Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-10
THE IMPORTANCE OF MECHANICAL
APPLIANCES.

even worse than that.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MECHANICAL
APPLIANCES.
We have frequently spoken of the backward
ness of the Southern people to avail themselves
of labor-saving machines and their want of
progress in the mechanic arts. 1t was our in
tention to write more at length on this sub
ject; but the following article which we find
in the Richmond Examiner, makes it unneces-
sary that we should do SO at present. We
commend it not only to the people of Virginia,
but to the people of the whole South, as worthy
of serious and attentive consideration. The
Examiner says
Abundant as were the evidences of new era
and new destiny for Virginia, which were sup
piled by the late great Fair in this city, there was
no feature of the exhibition that inspired live
lier hope in the Virginia economist, statesman
and patriot than the Mechanics Institute of Rich
mond. 1t needed but rapid glance over the
numerous articles of handicraf, the superb
machinery, the varied productions of art, taste,
and industry, which were arranged in the
spacious hall of this youthful, but already sue
cessful institution, to convince the visitor that
Virginia is already taking rank among the
manufacturing States of this Union. Here
was the demonstration Of the truth of what
has so often been said that manufacturing en-
terprise in Virginia may be as successfully and
as universally pursued in Virginia as in any
northern State. Here was proof of Virginia's
ability to make at home every fabric and arti-
Gle for which for half century she has been
sending northward, in ignoble tribute, millions
of dollars of her cash capital per annum.
Here was assurance that her citizens can sue
cessfully and pro6tably engage in enterprises,
second only in economical Importance and be-
nifcence to the art of making two blades of
grass grow where one grew before. Here we
trust many a youthful, restless and aspiring
mind, that had been perplexed and suspended
between the hackneyed professions Of law,
medicine, and the pulpit-which only have
been vulgarly esteemed honorable for the Vir-
ginia gentleman heretofore-has seen an open
path, for honorable effort to independence, for
tune, and distinction.
This Mechanics Institute is a new thing in
this commonwealth, and is capable and, we
trust, isdestined to contribute largely and rapid
ly TO the Development Of the manufacturing
resources of Virginia, and, thereby, to the
more thorough and complete development Of
every other interest.
That there is need of such development no
sound political economist will doubt. Virginia
has long submitted to an abject dependence
upon Northern and Eastern States for her en-
tire consumption ofmanufactured articles. She
imports nearly everything. She imports every
species Of metallic manufacture, although her
bowels are literally gorged with every species
of mineral wealth. She imports the whole
family of fabrics, which she could grow and
make for half what it costs to import them,
and even bri ngs into the centre of her unrival.
led forests Northern timberin hundred expen-
sive combinations.
For all this she has to pay cash. Thus she
is subjected to constant and most prostrating
drain of the life blood Of her prosperity. For
want of this development she has lost nine.
tenths, and we might truly say ninety-nine hun
dredths, of her proper enhancement in manu-
features, arts, trade, commerce, in cities, towns,
and general wealth. For this want her com.
parative progress in population and political
power has been only one-ninth of New York,
which has scarcely one-ninth of her natural
advantages.
Such are the undeniable facts. Is there
any necessity for this? Do not our mines,
forests, and plains, furnish every variety Of
crude material in limitless profusion7 and
have we not an abundance Of motive power,
cheap labor, and food, for its Development
Undeniably. Virginia has at this moment
the latant wealth Of an empire. Few countries
on the globe, and no State in our confederacy,
possess such diversified and, collectively, such
vast elements of wealth, greatness, and power
Then why should she not assume the proud
position designed her by nature7 Why allow
other States, with scarce shadow of her re-
sources, to outstrp her in the race for positioni
Why longer submit TO a vassalage in nearly
every element Of prosperity, unworthy great
peopIe7 With ADVANTAGES in nearly averx