Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-10-07

/ Thoroughly versed IN them, ana with the
general reasons and principles upon which
Il those results depend, so that they can apply
them as occasion may require. The mari
lner who fromehis meridian observations fix
\ es the precise spot on the earth's surface
where his vessel floats, does not, and ordin-
arily cannot, know or understand the pro-
rcesses by which Newton developed the prin-
Icipes and rules which enable him to deter
/ mine in a few minutes his latitude and lon
gitude. So with the Farmer. He may
well comprehend and apply the results of
scientific investigation, without being able
to follow the various steps through which it
has been conducted and those results become
as completely his own as il he himself had
developed them.
/ These remarks are made in the hope Of
convincing those who cultivate the earth,
that he.quantty of reading and study nee
essary to enable them to pursue their pro-
/ tsssion with the the greatest possible advan-
tagc to themselves and their farms, is not so
great as to preclude them from acquiring
the fruits OF the most thorough and exact
investigations, and particularly the leading
principles of the science of improving soils.
Their experiments, instead of being isola
ted facts, will become speaking Illustrations
of the laws of Nature, and each one viii af-
ford new cause TO admire the wonderful
economies of Providence, and TO praise aud
adore the goodness of their great Author.
/ | now propose To discuss the question,
which is more important than all others to
the Farmer of our cOuntrY,-Where Is he 10
look for the best market for his produce p
BY the best, do not mean that which may
occasionally or temporarily give him eXtrav-
agant prices, but that which promises a stea-
dy and fair remuneration, which shall be as
certain as anything founded on human cal
culations can be. And as this is question,
which under our blessed institutions, the
Farmers have the means of controlling and
determining, it is of vital Importance to
them that it should be thoroughly examined
and well understood, and if my efforts to
present plain and practical considerations to
your understandings, should have no other
effect than to excite your own enquiries and
reflections, my labor will not have been in
vain. Here is no place for the display of
fancy, whether in the form of dazzling inn
agery, or in the form of more dazzling the
ory. We have to deal with facts as we find
them; we have to look to our country, its
resources and its wants; and we have to en-
quire not what is the best probable market
for England or France, or any other coun-
try, but for these United States of America
as whole, and particularly for that por-
ton of these States with which we are best
acquainted.
GU need not be told that on this subject
there are two extreme opinions among our
people. One OF these maintains that we
should look abroad for purchasers of our
agricultural products, and receive in eX-
change for them the fabrics Of foreign labor.
/ his opinion Is most prevalent IN certain
portions of the Southern States, where cot
ton, tobacco and rice are the staples. The
causes gifts prevalence there, are first, that
the kind of intelligent labor necessary-ah-
solutely indispensable to the establishment
and prosecution of manufactures of any kind
has not been found there, and for genera
tons to come, probably will not be found
there.
Upon principle which actnates all hn-
man beings more or less, the inhabitants of
those regions, regard with little or no favor
that IN which circumstances prevent them
from participating AS they cannot make
their own clothing, nor tau their own leath-
or, nor construct the most essential metallic
articles, they are compelled 10 look beyond
their own regions for these ncccssarieS.-
Instead OF looking to other portions OF their
own country, they prefer to receive them
from those foreign countries which consume
their staples, in the belief that those coun-
tries will thus be better able and more will
ling to purchase from them. Upon their
theory, the price they pay FOR imported man
utactureS Is of littlc consequence M the long
run, because they suppose it Is returned to
them by the increased ability to purchase,
and corresponding advance in the price of
their own products. They consider this
course Of reasoning applicable only IN
very snall degree to the other States of the
Union, because, as they alege, the popula
ton and wealth OF these States are not suii-
Gent to absorb their staples, which are 50
abundant as to require a foreign market
Nor are they deferred from pursuing this
policy by any apprehensions OF competition.
And this is the second cause for the prcva-
Ience Of the opinion referred to in the re-
gons mentioned They almost monopol-
ize the production of their peculiar Staple-,
cotton, rice and tobacco. These meet with
no competition on the continent of Europe,
and they cannot be imported there from DIS
tant quarters Of the world, without ccrtaE
loss. Hence, under ordinary circumstances
the growers of these articles calculate thai
they must command a market there and
good prices. They are thus doubly =iimu-
lated TO look to the foreign trade Of the L.
States, for their prosperity. They suppose
they have little or no interest 10 internal
Commerce, because it does not lead them, n
they think, 10 adequate markets; aud the
Improvement of the means of internal COM
Imunication, for the same reason does not
rank high in their regards.
/ have taken some pans to state the eH-
trcne Southern views on this question, with
perfect fairness, as ] understand them, from
the writings and speeches OF their VroHin-
ent advocates: and have done SO, Tor two
reasons, fist. because do not believe they
are generally and correctly understood 81
The Norlh, aud second, because - j. essen
tial to the inquiry we are conducting, ihat