The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-07-28

conditions OF every system Of human govern
ment or 10 prove TO the reasonable satisfac-
ton oil al! whose interests the chrnge m reat
ems 10 affect, that twill augment TO a sill
higher degree the general prosperity we
now enjoy.
That we are in fat blessed wi b an extra.
ordinary degree ofsuch prosperity, whatev-
er partial evils may here and there exist. I
suppose no intelligent man will dispute. 1t
Is true, no doubt that the acquisition OF
wealth Is more dilficHlt than formerly; that
requires greater :rugaliiy, and longer con-
unued and more Iaborious industry but this
very ,eg Tact Is Itself an evidence ola greater
dlHuslon and more equal distribution OF
me elements OF thrift. Labor, economy, and
skill, are still sure Of their reward: hui there
are two reasons why large accumulation il
40 longer so easy or so frequent The one
is that the growth ofour population, which
Is more rapid than the increase of our CANT
tai, brings into the field new competitors in
the pursuit OF wealth; the other is the great
Improvement in the habits and condition of
the productive and manufacturing aborer.
by which he TOO participates in the enjoy
ment OF the wealth he creates. Under the
operation oil The protective system, and The
comparative stability il insures TO all indus
trial pursuits, the certainty Of constant en-
Ployment and panctual payment has made
the lahore: more regular in his habits of in.
dustry; occupations more varied in charac-
ter, requiring the exercire OF higher and
more active faculties than the old loutine OF
rural labor, and constantly borrowing from
the progress Of knowledge improvements in
both processes and results, have rendered
him more observing, thoughtful, and iuieI-
gent, and temperance has bestowed uron
him irugality and thrift. He is, therefore, in
less degree the InstrumeI It OF his employ
err, less frequently plundered and stripped
by those who prey upon the vices or tho
weaknesses OF their fellows, and a larger
proportion Of the riches drawn from the bos-
ON oil the earth, or gathered by the tolls Oh
the anvil and The loom, remains with him,
the sweat of whose brow has earned them.
Thus, with few instances Of the sudden ac-
emulation Ct wealth Of wealth, or even OF
such competence as relieves iis possessor
from the necessity OF labor We undenabIy
ENJOY more general and equal prosperity
than this or any other country has ever be-
fore known.
There is an error, once very general with
US Of the North, and now quito prevalent at
the South and West II isthat Of prelerIing
traffic TO industry, commerce 10 manufac-
lures, exchange 10 production. The error
originated, | admit, with Us, hut VIC
have renowned it; while the South and
West, in ridicuing and reasoning us out o:
II, have themselves contracted il, and we
have exhibited the rare spectacle OF opposite
parties converting each other. The Cow
neclicut peddler has become cutler and
weaver. The little Yankee soop that used
10 double the great capes now carries bro
gans and negro cloths TO Charleston and Sa-
vannah, and brings back cotton bales for the
looms Of Lowell. The southern planter, on
the other hand, has turned iobbcr in Texas
scrip and bonds Of States of doubtful solvcn-
cy, or specuates as cotton broker, and il
enriched to-day and impoverished to NOR
row, by rise or fall Of a farthing oil the
pound Of Sea Islands in The market Of Liv-
rerpool.
There can be no greater GIllacy than to
suppose that the proper vocation OF man is tp
buy, sell, and get gain, or that trade, the
mere exchange Of commodities for each 9th
er or for the precious metals, can perman-
emily enrich a nation. A peculiar crisis in
affairs. which shall secure 10 a particular
people an extensive carrying trade, may
confer profit for a while. but this is leo un-
certain and contingent 10 be long relied on "a
a source ofnaiional wealth. The great bust.
ness Of man. considered as an industrial ami
NAL is pre- .clloG-noi ind eed creation, bit
The artificial conversion of tie crude male
rails which the elements supply, into forms
suited TO tie nourshmenf, The clothing, or
other uses OF civilized man. The true basis
fall wealth, public or private, is not accu-
mutation, by draining a hundred purses 10
swell single one, but actual addition to the
general stock Of urelul things, by drawing
new supplies from The inexhausiible rtore-
house and repository Of our common mother
nature.
Another popular error, and perhaps INC
greatest OF all connected with this subject is
the supposiIon that protective duties IRE
needed only Tor the security. and AISLE only
for the advantage, Of the II 'uiacruIor
The number ef persons direstly engaged in
the various processes Of industrial CONVEX
sion is moi very large, and though the amount
Of capital invested in manufactures is great,
yet as capital is entitled TO negative pr0tcc-
lion only, aud is not a legitimate object of the
fostering care OF the General Government,
the manufacturers are eu.iilrd to special Ia
VOr, neither for their numbers nor for the
amount oftheir investments. But protection
IS asked for manufactures, not fer the sake of
hose alone Who are immediately employed
in their fabrication, but because protection TO
The manufactured ware is also protection 10
all who contribute, however remotely, TO its
protection. The blacksmith who forges
horseshoe, does not monOpolize the whole
profit upon the sale of The article. Is is
shared also BY the charcoal burner Who sup
plies his FIRE. the carrier who has transported
the iron, the iroumaster who smelred and the
miner W no excavaied the ore, and the f. rmer
" no has furnished all these with provisions
The continuance of system. which shall Sc
cure 10 those engaged in the conversion Of
The raw material a reasonable protection
against foreign competition, is demanded,
hen, not for their benefit alone. but for tho
interest of The vastly greater number who are
the production Of that raw ma
eriaI, and Of the food which the mechanical
artisan consumes. The manufacturer must
have promise Of fair compensation Cor the
abor he bestows on the raw material, or no
ian have no inducemeDt to buy. and the pro-
fucer no opportunity TO sell. i select. for the
Illustration ofthese positions, the instance OF
l.