Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-12-01
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THE PROTECTIVE POLICY.
We ask the attention Of our readers to the
following article from the Richmond Wing
upon subject Of the deepest interest to the
country--and to Virginia especially;
Experience teaches us that nations,
as well as individuals, have prospered aud
been elevated III the scale of intelligence, in
proportion as the mechanical arts have been
encouraged.
History teaches US, that in the fifteenth
and sixteenth centuries, Spain was rre-eml-
nent among the European nations for enter
prise, social refnoment. and political power.
at that date England was quite as noted for
ignorance and barbarism What is the rela-
tive position of Spain and England now p
Every one knows What causes led to this
change?
In the early part Of the sixteenth century,
religious perseeutionin Spain drove from Der
borders her sklful artisans and experienced
mechanics. They were induced to settle in
England. by the wise policy of Queen Eliza
beth. She also held out inducements to the
artisans Of France and Germany. From that
date her prospcrity recommended, and that of
Spain decreased. BY the judcious use
each duly supported AID encouraged the
plough, the anvil aud the loom, Engleiid hss
risen from the most abject ne,.itic., and social
degradation, to the issn.sssr pinnacle ofpoliti-
cal neTScr e...a moral and intellectual great
..oss- while, by their neglect. Spain has by
degrees been shorn Of her ancient greatness;
aud gradually, bat surely. descended in the
scale of national and individual greatness
ireland presents yet stronger and more
painful picture Of national and social depres-
sion, caused by continued neglect Of the
proper means of Improvement. Her soil is
as we'll cultivated as any known to man. She
IS not larger than South Carolina, and yet her
soil supports about pine millions of people !;
and Independently of this, she exports to
England alone about fifty millions of dollars
worth Of agricultural products annually. And
yet Ireland is poor, oppressed. down trodden.
Why? She receives in lieu of her $50. 0o0.
900 worth Of exports, the manufactured goods
of England. The products often ablebodied
men in ireland. is paid for By the labor Of d
child in England. aided by the artistic APP
plication Of machinery.
We like to be practical and deal in facts,
even in detail The necessities of the times
demand plain, practical home truths. We
seek the redemption of Virginia, and wo wish
her people to reflect, to calculate to act. -
Let us 90 little farther into this subject
1t is an important one.
What, we ask, are the chief causes Of pau
perism? The answer is plain. Low wages,
and high prices for the necessary articles of
mans subsistence. Ireland and England as
they now exist. present a fair and faithful
illustration on this subject.
The Southern States toll on in their agri-
cultural pursuits, making from three to FIVE
bales of cotton to an ble- bodied hand on
tobacco, or corn, or rice, in the same proper
ton other things being equal. This pro-
duct of Southern labor is sent off, either to
the North or to England (the cotton to be
manufactured; the tobacco corn, wheat, rice,
&C., to pay for foreign importations) at &
value of from three to ten-fold, by the labor
principally ofwomen and children, where from
ten to tireaty bales to the hand are morked
into cloth.
Now, We ask every rcAec.ing, intelligent
man, is not this simple citation of facts suf-
ticient to convince every one of the Deepen
dence of agriculture on manufactures and
home improvements If Ireland, the OPP
pressed, the cast off, the down trodden, in
Jux:a- position with England, the proud, the
powerful, aud the oppressor, is actually pau
perised by the policy Of England can
Virginia and the Southern States flourish. as
they should do, when their products are ex-
ported, to I've turned, not in money. but in
manufactured articles, at SO great an increase
of value?
Agriculture, no matter what branch of it is
considered, must depend on the success and
of reciprocal pursuits National
or State wealth does not consist in money,
which is as shifting and unstable as the wind,
floating on the breeze of commerce. at one
time surfeit, at another a vacuum 1t con-
sists in the mental and physical improvement
Of the people the draining of swamps; the
reclamation of waste lands the increasing of
the construction of railroads and
all the facilities Of international and internal
commerce; the increase Of our cities the
moral elevation of our people. Wealth,
when applied to nation, cannot be isolated.
1t rests on the intelligence, independence,
moral worth and patriotism of the people
and the poaper of the Government TO protect
and foster their parious interests, social
and political.
viii Virginia ever learn to become praeti
cal, and apply the ordinary rules of common
sense to her business affairs When will
she cease to import hay, even as far up as
when her meadows are unsur-
passed by any in the world When will she
cease to employ the aodter machinery and
manual labor Of the North to manufacture
for her people. when Der own rivers are so in.
wiling. her own people so unemployed, her
command Of machinery unlimited?
These are home truths. perhaps unwel-
come perhaps dull and uninteresting. but we
feel 1t to be our duty to dwell on them
They are above party, reach beyond poiti-
cal campaign. 1t is time, in right good earn
est, TO arouse the dormant energies Of the
people to speak, in the words of soberness
and truth, to the practical acquisitions of
things as they exist We love Virginia and
seek her substantial good. and shall, to the
hast of onr nanr abilities serya har hv saaL