Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-09
COMMUNICATION.
MR.. MEREDITH's REPORT.

GAN history shows that where are the workshops Of the
world there must be the mars of the world and ne heat
of wealth. commerce. and power. II is as vain to hope TO
make these arts by providing warehouses; as would be to
: make crop by building barn.
The truth involved in this extract from Mr.. Me-
redth's report is neither new to political science
nor at variance with the facts which political expe-
rience has demonstrated. But if the merit of ORR
gnality cannot be claimed for the Secretary, as
CARDS the sentiment conveyed, no small degree OF
encomium must be awarded to him for the simplici-
ty, freshness and perspcuity of the language which
reveals it. It's cnuncation has met with response
every where, that indicates not only the soundness
of the public mind on the subject to which it is ap
piled, but foreshadows also the direction it will
take to free ITSELF well in theory in practice,
from the sophisms of free-trade advocates. Con-
scious of its force, the veteran of the Union has
directed towards its demolition the entire battery OF
words and figures at his command Finding the
direct path to the Secretary's embatements forti-
fed too impregnably to admit of approach, Mr..
Richie attempts to assa them by the sinuous
course of paralogisms, bald enough to astound the
logical thinker, yet made with an effrontery, to
quote his own language, sgrave enough to impress
the superficial reader with the idea that there was
L some profound and hidden philosophy in them"
According to the analogies Of Mr.. Ritchie's dag
nosis of the Secretary's political in6rmity, Mr.. Me-
|redith will scarcely escape the confinement OF
straitiacket, and the tenancy of "lunatc asylum"
We beg the reader to turn to the !" Union" of
January 10th. He win there find "leader," as
III is called in editorial parlance headed SoPHIsMs
L OF THE MoNoPoLIsTs-THE PROFOUND PHMoso-
Il PLY OF Mr.. MEREDITH EXAMINED" This cap
|tion is no less formidable than astounding II pre-
pares u.s. at once, expect the total annihiaon of
the poor Secretary; and, holding our sympahies in
liquid readiness, we make up our minds that if we
(. have tears to she'd" we ought I" to shed them
( n0sO.n We imagine ourselves introduced into the
|sanctum Of some modern oracle. The priest is
there-his white locks seemingly quivering in an
atmosphere of inspiration; and there stands the in
|viting tripod. The priest with the gravity and dig
Unity appropriate to the occasion, mounts it. His
|countenance is lit up with complacent smie--the
Glowing consciousness of selEimportance is there;
and the ensemble presents the startling persona.on
|of !" am Sir Oracle" The work Of ofinspiration is
begun. The seer writhes, as though graphing with
|some monstrous, though hidden power. In the
midst of awful muscular contortions, the tongue
lakes, the mouth expands, and out rushes the
|derful and opposite truth, that agriculture in every
country is the substratum and foundation of wealth.
It with the nations of ancient times and the
/ medieval ages, and it is so now, Notwithstanding
! the profound and oracular annunciation of the
! learned philosopher at the head of the Treasury
! Department
If Mr.. Richie is not gifted with strong logical
|acumen, he may claim at least the merit Of bold
mess in the reckessness which he displays in ex-
posing to his assailants the vulnerable portions of
Dhis argument. Perhaps he is too well acquainted
with the prejudices and fidelity of those Of his
READERS, who look up to him as the exponent of
their political faith to expect from them either the
scrutiny Of logical analysis the suspicious of de-
Emonstratve investigation. The labor of thought
lis no essential duty of the genuine Democrat of
{modern times. The measure Of faith is regulated
by the degree Of obedience; and, when the path of
obedience is illuminated by the bold broad glare of
buch an intellect as Mr.. Rtchie's. even faith may
Inot falter or go astray.
Mr.. Richie, finding that he cannot controyert the
plain palpable truth, SO lucidly conveyed in Mr.
Meredths report strives TO raise new issues, SO as
to divert the attention of Me reader from the main
line OF argument Assuming that the Secretary has
asserted the principle that workshops or manu-
factories contribute more than all other employ.
aefs or institutions Of industry or capital to the
acquisition Of wealth, the commerce and the power
of nation, he proceeds to its demolition with an
|earnestness and zeal which La Mancha's knight
never surpassed in any Of his wonderful exploits.
Having erected his man Of straw, he proceeds to
|pelt it most courageously, until, having demolished
it, for fear it would prove the better counterfeit"
he, Falstaf like, plunges his sword Of lath into its
PROSTATE form, and bears it off victoreusly; and
fully determined that, if he is not promoted to be
" either earl or duke the next Percy may be
killed by somebody else. Agriculture is made the
stalknghorse of his logic; and because agriculture,
branch Of political wealth, pours its tribute in
to the national Golfers, and add its quota to the
Of national greatness, therefore Mr.. Meredith is
guilty of advocating the monstrous doctrine that
" if the Government will take care of the work
shops, manufacturers, iron-masters, these will take
care of the farms, the farmers, the laborers, and
operatives !" The fallacy of the argument is not
less clear than the malice which gives obquity to
the conclusion which is deduced from it. The ef-
fort to array the interests of the farmer and the
nufacturer in antagonism is only the stale argument
furnished up anew, in order to revive in the minds
of the readers of the Union the recollections of
their political catechism. To Pennsylvania, who
has seen the agricultural interest of his State 60
hand in hand with the manufacturing interest, this
soPhistry, however boldly employed or plausibly
maintained, can have no weight. The dictum of
the theorst may prescribe sort of ritual for his
political faith but its provisions must be in conso-
nance with the emphatic teachings of his experience
to receive his unchallenged assent. IF it is other
wise, he rejects it at once the vapory emanation
OF the politician, who is more welded to his vaga-
ries than solictous for the interest of the farmers
the iaborers, and the operatives
1t may be assumed as fact that for eyery Ton
OF the better qualities of bar iron manufactured in
this country, at least twenty dollars Of its value con-
slst IN agricultural products directly consumed in
its production And if this can be predcated Of
bar iron, the ratio with regard to crude iron, not
manufactured into bar, will bear the same relative
proportion to the labor employed in its production
uaor ,v,,o .,yo Al.