The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-08-04

ded and promoted the Iabors of tho rn;ner,I-
ogist and the geologist; the furnace Of Tho
glass-blower has furnished the optician with
the means Of experimenting on the refractivs
and dlspersiVe powers Of the glass from which
are fabricated the lenses of bis nicroscopes
and telescopes the matchmaker has CON
strueted the timepece by which the navigator
determines the position OF his ship Of un-
known shoals, and of newly discovered shores:
and the mathematical instrument maker has
invented contriyanees, by whose aid the as
tronomer may observe and measure the
movements of the heavenly bodies, and cal
cuafe their revolutions to the fraction Of a
second in spite of the intrcaey Of their per-
turbations.
/ There Is another characteristic OF these
arts, which even now when we are indulC-
ing IN wild fancies of national aggrandizo-
meHt and conquest and martial renown. NAV
well recommend them 10 the favor ola sober
American statesman. They are emphaii-
callYarts ofpeace. They draw their nourish-
ment from peace, and in turn they promote
peace. Peace is necessary to the manufac-
turer, that he may safely draw from distant
countries the raw materials which he requires
tor the fabrication OF his wares; peace. tina,
the products of his loom his forge, or his
lathe may ind their way to the foreign con
sumer; peace, that the markets, in which he
buys and sells may not be affected hy The
fluctuations Of an unstable currency. Peace
is necessary to the mariner, that he NAV
freely profit by the conveyance Of both The
material and the elaborated product. Peace
| is necessary 10 The agrculturalist. who sun
pliesto the manufacturer his cotton, his
wool, or his bread stuffs and who. in the fail
ure OF the mechanical artisan. would lose
his best customer
The present ackuow lodged peaceful Ten
dency OF the manufacturing system is new
feature OF the mechanic arts. 1t was once
the function Of war to develope the internal
resources of belligerent countries. to give n
spring TO every branch Of indus,ry.to call out
the highest exercise Of mechanical insenuty
The armorer, the cutler, and The bower,
were the most important Of artisans All the
known resources Of mechanics were exhaust,
ed in engines Of attack and t>ience, and the
principal early improvements in the casting
and temper8g of metals, in ship building. ln
mining, in the construction OF roads and ca
nails, in pyrotechuical chemistry, and 10 con-
PlIcated and powerful ue chanical contrivan-
css, were devised for military purposes.
But since the era Of the practical application
oil science 10 the arts, war is become the rerv
pupil OF peace. The manufacturing chemist
has taught the soldier how to refine and
mingle the ingredients of gunpowder; the
studisus natural philosopher has discovered
the laws which regulate The fig h of military
( prolectIlcs; the maker OF Iazors and pcn
knives has given to the common sword blade
the rare temper of Damascus and Toledo.
the builder of steam engines has invented
improved modes Of casting and boring beayv
ordnance, and, by the application Of steam
rs propel.ing power, Independent Of wind
and current, has given efficiency to ua-
val warfare.
| Ii IS IN these pursuits, SO peaceful in them
selves, that the wisest modern nations havo
found the sinevs Of war. They have changed
the balance of power, by the creation Of
new elements Of financial as well as OK physi-
cal strength. Where is now the mower Of
commercial Spain, that in the sixteenth cen
fury made the world iremb}e! Where Is
that of trading Holland, which after having
| extorted from Spain the ACKNOWLEDGE m, nj Of
her Independence. set England at defiance
| in the seventeenth Where that Of asrirul
tural Poland, which in the days of John So
bieski was the only barrier OF Christendom
| against the cOnquests ofIhe Ottoman pouerI
Ii was from her manufacturing industry thar
England drew the resources which enabled
her, single handed, 10 cope with almost tho
whole civilized world, and finally TO over
throw the colossal power Of Napoleon. Her
mines, her collieTies, her vast accumulation
OF mechanical power, are inexhausIibIc
fountains OF national strength. She has dis
covered the true interpretation of the max
| i'm, In peace prepare for war; she has
learned that the most formidable armies are
those which create, not those " hicb DESTROY:
and that the child who guides the power
| loom is mighlier than the knight in ar
NOR.
In modern warfare, when mon no LONGER
eight hand to hand, the 1ndteriaL of war has
become Of paramountimport The SOL
dier formerly equipped himself with armor.
and such munitions and supplies, as his
means, convenience, or taste allowed; but
the increase Of mechanical facilities has eDa-
bled the governments of Europe to turn
manufacturers Of the instruments DIVA and
to fit out armies with an expedition and an
efficiency which have ten-foId Increased
their power. Thus the iriumpls of war have
been purchased by the tolls of peace. and
Arkwaisht and Watt have paved the way for
Wellington and Nelson.
In the present condition of the pbysicaI
sciences and Of mechanical knowledge. IL
may BIO safely affirmed, that nothing but
those extensive industrial establishments.
which exist only as part of great manu.
featuring system, can enable nation to make
adequate preparation for war; and while for
eIgn commerce is interrupted by hostiIiries.
as 1t often must be, they are equally lndis
pensable for the supply Of those necessaries,
which handcrait and household labor have,
since the introduction of machinery, forgot.
ton how 10 prepare.
There are numerous considerations, pbys-
ical, moral. and political. specially applicable
10 our own country, which seem to recon-
memo, with irresistible force. the maintenance
Of the system ! am defending; hut to these
can but alude. Among them may men,
ton its CONFORMATION, soil, climate. and nat
usal productions. Its gently swelling ranges
OF mountains. Of moderate hsight. furnish
Unlimited water power. subject neither TO be
locked up by frosts nor exhausted BY drought,
and situated in regions easily accessible BY