase money ter-fold.
With this specializing, gambling mania, injecting
every portion of the community, how was it pos
uibe for US TO avoid the pccuniary calamity which
overlook u.s. We sinned almost beyond forgive
ness; Why should we not suffer But, thank Heaven,
we are beginning again to geright, and trust, with
our returning prosperity, we shall witness return
OF old-fashioned honesty. Our wealth is in our
fields and forests. Industry and enterprise will
bring il out We can soon pay all VIC owe, and en-
Joy in The mean time the necessaries Of life. Our
exports tits year from the soil cannot fall much
short of slO0,000,00O. England is clamorous about
the debt due her from the States 1t should be paid
AS persuaded it will be, at AN early period,
even TO the uttermost farthing Let every honor
able citizen urge this upon the STATES which have
shown any disposition TO repudiatc. Their indebted
ness should be regarded nothing, when they est-
mate their ability. irihing tax would at once
lquldatc all they owe.
Let my countrymen look at the pecuniary con-
don of Greni Britain. and contrast il with their