Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-05

growing interest" Ii is interesting to observe how
such an argument once well put attracts attention,
and grows upon the public mind. First SO far as
know, at least in detail it appeared, as above
stated, from under the hand of Mr.. Simmons, in
1914, and made great impression; next, it was
reproduced by Mr.. Cotton in a645 and now it re-
appears in the report of the Secretary of the rea-
sry of the United States each production having
its own peculiar structure. AS the Secretary was
forced to besbrief he has done admirable justice to
it for the space allowed. 1t is put in nutshell
by him.
This is great project, and opens what the Sec
rotary calls in part of his report, In general
application, !" great career" If the time has not
already come, it cannot be very remote, when the
cotton planters will see their true interest in this
suggestion. Manufactures of cotton are springing
up and multiplying in the South; and the people Of
the South cannot fail to their own, as well as
the country's advantage, on an immense scale, IN
the progressive execution of such comprehensive
and vast conception. Time works wonders, and
short period often does it. 1t would be a curious
fact to see the whole South going, heart and hand
and purse, for such a project, to wit, the home
manufacture of their own great staple. And yet
they are as sure to do it the sun is to rise to-
morrow and that shortly. If capital were provided,
ten years more would exhibit spectacle OF this
kind in that quarter which would astonsh the world.
Compare for moment these, views OF Secretary
Meredith with those of his immediate predecessor.
What difference If those of his predecessor
were seasonable, one would think that has was
very unreasonable. Mark it, however, those OF
the present incumbent will be sustained. The
country is ripe for them, and will be ripper soon
and, not the least Of the surprise, the South will be
in the van.
There is great principle in this doctrine OF the
c. H., 49,
raw materials to the manufacturers of those mate
rails; and another principle behind that, wheel
within Wheel" that is essential to the perfection
of the whole economical machinery. | give the
Secretary credit for this idea of oneness in the line
of production, from the cotton seed, till it is not
only in CLOTH but for all home consumers, garments
ready to put on. AS matter OF economy, II is
absurd, as all must see, to bridge vast chasm
between any two stages of this line, for an expen
sive transport and an expensive reransport OF the
same thing, in order to be prepared. for ultimate
consumption; and still more absurd to build this
BRIDGE that foreigners, who have no rights or inter-
est in our commonwealth, may do the greatest part
of this work and have the greatest profit, at the
same time that it imposes greater cost on us,
as will yet appear. The first of these principles,
viz. the economy of vicinage in every stage of the
line, is illustrated in every ones daily experiences
and the second, to wit, the or soldarife of
these successive stages of production, from first to
last, is selfevident, when it is once suggested.
These same principles, in all stheir scope and
force, apply to the ultimate products of all the
materials, no matter what they are, which are
found, or produced, or which can be economically
produced in the land.
Why has not the economy Of this principle Of
vicinage in the stages of production been more SEN
sibly felt in this country? First because it has
not been well considered; next, because there has
been prevalent here wild and chaotic state of
speculation on principles of public economy; and,
thirdly, because we have borrowed our principles,
instead of consulting our experience. But expe-
rience stput us right; it may be hoped it will
soon do so, under such teaching as the document
now under consideration.
But, it is said, in order to sell we must buy. Aye,
granted. The Secretary has answered that, too, in
his own concise terms and condensed form : It'll
not enough to say that no country ever diminish
: ed its commerce by increasing its productions,
: and that no injury would therefore result to that
8 interest. There would probably be not only a
great increase in the amount, but an improvement
not less important in the nature of our commerce."
| have underscored nature as an important word
here. ~.
Mr.. Cotton, in his chapter on " the effects of a
protective system on the interests Of commerce and
naylgauon, mas gone into this question largely ana
profoundly, and heaped up set Of facts and figures
which not only vindicate the Secretary position,
but which prove much more, or rather supply what
the Secretary could only suggest Not only does
Mr., Cotton prove the increase of foreign trade
der the protective system, but change in the ma
ture of that trade most vital to the interests of
CATION and of the whole country.
Does not rich man buy and consume more than
poor mani 1t is the same with nation grown
rich by multiplying, under prudent policy, the
number and increasing the amount of its produc-
tons. But, as the trade of poor man is, both in
kind and extent, different from that Of rich man,
SO is it with prosperous and rich nation as COM
pared with poor one.
When," says Mr.. Meredith, "we shall spin
and weave it our own cotton ourselves, make
Is our own iron, and manufacture our other staples,
we shall have transferred to this country the great
centres of wealth, commerce, civilization, and po-
ltical as well as moral and intellectual power"
This is high destiny, and contingent only on the
adoption of and in reducing to practice, the princi-
pies commended for. See Mr.. Colton's last chapter
entitled "The Contingent Destiny of the United
States" for complete calculation of this point
A LOCKER ON.
TO Continued
One Of the Missionaries at California, whose letter ap
pears in the Home Missionary, enumerates among the diff