The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-08
From the Plough, 'le Loom, and the Anvil"
Vermont ana Maryland II u d amdr,
n m n "A n q IL

!
~ Compared
In the preceding number we expressed the appre-
henson that we might not have time for this com,
parison; nor can W. make il now except In some
strong points Of view, which, we are aware must
leave Ii very incomplete. Enough however, may be
suggested TO set the reader TO thinking; and that let
us tell him, is half the battle gained In contest be-
tween error and truth. In iuct the great difficulty
according 10 our observation, in the way Of meoru-
ting the condition and character OF the American
farmer, is 10 get him 10 think! II you could would
ynn sec him, Tor example, go even three times, instead
Of three thousand times, through his own gate, that
either strikes the ground and drags before II reaches
halfway to the post or else falls with such force
against 1t that you may hear the dreadful conclusion
mile oil! Would you see him losing fifty dollars
worth Of time In year In pulling down ahdputting
up bars, to say nothing of occasional destruction OF
his crop when they are not PIT aP? Would you see
him STOPPING TO hopuminel of his saddle Tor seven
years 10 avoid the limb OF Il tree, In his daily ride
that one stroke OF Ratchet would remove? No. uou
cannot get them 10 think! But enough Of that The
two States that we are going TO compare, in some
points OF view, differ somewhat In size, but not SO
much as In some other things. Maryland having
II 600 square miles, or 100000 acres While Yer.
mont has but 5000, according to Darby or $4,000
acres. Now see the difference in their agricultural
pursuits and economy, and the results to which they
have conducted these Two old sisters OF the republic
In Vermont winter lasts, and cattle and sheep are
fed five months In the year, sheep ut cost per head
per annum, as we have often been told, ofwfat would
actually fetch from 81 to 81. 10; while In Maryland
they are rarely If ever fed, except when the snow
covers the ground, (Which does not average aweek
in year) when they have, scattered on The snoir,
some cori-blades, or perhaps sheaf oats. And with
all these disadvantages, the Vermonter has the sa
glciy TO go strong upon cattle and sheep, and wool
and hay, and potatoes milk, batetr cheese, g..
(he most precarious and expensive investment that
can be made in animal flesh or power J and in wheat
and corn rye, md tobacco, all Of which the earth
yields by bushels and pounds, instead Of tons and
ALL fa.
no return TO the land that produced them. Let us
follow the comparison more exactly on some points
indicative Of the sources rhat go 10 produce
Of population, and political power and appreciation
o any, '''' ''' HORSES Horses Cattle sheep. Wool 81,
M SsrTsn s Eli Eli 81 ~ s assoi
Potatoes. Hay. fpllng woollsn.
buahsls, tons. mills factorea
x x.1ysaa .i sssSis' ssass g s.
Now, what is the lesson in the political ECONOMY
Of the plough that this view of these States teaches
Does It not 60 to show that wise States when not
made subseryient to the colonial policy Of other
countries by the subservient policy Of their own will
keep the loom and the anvil near 10 the plough2
where nature If left Alone would place them as ma
nray she places the country mill near to the corn
house. And what, reader is the effect Of course Of
the farmer to consume on the lands the products Of
the and7 Why, the effect is just this; that "a here
we see Vermont wearing her garments of snow five
months In the year, in 1890 begins on basis popu.
laon Of only AIS and runs It up in fifty years to
29l 94s while Maryland, the favored of Providence,
starting at the same time with population of $40 l2e
has gone in the same period upto only 470,000--the
former doubling her man capital more than three
times over the latter not half doubling hers once
Now will agricultural societies look into questions
Ike these and compel their legislators to do the
duty instead of flying humbngs TO amnse or settling
cap-traps to catch ignorant yotersl Will the people
choose wel-informed intelligent, thrifty and indus.
trous farmers of COED, plain, sound sense TO make
their aws2
Would 1t not be well that Maryland, and eyery
other State, should have occasionally full surveys
and returns made up of all her agricultural and other
statistics, and shape h,ir legislation accorind !y
What Is the use of The free government of which
boast so much, II the faculties which God Almighty
has given ars not exercised for the imp ovement
our natural resources, our industrial employments
and our political and social condition. In Mary
land and Virginia II has been sort of monomauiu
! to decry and denounce combinations of men and
capital to establish manufactures. The senseless
cry Of monopoly has been raised against them, as i
those who othaying individually the means) woult
combine to erect them were mad dogs II would ht
better wiser policy to go into the other extreme ant
enconra &c lsuch combinations by exempting thu
property from taxation. In Vermont their manu-
| factories have given rise to ten towns within hol
5000 square miles, with populations ranging from
1900 u 10000 In Maryland there are but four scl
in the compass of II 900 square miles. In Vernon
| the farmer sells potatoes and mutton, in Marylant
| wheat and obacco wheat averaging throughout III,
| State not more than seven or eight bushels lie
| us hope that we may grow wiser us this Is said t
be the age of progress.
Virginia and South Carolina might be embraced In hi
comparison and the parallel would run on all. iours with
| ont much hating ri;#s