Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-30

grain would have been avoided :" How can the
United States have this great amount Of breadsmffs
TO spare!" was question frequently asked; thew
could not know when they sowed their grain that
there would be bad harvest in Europe. and
therefore they could not cultivate more land to
provide for our deficiency; what motive could the
American farmers have for producing so much
more grain than usual, when they could have no
foreknowedge of market for it! "No, no."
the skepica English corn-dealer would saw I" it is
i all a farce" I've do not pretend TO know what
the produce of our own little island is thckly as
IL is populated and compact as is its surface how
then is 1t possible that in the United States, with
their thnly scattered population over their i'm
mense surface, and without that official governs
mental organization which is found in England,
an estimate any how approaching TO reliable ac-
curacy can be obtained ~ Ii was in vain to reason
with such men because they would not believe that
what had mol been done IN England could be done
any where else. The result, however, has proved
that the American statistics were right IN the
man, and well was it for furnishing Ireland that
they were so. Iii very unfortunate that just when
your agricultural statements should have work
ed their way into belief, by having proved that they
were worthy of it, either the parsimony or the ig-
norance OF your Legislature should have caused
their dscontinuance. Most truly does your Com
missioner OF Patents say, in his last years report
" The lime has gone by when legislation for great
communities is to be based upon theories or alb
sTact axioms in political philosophy. Facts
now are deemed the only solid foundation for
the superstructures of the modern statesman. And
without knowledge of the statistics of nation
which embrace every fact relating to its condition
and welfare, physical, moral, or political, it is
almost impossible to legslate wisely for its inter:
ests and no statistical knowledge is more impor-
tant than that which exhibits the resources of
nation, as indicated by the products of its labor"
The whole of the 9Th, 9th, 10th, It'll, and 18th
pages of the report ought to be carefully read and
weighed by every member of your Congress, and |
greatly err in my estimate of the good common
sense Of that body, if an appropriation be not made
for the continuance of these agricultural statistics
1t would be infinitely better if department was
organized to which, with other matters, the statistics
of the country of every kind should be referred.
The British Board of Trade would afford model
by which the statistical branch could be organized,
and have no doubt every facility would be given
to your Government in furnishing information re-
speeding such organization, should any be necessa-
ry. The present Vice President of that Board
Mr.. Thomas Miner Gibson, the talented represent
tatve OF Manchester, will doubt succeed, during
the next session of Parliament, in getting a bill
passed for the collecting and annual reporting agri-
cultural statistics. The opposition to such mea
sure has not arisen hitherto, in England, from any
apprehension OF the expense attending it, but from
a.selhsh fear the part of the great landed pro-
prietors that the information which would be thus
collected would strengthen the Ant-corn-aw party,
by showing that England unless in years when
more than average harvest is produced, must al
ways depend more or less upon other countries for
portion of its breadstuffs, and that therefore all
restrictions upon the free introduction of grain from
abroad are impoitic and unjust. This selfish and
narrow objection will, however, longer hold good
against the increased light of the age, and the spirit
of liberality which now really animates British
Legislation.
The general interests of mankind require the
free transmission of every principle of knowledge
and every addition of power which knowledge
gives, wherever man is found in a capacity for re-
ceving and properly employing il. The products
OF one portion of the earth which adapted aany
other part of It's surface ought be there transmit
ted, and their advantages widely diused as pos
sible Hence arises the great value of arrange
ment between the United States and England for
the transmission of agricultural and horticultural
seeds, &c. How many of the now most important
plants and fruits, of both the old world and the
new, were not indigenous there. How many ofthem
have become improved by their transfer, after being
accmated TO their new location What has been
DONE may again be done, and if out of hundred
benefits would arise 10 either country by the intro
ducIion of new fruit vegetable, a medicinal
plant, new dye or mordanL or, what is of infnite-
" more Importance, new article of iarinaceous
food Such an interchange of good is indeed an
office fit for Christian nations.
SEPTEMBER %.
The present arrangement in monetary matters
in England has very naturally caused much inquiry
as to its cause, and amidst the great variety of OPT
Mon it is almost impossible at present TO get cor
rect view of the subject. The two most prominent
sources of existing difficulties are, however, in the
opinion of the inqurers the Bank restriction ACT of
1914, and the absorption of capital in railways.
The abettors of the first opinion actively organ
izng themselves, and preparing for action; the fol-
lowing extract from the Daily News of the 9th
instant has relation to their movements:
'ASTr-GoLD Law LEAGUE.--Seyeral gentlemen who take
deep interest the currency question have formed
for the first time, next week. in the metropolis II will be
attended by gentlemen from all parts Of the county The
congress expected TO sit for several days. and will probably
commence its labors Thursday Several Of the gen
emcn who to be present and take part the proceed
ngs members Of respectable banking firms IN the pro-
vnce and others partners in mercantile houses Of high
standing There are, told, differences OF opinion
among them the precise footing which the currency
the country ought to be placed but all agreed in the
propety Of immediate and entire repeal Of the Bank Re-
srcon Act Of 1874. The great majority for recur
paper currency and the reissue OF Poundnoes