Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-12-01
Home Enterprises.


a country-human bones and muscles-and
wherever these are actively employed and
supplied, prosperity and advancement indu-
bitably follow. But, on the contrary, where
these are suffered to lie idle, or are driven
from their native homes to seek employment
elsewhere-to enrich other lands by their de-
~yelopment and industry, thel, there is a ter
rible significance in the couplet contained in
@oldsmith's Deserted Village
III fares the land, to fastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay y
produced because men Of capital seek imme-
dlate and personal aggrandisement, at the ex-
pense of the permanent prosperity and adj
vancement in oil the great elements of enter
prise and wealth for the communities in
which they live.
These thoughts have been suggested by
W. or three recent developments in our
States history. LIST. During the present year
there has boon an unusually large amount of
immigration from North Carolina to other
States. 2dly, we learn from the Governors
Message that an immense amount of the cap
itil Of our State is transferred from home
for investment. Without charging, we will
take these two simple facts as data for the
remarks we propose submitting.
What has caused the re~-inauguration ofthe
old system Of depletion-the removal Of so
many Of our citizens from the State Years
ago it prevailed almost to a depopulating ex-
tent but for several years past more were
coming in, than we're leaving the State p
Whence this change? Some have alleged
that II is the high tares our citizens have to
pay, that is driving them from our borders.
But this can hardly be so, when it is an es-
tablished fact that our taxes are less than al
most any other State in the Union. But al
lowingthatiti is this that's driving the wealthy
away-those who have property upon which
taxes arc leyied-this reason will not hold
good for the removal Of poor men, and young
mon, who have nothing but a per capita tax
to pay. We are therefore impelled to the
conclusion, that they are forced to expatriate
themselves, because they cannot find prof.
table employment at home.
The second fact is, the capital, the money
OF the State, seeks Investment abroad, in pre-
ference to building up home interests. The
reason given is, that a higher per centum can
be realized there than here and mammon
so rules the patriotism of our monied people,
that, for the sake Of two or five per centum,
they leave the great industrial interests Of
hoiRc to anguish and die. Our workshops,
manufactures and other industrial enterpri-
ses are deserted operatives who should
here fine work by hundreds and thousands,
are driven out to seek employment in other
pursuits and falling in this here, the only
alternative is to emigrate where a respecta-
bic living can be made.
1t is true we have our gigantic rail roads
and other systems of internal improvements,
for the purpose ofdeveloping and encouraging
the great resources and industrial enterprise Of
our State and people but while they have
enriched a few, and given an impulse to the
energies Of a very large and important elias!
Of citizens, yet what have they done for q
large number, many of whom their publ
spirited patriotism induced to undertake to,
much, and hence their all has been swallowe,
up by these extensive works. Instead of be
ing the promoters Of the wealth and bushes
Of the masses, they have proved a drain t.
large portions Of the State, empoverishin
them, to the building up the ports Of neigh
boring States. Had the money which is in
vested abroad been employed at home in bull
ding our Railroads, the State would not hav
had to encounter responsibilities which hav
made the thigh taxes complained of. o
had they invested their money in building u
mechanics and manufactures at home, the,
might not have realized as large per centum
at once, as by specializing with it, but the,
would have kept our people at home, and the.
would have seen thrift and industry flourish
ing all around them-a spectacle which woul
hll the heart of every noble man with prid
and pleasure-and they would have perhap
saved their consciences from the moral stat
with which the embarkation in Shylock'
profession has contaminated them. Our me
Of means must look more to their interests a
homeland their neighbours interests are thei
interests-or their home interests will fol
sake them, while they arc so eager in tn
pursuits Of ten per cent interest.