The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-29
From the ~. q. Bulletin.

The senior editor of the Richmond Enquirer,
tour through portion OF the northern and eastern
States, writes to his paper as follows:
"Our land is much better, our resources more
abundant-yet, these Yankees with their manu-
factoriesp and ice, and granite and above ILL., their
skill in drawing from the treasures of the South,
arc growing rich at our expense, and at the same
time insulting our institutions. 1t is time that we
were learning from experience to take care of and
defend ourselves"
And who we would ask has done more, or la
bored with greater zeal TO produce this state of
a fairs than the Richmond Enquirer, both under its
former and present proprietors and editors5 Who
has more steadily, violently, and for such length
of time, denounced the system of home labor and
home manufactures, than the editors of that paper?
They have advocated and promoted, to the full
tent of their abilities and influence, the plan of buy
ing every thing from abroad, instead of producing
their own supplies, so far as practicable, at home;
and now when they at last the operation of the
system in keeping the South poor and dependent,
and that il has made that district of the Union
which has refused to follow their advice, rich and
prosperous, they very naivcly tell their feowciti-
zens that it is time 'thcy learned from experience
to take of and defend themselves To be sure
it is, and has been so, any time the last fifty years,
during the whole of which period the Richmond
Enquirer has been almost rabid in inculc atng di-
rectly the contrary doctrine.
IL and its kindrc presses have, during the whole
of that period, been telling the citizens of Virginia
to grow wheat, grow corn, grow tobacco, buy their
clothing, hardware, glass, crockery boots, shoes,
hats, furniture and almost every other article of
necessity comfort, elsewhere, instead of making
them at home, and they have unfortunately fol-
sent senior editor of the Enquira begins to obtain
ga glmmering" of the true effects of such sys
tenn, and has commenced crying out for change.
They find that not only Old England, but NetD Eng
land also by her manufactures, is draining the
South of its wealth to enormous extent, and
which would have been retained at home had diff
fercnt policy been pursued. Thank God, the South
srapidly awakening up TO its true interest, but
thp nix TN he
appearing before the Enquirer has attempted to
'iit up its voice.. Nearly the whole of the south
ern people are "wide awake" on the subject ofman
ulactures, and no longer intend to be absolutely
dependent as they have heretofore been, but with
their 'tbettcr land" and ''more abundant resour-
ces,' will in very few years exhibit progress in
manufactures which will enable them TO enter into
successful competition with tbosc of the North,
even in their own markets. Georgia al this mo.
meut manufactures more cotton than is consumed
within her own territory and her fabrics 10 be
found in the Philadelphia, New York, Richmond,
and New Orleans markets. Alabams, if she does
not already do the same, will in very short pc
riod, under the rapid extension Of cotton mills
Even South Carolina is rapidly advancing to the
point of supply, and we feel hesitation in
saying that in FIVE years the whole South will fully
supply its own wants, SO far as the heavy kind of
COTTON goods and prints concerned.
IL IL, believe, fact that in every instance in
which cotton mills have been established at the
South, they have proved eminently successful, Gu
richug no' only the proprieors, but adding greatly
10 the comfort and wealth oi the town or ncighoor
ing county In which they were located. The cot.
ton manufacture, however is not the only one that
~ making progress at the South; woolen goods,
boots, shoes, and other manufactures Of leather,
hardware and woodward, tools and cutlery nails,
hate, paper and various other articles Of less note
all being made in different sections Of the South
and all the increase, both in the number and
size of the respective embellishments.
Under these circumstances, and with the
light which seems 20 have broken in upon the mind
OF the " senior editor" Of the Richmond Eng,rsr
will ne not now lend helping hand 10 the good
work? VIII he not cheer on aud encourage the en-
terprsing portion Of his fellow citizens, in their
de1vUrs TO establish manufactures Of all kinds in the
Old Dominion, and nsti his own words into the
minds Of all, that experience shows that they
" should take care Of and defend Themselves"