Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-06-17


pie. is TO change the terms little upon
corn worked into bread, and iron
wrought into implements, or in other
words it is upon necessary agriculture
and necessary manufactures for people
who do not possess these to think OF
throwing off the yoke of another VINO
supplies them with them, is an absurd
idea"
This is precisely the case with our
Sugar Islands Let us suppose the
Continental Colonies to be as happy in
the necessary agriculture as they really
are. but to be absolutely without man
ufactures, could they throw off their al
legiance to Britain, be their numbers
what they would No, certainly, for that
is nothing more than supposing they
should throw off their allegiance to hoes
aud spades, and coats and shoes which
is absurd to imagine. Can any one inn
agine that a rebellion can be carried on
among a people when the greatest sue
cess must be attended with the loss of
half the neccssaries of life.
Page ll9 "Ispeak ofmanufactures
here particularly, because they are abso-
lutely necessary to form an Independent
nation, but the reader certainly supposes
that flourishing commerce and fisheries
would in all cases be of infinite assis-
lance to people in comprising such
an event. And also that the more mill
tary men they had among them and the
instruments and necessaries of war,
would at such a time be of vast lmpor-
lance. Let us now according to these
ideas take a view ofthe present state Of
the British Colonies on the Continent of
North America
"They form a territory which in re-
spect to agriculture possesses all the nee
essaries of life, and that to so complete
a degree, as always to have superiority
ready for the demands of those that
want, but never in want themselves. In
every thing respecting food, they are
perhaps the most independent people
IN the universe. AS to manufactures
they possess most of those which are
real necessaries, being supplied by Brit
ain only to the amount of less than one
eleventh part of their consumption and
as they trade to the west Indies in man
ulaciures to the extent of above a mill
ion sterling, there is great reason TO be-
llcve that even this eleventh consists of
scarce any necessanes, as 1t supposes
/ the amount of their consumption of Eu-
ropean imports to be chiefly superhuous
manufactures and India goods, and from
the preceding review of them there
arises great reason to believe that this is
really the case, SO that very much ques-
ton whether the consumption of neccs-
sary manufactures IN these continental
colonies is one twentieth part supplied
by Britain.
But as in the preceding sheets
made a regular distinction between the
respective colonies on this continent
formed on their production of staples, and
as ! drop that distinction al present, it is
necessary TO explain the reason of this
conduct.
The Southern Continental Colonies
were found TO export staples to an a
mount sufficient to purchase all their
necessarles and to have no manufactures
of their own; for which reason, had they
been dislolnied from the others, as the
Sugar Islands are, they of course would
have been taken no notice of in this in
qulry, but as they are Joined to the
others, which possess such an abundance
of manufactures as TO be able TO supply
them, and at the same time so much more
numerous and powerful, these southern
people must be supposed 10 follow the
/ fortunes OF their stronger northern neigh
bors, as they might do it without incon-
venlence, relative to the imports of nee
eSsares, and if any general prejudice a
ganst the mother country, or other
cause acting equally on all, there can be
little doubt, but these weaker colonies
might be induced to Join the stronger
ones, and especially as the force OF
the latter might SO easily be exerted a
gaInst them.
For these reasons IT is requisite to speak
OF our continental colonies under this
head, in general, and TO omit those dis
ilnctlons which were before necessary.
But If this method was not followed and
the northern ones alone treated Of vet
1t would IN the end be the same thing, for
The loss of those of our colonies, which
possess manufactures, however well in
clined the rest might be, would be atten-
ded with the loss of ALL If the first sue
ceeded in their rebellion they would un-
doubtedly succeed IN drawing after them
the latter.
The British Colonies therefore. on this
continent, of North America, are not
only independent in respect TO agricul-
ture, but very nearly so in that OF man
uiactures, for the supply OF TWEEN
lieth part of their necessary ones is but
little removed from independence, and
II their present conduct in the de;ermi-
nation of fully supplying themselves, and
the resolutc means taken to effect that
end, be considered, this twentieth. or
whatever proportion il may be, will most
assuredly dwlndle to nothing.
Page 42O. "That this system would
last several ages there is no doubt: for
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