Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-10-31

into all the operations of commeree. IL gives occupation
to'a larger per centage of our population than any other
pursuit, and il employs a larger amount OF capital than
all others combined. But IL Is not am isolated interest.
It cannot prosper alone. IL is intimately connected with
other interests, and it, success or failure is, in a great de
gree, TO be measured by the condition of those interests.
lie who limits his views of agriculture TO production
only, can have but an imperfect idea OF the subject. lie
has looked at il in but one at its aspects To compre-
bend 1t fully, he must embrace a much wider field OF en-
curry and understand, not merely how the earth can he
made to yield its richest returns to the husbandman, but,
also, how those returns can be made most available for
his comfort and happiness.
or what value is production, without consumption -
OF what use are abundant crops, unless some fair equiv
alCnt can be obtained for the surplus over the wants OF
the producer
correct view of the agriculture of a country, there
fore, must embrace the consideration, not only of the
modes by which the largest crops can be raised, but also
OF the means by which they can he best disposed of; or,
in other words, how The best markets can be provided,
and the best prices maintained.
The function OF agriculture Is to produoe-of manu-
features, TO convett-aud of commerce, TO exchange.
Aud, a. Il IS obvious that a large portion Of the produc-
jions Of the soil are comparatively OF little value, until
they have been converted. by the processes OF maEuftc-
ture, into new forms, and the surplus has been exchanged
for such commodities as the producer may need, It fol-
lows, As a necessary consequence, that there must be an
intimate relation between agriculture, manufactures, aud
commerce.
Il will readily he conceded, that it al the labor Of tn,
! world was directed 10 the production OF food, the sur
plus. above the wants Of the producers, would be of liul,
or no value, because there would br no demand for it
! Is every one would raise enough for his own use. h
would not mud 10 necessary 10 look to his neighbor for a
-urplv. The surplus above the wants of the farmer would
therefore be useless, and len to perish in the fields ia
which il was produced. To give value to i, a demand
I4ust be created for IT, In the absence of Such a demand
il wouis snon cease to be produced. This demand can
be created ON, ~ multiplying the occupations of the cit
ixJus. or in other worGs, by withdrawing a portion ofthe
population from the production of food, aud directing
heir labor TO other pursuits. When this IS effected a
demand is clcstedl propOrtionci To- the number of labor
ers, who are thus rendered consumers instead of produ-
ccrs, and the foundation Is i.il fos the interchange, be-
tween the different classes OF lAborers, Of the fruits Of
their respective branches OF Industry. This interchange
constitutes. in the first place. the barier-and, in the
more advanced stages oft progress, the commerce Of
tie word.
The prosperity OF the farming interest, then, depends
| upon lie preservation of the proper relation between
4 production aud consumption. If an over proportion OF
the people ale engaged in production, the supply viii eN-
coed the demand; the Ilgke. for the products OF the soil
will be depressed; and the interests OF agriculture must
ANGUISH. II, on the other hand, occupation can be Civ
en- To a large portion Of the population. IN the mechanic
arts, in manufacturing, in mining, in navigation. and 10
/ commerce, the demand for the fruits Of agriculture will
be increased; their prices enhanced, and the farmers must
prosper.
two fold. II tends, not only - enhance the price Of
what tue farmer has 10 sell, in consequence Of the in
creased demand for 10. bot also 10 cheaper Whist he NAV
have occasion 70 buy, because of the Increased COMPETE
lion among those who furnish such commodities A. he
Z NAV need.
These arc elementary principles OF social economy,
I which are, theoretically, familiar to every intelligent
man. Bat. unfortunately, they are too much neglected in
! Lraauce. hops, therefore, | suall be pardunei for pre-.
saDting tSe.a. in their simplest form, a. they have al i'm.
puraut bearing ol .hs line Of thought, to which
wish 10 direct youF attention.
Whether the proper relation exists iG Virginia and the
Juited States, between production aud consumption. J. =
question which deserves your most serious consideration.
] The intelligent superintendent OF the census Of 1850 t.
Gi-a'cs that t~hrre.htths Of the adult population OF the
United STATS ere engaged ia the cultivation OF the soil:
ard the statistics Or .Er gym State show that near one
hall o! the adult male population 49, !sfMrr-, or m 9th
er words, producers OF prOyi-iOnT. ia tn terra farmers.
I 10 not include hired laJorers, who are employed on
farms, but Only the Independent p]ropretors or teuauts.
who cultivate separate farms.
The census tables of 1850 show that the whole mum
bor - yhite adults, in Virginia, engaged in the various
professions an occupations. at that date, was 216,s7j.
