The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-24

NAV be entertained in various sections of the country
They take view OF political economy who can see
but rival interests growing out OF the different productions
of the country; aud they than bgoted who
in consequence OF IT, indulge in unworthy ieaousies or
hostile sentiments towards brethren OF the family
gu cannot by legitimate benefit any branch
OF industry oil great country without indirectly bene
hting all the rest but when, in the case before us
one interest IS dependent on the other-when the pro-
Queer oil the one article Is The best and often the only
sunef OF The othe-who is rash 10 assert that the
prosperity OF the one wor ks the injury of the other But
is not my purpose on the present occasion further to
pursue this train of thought My object is TO make
proseytes Tor particular theory, but simply TO show the
necessary connexion and intimate relationship OF all The
branches OF the same species OF industry and their har
monlous cooperation IN promoting the wealth, happiness,
and power OF great people The free International
changes OF commodities, so eagerly sought for as the
great commercial desderatum of the different nations OF
Europe, exist already by the simple operation OF our
federal constitution between the different States of this
Union and the products of the different States OF Europe
are less varied than those OF the different geographical
divisions of common country. The domestic ex-
changes OF every country naturally constitute The great
bulk OF lts entire commerce but in none-perhaps not
even in China-s SO large portion OF them furnished
exclusively by the products of the soil in our
have thus far briefly referred TO agriculture in con-
nexon with other branches Of industry but propose TO
go step further and consider by themselves oil the
principal agricultural products which enter largely into
the political economy of this country l do this for the
purpose OF showing, only how each particular branch
of agriculture may in turn aid in building up the
cal and maritime importance of nation, but also how
one species of agricultural industry may 10 the
SSlance OF announcer, win winch II seems 10 have
cessary connection and may also be able to show, from
examples furnished by history, that products
seemingly competing with each other in the same
kes may yet have tendency TO create increased de-
mands for all Of them With the theories and specula
tons OF political economists have disposition TO med
die before this audience. shall content myself with
presenting facts, leaving you TO make the application.
The leading American agricultural staple cotton and
Its cultivation and manufacture have within the last half
century acquired an Importance far exceeding all other
similar pursuits The plant, though Indigenous TO the
tropical regions OF Asia, Africa, and America, bad only
been used to limited extent for the purposes OF Sbhing
when the American invention of the cotton gin gave its
cultivation an impetus and extension unprecedented in
the annals of agriculture No branch OF human industry
has ever risen TO Importance and power rapidly that
OF cotonnone has produced great revolution in the
and manufactures of the civilized world Pre-
vous 10 the revolution, anu as late the adoption
OF The federal constitution, not single pound OF cotton
was exported from America while 1t is not only the
principal article of our exports. exceeding in value all
other agricultural exports of our country, but the great
basis OF our foreign exchanges, and the most powerful
lever OF the commerce OF the world
The cotton trade alone has sufced to revontionze
the commerce of the world, Wherever bale of cot
ton goes, il carries with II portion of American intel.
ligence and power. The abolition of the corn laws OF
England-opening the ports OF Great Britain to Amer-
can beadsuffs and provisons-was triumph achieved
by the American grower over the feuda aris,oc
Iacy of the Old World 1t furnished bread 10 the labor
ing masses OF Great Britain and Ireland at the same
time that clothed them, and formed the first step TO-
wards the ameoralon of their condition II afforded
increased markets. not only to the products of the
South, but from the necessary relation of all articles OF
commerce. also TO those of the northern and north
western States of the Union. What has been effected
in England by the power of American agriculture must
due course OF time extend TO every commercial and
manufacturing country on the continent of Europe. The
battle against commercial restrictions is wagng in
Belgium, France Germany, and Italy, and even
iually terminate in the abrogalon of all monopoles
In enumeTang the leading agricultural staples of our
country. we naturally led TO the consideration of the
tobacco plant II is not my purpose here TO inquire how
tar the use OF tobacco, IN any OF its forms, may be
garded elegant accomplishment or whether its cul-
n
life. In Holland, the shores of the Baltic and other
countries OF Europe, believe, it has been regarded
medicinal plant, and antdote against pre- vailng dis
eases while in of the German States its growth,
owing to the general of the weed, is enforced by
law BE this as may, the use of tobacco in shape
has become general in every quarter of the globe and its
production an object oil national importance.
Tobacco enters largely into our foreign exchanges
being second only to cotton the list of agricultural
exports There is no nation with which we trade that
does not use tobacco while in several European
tries II is government monopoly and of the chief
articles from which revenue is derived la several States
OF this Union II constitutes the chief staple article OF agT
culture and It's producers large OF the oTd
nary products OF the farm and dairy OF other States while
in of the northern and northwestern States its cul
ture has been introduced even more profitable than
the usual agricultural industry OF our farmers.
But we not only export tobaccowe are also importers
OF the article to a large amount for own consumption
1t becomes appropriate subject OF inquiry, therefore,
whether soil and climate not adapted TO the pro-
ducton OF those superior qualities which we now import
as well as TO those in the production OF which excel
other portions of the world; and the question may also
arise, whether our qualities oil tobacco may not be i'm
proved to equal those imported from the prn
clpa West India islands AT all events, the action OF
government is invoked not to slacken IN lis endeavos TO
induce the governments OF France Belgium and Austria
TO abandon their present tobacco monopoes and 10 open
their ports the reception OF this well as other agr
cultural staples of country. am aware that these
endeavors up to this moment, have met with but little
success but this constitutes valid reason why they
should be abandoned. The age OF monopoles is passed.
and the check which every monopoly imposes other
branches OF commerce, and through II, indirectly on the
revenue, added to our governmental remonstrances
can, the end hardly fail open the eyes OF those
tons, and to effect the desired object.
would now invite your attention to the expectation
of breadsufs AT time in the history Of country
a general impression prevailed that should never be
able 10 export wheat and flour to Europe The distance
rom European markets, the cost OF transportation in
tetes capital insurance. all figured up against us
to show that competition with the wheat growers of Eu
rope entirely out of the question, and that we must
conhne export of breadstutfs to the British North
American colonies the West Indies, and South America
This error, however, has been corrected by experience
Without including our large exports during the famine
year, when almost the only sellers in the mar
kets OF Europe, our exports show respectable increase
in ordinary years our means OF transportation have
proved production has become cheaper, distances have
been shortened by the saving OF time and, spite of all
the lugubrious prophecies OF croakers, find our
farmers competing with the principal wheat growers of
Europe IN their own markets American breadstufis
have gained permanent foothold in the principal mar
kets OF the world and our wheat -four quite great
article imported into England Occasional fluctuations
in prices-n particular years OF large crops-mus, OF
be submitted to n the trade OF all agricultural
pies but these will be met and their influences guarded
against by frugal, industrious people.
But while in the trade OF wheat and flour meet