The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-07-05

IiS lNAcpil nav III IiiS III " tllC CHjOO
ment of the land, but an estate for his
own life, an estate which he could not
charge with debts or dispose Of for a Ion
ger period. In many cases the occupants
found themselves in possession of large
bodies Of land which required liberal
expenditure of capital to render them pro-
ductive. There was no inducement to
invest the requisite sums on an estate
which might terminate at any moment
with his life, and theE pass at once to an
other, who would enjoy its benefits with
out being at all subjected to the burden
Of its improvement; and, for the same
reason, no one would lend money upon
mortgage or other security on such an
uncertain estate From these and other
causes growing out OF land monopoly la
Dor was excluded from quantity OF land
sufficient in extent, if brought under a
thorough system Of culture, to produce
food for the entire population. Agricul-
ture had not its just proportion Of capital
and labor employed lii its development, to
which it was entitled, if there had been
natural and equitable distribution; and
the consequence was, an excessive supply
Of both, Tor mechanical AMI commercial
pursuits. The evil became s. pressing
and alarming, that during the agitation
for the repeal Of the corn laws, retOrma-
tory mOvem ents We're set on foot, enabling
capitalists TO advance money for drainage
purposes, to be charged on the land, and
requiring the interest TO be kept down by
the tenant for life. The Government,
too, has, in pursuance Of various acts OF
! Parliament, advanced on loan at three per.
| cent. interest, for agricultural improve
mentS, various sums amounting to about
! twenty-five millions Of dollars and these
| reforms have had a decidedly salutary
influence in ameliorating the condition of
| agricultural labor, and advancing the pro-
| ductiye power of the improved land. But
| the mining and manufacturing laborcrs,
| crowded in the districts where the works
are carried on, and trained for generations
in the habits of their peculiar toll, and
consequently untitled for other pursuits,
can experience from these movements but
little relief. They are still subjected. to
| the constant depressionS of wages rem
! dered necessary in order to under-sell and
! break down the laborers Of every other
country who desire to set up for them
! selves. 1t is obvious, then, that coun-
try possessing the advantages Of such
cheap labor and cheap capital, and with
machinery advanced to the highest stage
of perfection, can manufacture at rates
that for all time to come Will keep from
| full employment the capital and labor oi
a country like ours, unless they are met
by restrictions adapted TO the necessities
Of the case. .. = .s.
/ have spoken of the progressive step;
by which manufactures are cheapeneC
when labor in the various pursuits Of life
can find employment, when producers have
at their doors market for the exchange
with each other Of theirrespectivep products
and where, as a laboring man lately speak
ing to me Of the effect Of protection, said
eve mutually help each other" ] have
spoken, too, of the Improvement in tn,
machinery Of production brought about b,
a fair and free competition, by which tn,
cost of the article to the consumer is less
ened. But the progress to such happ,
results is opposed by the condition of labo
and capital in England, to which 7 hav
alluded, and which draws us within tn
circle Of an uafa6 competition-a compe
tition as unfair as would be that between
a merchant who by fraud obtains his good
below their value, and another who ha
paid an honest price for what he has t
, sell The Englishman tells us to buy i
the cheapest market, and proffers TO u
!, goods cheapened by cruel eXactions froI
poor operatives, and deposites them in ou
, warehouses at prices below what must '
paid 60 American laborers alone for thei
: manufacture. We give heed to the plau
sible aud ipsidious advice, and ,disnlis
t from employment our own labor and car
ital, and for a time the Individual consI
mers procure their goods at a lower cost !
5 money - But the foreign price variable
: as it must always be in a country depend
I ing on the exchange Of its manufacture
{ products for the raw materials. of nation
5 all around the globe, and consequently "
: are at once placed at the mercy of thes
: changes Besides this, we are at the nero
c OF combinations among gigantic establish
! ments to regulate prices, as Is frequent
. observed in the notices of meetings {
: Stafordshire and " elsh irOnmasters, whel
f they resolve upon an advaD or depre
: sion of prices, as may suit their purpose
a so that we soon discover, when the foreig1
s er, has obtained the exclusive coHtrol
e our markets, we are paying largely L
: creased price, by which we are simp
c helping him to retrieve his losses in ii
q efforts that were expended to break dow
Y the home production. i've are invite
c however, to buy our iron and other articl