Oi these, loG,sO7 wery ;rrmers; 1880 aborers; 1874
T.Iuicrs; and az Oversecrs.
These fyurcs would seem 20 indicate tiiat 100 large a
proportion q our people are engaged in the production
Oi food; aud the prcssut los prices Of almost every a.
ucle Of provisions confirms this Impression. Aarger
quantity is produced than can be sold for f0nlnleratye
prices. Every Improvement which may be made in the
system of farming will tend 10 a still further depression
u prices, boy Increasing the supply. And when we con.
t"mputt Ae rapid settlement, now in progress, Of the
almost bognds.s GungrOwing region Of the Northwest,
a region Of unparalleled fertility, We must acknowledge,
that the prospect y, by no fHenn-, encouraging 10 the
farmer. High prices, in this country, haze Nvayg 5een
the effect OF a foreign demand. This demand will algavs
be, ~ it has been, ructuating for il depends, not only
on natural causes, such as the failure OF crops abroad.
but upon psI.tel events which may disturb the tranquil
IS Of Europe. American farmers are, therefore. com
PEELED 20 look more 70 the condition Of things abroad
than at home, in making their estimntes,as to tie breadth
Of land they sbill seed. and the probable prices they will
{ receive for their crops.
This g1ctuation OF prices is ono Of the most serious
evils that can Es'lll any country. Il unsettlcs the value
Of every species Of property. When prices are high the
tendency il 10 speculation, tS incur debt, and 20 form
habits Of expenditure, which, although lheg might not
br deemed cNtag1Eaut, Il high prices we're 70 continue.
must prove ruinou-, when. by some change in the policy
Of the great powers Of Europe. or other cause, the for
eign demand j. cut on, and prices sink 70 their natural
level
The enquiry then forces itself upon our attention. how
b. this e.' o. hc cOrrcctedg
Tho most effective remedy that I can suggest iz, to
diversity the occupations o. Gar .conle to withdraw a
large number Of them from agriculture, .Wi no direct
their lahos so other pursuits to build up home manu-
hcfprgs to stimulate the development Of our mineral
Te-0urccs;-.o encourage dgmegtc commerce. and 40
The mechanic lriaf aud thereby create q demand for thr
products 0f our farms ~ home. vs. adopting this policy.
We viii diminish thr naubeT q prDducefs- iucroaae tie
number Of ronsumers.-an msfe some progress toward.
th' establishment Of a more just relation bstsesn the
supply aud demand.
And here, To- prevent demonstration. I wish N say 10
advance, that do not propose. upon ao occasion. aud
b-u4fe 1n audience ELr the present, 20 enter into "a die
c-a-iJu ~ a.y NJ the controvcrtcd questions connected
ri'h The Jurisdiction nj ie federal government over chi.
.pignr'-"mlsti entertain very decided opinions on these
q]D"-to1s. Gud have not hcsitatcd. under .uitab'l cis.um.
.'tncc., 10 csPu.a thrm, I desire carefully 10 abslaiu
from Introducing into tht8 asso.rc anything That could
offend the scn-ibiities Of the most ~fastdiols. OF br o.
guarded AZ invading % field, which, unfortunately for thl
best interests Of the country, has been dedicated 10 par
us.u adt.
When. therefore. 7 speak Of the encouragement Of
domestic industry ] throw OF q view, for the present
any legislation by Congress directed 20 tat end aud Tim
myself exclusively TO such encouragement as can 10 NJ
torisd by the enlightened enterprise and public spirit &
our Own peO.le. aided by the co-opemtion Of our owl
General Assembly.
No one will DENY thai every furnace. and forge. an
i foundry-cyGy wooden, and COTTON md tobacco factory
every shop for The manufacture Of shoes, end ciothinp
and saddery.-evory mine that Is Opeued-every bOul
that b. erectcd-cvery ship that Is buht,-ia a word, ~
/. cry enterprise that gives mechanical employment 20 o.
people. tends 20 promote the interests Of the farmer. b.
b. increasing che demand for what he has 10 SELL
betus then, for moment survey the extent Of III
Geld which presents iAef lor DE employment # the "a
bor Of our count ymeb
2 The stats % Of our fore'ga commerce show dat N,
esiegai9 'ih' o. Hleroha1d se imported into the Unite,
D.. states IT, "a yea 1855 wa Ia round numbers 0s9 A.
81 millions Of dolia,t, and in 1857, 300 - mirions Of do
.r lut u We analyle the tables, 10 will be fourd mat ,
vi latter amount bout 100 millions worth 60 Ia be ,ro
duoed, and ougltto be produced, IN our own cluntry, h
N Of "PO'
10 Cope 81 vpriou' forms sqG7Oo