The New York herald., 1850-05-16

dread the future.
MOVEMENTS AMONG THE MANUFAcTURERs.-The
manufacturing mills, particularly those in which
cotton goods are produced, undergoing certain
| peculiar changes. AT Lowell and Lawrence,
Massachusetts, some curious signs are manifested;
| and though they attempt TO manufacture, in that
quarter opinions as well as Calico yet we get at a
good deal of truth occasionally. Ii is announced
that the stoppage of the mills, in some cases. has
been TO make changes in the machinery, and that
no stoppage has taken place on account OF de-
preston in business. This may have been the case
occasionally; but that the mills should have been
stopped from other causes, is reasonably 10 be be-
lieved The great corporations have been trying
experiments with labor, and have, for many
months back, been using double sets of hands,
making an immense amount of fabrics. To do
this at a cheap rate, they have employed raw
foreign laboTers, and have discharged many of the
industrious and thrifty girls and boys of the New
England farmers, who prone TO leave the dairy
and the plough for the room and the warehouse.
This has been found dear experiment. The
work has not been executed so well ar under the
old system, and, therefore, at a dearer rate. The
operation, consequently, is now going on of dis
charging the foreign work people, and for bring
ing back the farmers daughters and sons. The
proprieors forced TO do this, or to reduce the
wages of the new foreign recruits.
In Maryland, there is a similar movement in the
cotton mills. Since the first of May, the Union
mills have run only half time. In Maine and New
Hampshire in the towns of Saco and Dover, many
operatives have been discharged, the present prices
of cotton being assigned as the cause, the manu-
factures being represented as profitless.
The annual product Of all the cotton mills in the
country, is about 25O,OOO,OOO yards, and the con-
sumption of the raw material about Coz, 900 bales
one-sxth of this latter amount being consumed
south of Washington, and in the Western States.
The whole value of the manufactured product is
not much short of s6S 700 900. Now, this is great
interest, and undoubtedly possesses great power at
the South as well as North. Besides, the immense
rapidity with which cotton factories are establish
ed in the South-particularly in Georgia, South
Carolina, Alabama, and North Carolina--wll have
a great effect upon the future; and we have many
proofs that there will be vast change in the South
ern States the question of protection, and this,
too, at no very distant day Already there is a
feeling in Georgia, and her neighboring States, IA
vorable to some modification of the revenue laws
This will come out more positively and clearly, as
new cotton mills grow up in that region. The
owners will not seriously refuse more protection.
The small capitalists there, will coalesce with the
great leading manufacturers Of the North, and in
this way there will be worked out if the slavery
question can ever be settled, kind Of compromise
upon the tariff, by which protection will be given
TO the cotton mills, and to the iron works and mi
ners of Pennsylvania. Thus, natural causes--the
progress Of country in manufactures, for instance
will effect a result thai mere craftsmanship can
never accomplish. Were it not for this struggle,
in which the North and South are soon to be unit
ed for the protection Of manufactures, Pennsylva-
MIA might despair Of ever making railroad iron.
With protection, che may be able to pay the high
wages which raise tho ooos of American iron 10
double tina, Of the great company at which Sir J.
Guest i- the head, in England and Wales. But,
without some such adventurous facility, it could
not be done. The high wages in this country are
al efecual bar 10 competition with Great Britain,
where laborers' wages are not over two shlngs
a day Our people can always turn their labor TO
good account in the field Of agriculture, and will
no; abandon that valuable employment unless they
can get better wages in cotton mills and iron mines.
In view Of the probable result, therefore, Of the
immensely rapid manufacturing spirit, which is de-
vcloping itself nt the South, II is wise 10 consider
whether OF not this country is prepared to draw the
ton of the soil generally, by stimulating, through
tariff, prepared for the purpose, one branch of en-
terprise at the expense Of another. Ii is very
questionable policy. II may lead to very evil re-
suits Large and powerful az is the manufacturing
interest il by no means follows that il Ought TO be
aided by special legislation. power that can
create so much disaster-can throw so many per-
sons out of empoymcni-to effect settled purpose,
like that Of obtaining larger share Of protection
than ,her interests, is to be looked upon with no
little jealousy and suspicion. We must not be in
haste in changing policy that so far has worked
for the mere purpose Of aiding one
branch Of business TO the injury of another; nor
must We he SO credulous TO take all the reports
from cotton mills and millionaire corporations as
tests Of the inefioiency Of present iarlii. The
capitalists Of Massachusetts frequently supply Pc
oularly material for opinion, besides giving us
a great deal Of opinion already manufactured to
our hands
nFERREp hArTER.--We have on hand full
report of the American Vegetarian Convention,
held ycsterdey-the speech Of the Hon Henry
Clay. on the California and Territorial Govern
with q quantity of local and mis-