Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-06-23
NEw-ENaLAND COMPARED WITH 9TH
Err SECTIONS OF THE UNION.
Committee.
June 18th, 1860.

Err SECTIONS OF THE UNION
The soil of the Ncw-England States is not |
remarkable for its fertility but large part of
it, however, is susceptible of high order of
cultivation, and can be made to yield in great
abundance. In no other part of the Union,
perhaps, is hundred bushels of corn to the |
acre so often produced as it is here. The soil
of New-York and Pennsylvania is generally
much richer, and lies under better climate
but the amount of population which it can be
made to sustain is probably not greatly superb
or to that which, under the highest cultivation,
could be crowded into an equal space of New
England. Yet statistics show marked diver
sity in this respect.
The six New England States embrace an area
of about sixty-six thousand square miles, and
a population of nearly three millions, while the
state of New York, with nineteen thousand
square miles less, contains three and q half
million of inhabitants and Pennsylvania, with
twenty thousand square miles less, contains
some two and half million of inhabitants, ac-
cording to the last census. Though New York
is nearly one third smaller than New England,
it contains a much greater population, and
Pennsylvania, with only forty six thousand
square miles of territory has a population by
this time perhaps equal to, if not greater than
that of New-Engand. The soil of New Jersey
is considered as very poor, but while its terri
tory is only one eighth of ours its population
is one sixth; showing that it contains greater
number of inhabitants to the square mile
The question naturally arises as the reason of
this difference between two neighboring sections
of the country. Is it that the people of New
England are naturally more enterprising than
the population VI the Inuruie states, and hence
leave their native soil to seek their fortunes
elsewhere? Is it that their soil is too poor to
give them subsistence Is it that their edu-
cation is greater and they thus have greater
desires to be filled?
By reverting to the origin of New-England
society, and examining its present structure,
we may perhaps discover some reason for the
difference. The origin of this society was a
religious idea. 1t was not the prospect of gold,
dominion, or personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT that led
the pilgrims to these shores but it was the
hope of religious lberty and the structure of
society that followed from this cause was like
that which flowed from the religious emigration
of the Jews; it became agricultural the arts
being thinly spread over the land instead of
being conferred in towns. The liberal profess
sions as well as the arts accompanied the far
mer; and became scattered, as it were, broad
cast. Thus the lawyer, the doctor, the halter,
the cloth dresser, the hotel keeper, the wheel
wright, &c., &C., generally had farms to which
they looked as their chief means of support.
Their professions and trades were but accom-
odations to agriculture. The pure air and in
huences Of rural life were those which pleased
the puritan best; and even his municipalities
became a small number of farms, called town.
ships, instead of collection of shops and
houses called cities.
The structure of society in the states of New
York and Pennsylvania was originally some
what different. The first care of the farmer
was to establish market for his produce. The
professions and the arts and trade were DOM
iciliated in-one place, generally at the county
seat; and n YVES there that the surrounding
farmers found market Tor their produce and
stimulus to their interests. The structure of
society might be compared to that of a living
animal, the county seat being strong heart
that sent full tide of industrial life through
the agricultural extremities, they in their turn
sending back the current to the heart. The So
ciety in New England was less artificial than
this; it was more primitive. If the farmer
raised more than sufficient for his own use, he
was forced for market, to carry it long dis
lance, perhaps all the way to Boston; and the
arts which he exercised were of an inferior
quality, being barely sufficient to keep his ag-
ricultural implementS in repair, or meet his
most immediate necessities. There was no such
room for the improvement and the progress of
the arts as there is where they are assembled
together in one place for the arts, so assembled,
react upon and stimulate and support each
other. And in their growth and progress they
stimulate and support trade and agriculture.
These three interests are bound together like
the parts of triangle, one of which cannot be
increased or reduced, without a corresponding
effect on the other parts.
But as society grows older, its structure be-
comes more artificial; and accordingly we see
that its tendency in New England now is to as
sumo the character of that of the other free
states, the trade and manufactures abandoning
the farms and small villages and flowing to
certain centers. But centers of manufacture
and trade are generally centers of small circuit
often not more than ten miles in diameter
comprising space of some eight or nine town.
ships with population of from ten to fifteen
thousand; and hence are not so favorable for
the growth Of the arts as centers of larger cir
cult would be, with surrounding population