Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-11

duction of labor in The state of three hundred
millions of dollars; and it was The opinion of !
The secretary who compiled them that more /
accurate returns would swell the list TO three |
hundred and fifty millions, or more than a
million OF dollars for every working day in the
year. | have no doubt that similar returns in
1860 would have exhibited an amount of pro
ductive labor in the state of FOUR HUNDRED
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. 1t has been said that
after the adoption OF the constitution, General
Washing ton, at Il dinner table III the midst of O
party OF friends, northern and southern, eX-
patlated upon the great results he anticipated
tor The south under the new order OF things,
with her rich productions and profitable
exchanges, and turning to one of lis north
ern guests, exclaimed -" But what will
the north do! Owe, sir" was the prompt
reply-"We will live by our wits" And tie
fulhllment OF the prophetic reply has been
contaminated in our day, when state that
could be carved eight times out of the map OF
Virginia, produces annually from her fields
and workshops more than the ordinary value
OF the cotton crop OF the United States, all
counted from the ruins of jamestown to the
banks of the Sabine. 1t would have startled
the federal convention OF '07 with a new sense
OF the grandeur OF the work, to have been
told, that before all then born should PASS to
their sleep, the little Bay State, at that time
without spindle to respond to its waterfalls,
should turn out in year fifty millions in cot
ton and WOODEN iabrics that in 1850 it should
produce one sixth part Of the aggregate manu-,
features OF the cOniederacy. Cuiesworih
Pinckney would have been amazed if he had
been told that his state should so soon yield
cotton crop OF thirty or forty millions, but it
would haze been greater shock to his nice
sensibiiities if lie had been assured that Mas
sachusetts would so soon give boot and shoe
crop OF fifty millions In variety of phrase
and comparison might Estate the footings OF The
Massachusetts abstract by the side OF the CEN
sus returns of the United States in 1850;
claiming for her one sixth Of the iron works
two thirds of the fisheries, one sixth of the i'm.
ports, and One-tenth OF the exports one. third
OF the whole ocean tonnage, and four tiiths of
the whale fisheries; that while commercial
circles are agiated every day to the years end
from New Orleans round to New York. in
Liverpool, in London, by the quotations of
cotton, there were a couple of hundred dealers
Ill our own provincial Boston, whose quiet
sales OF raw and manufactured leather amount
Ell to sixty millions. l might extend those
facts and illustrations to the consumption of
the slate, and might show that there is
not probably on the lace of the earth
community OF equal numbers whose
consuming habits and capacity make SO large
and constant demand upon every branch Of
production that yields sustenance or comfort
or luxury. But | forbear. These are the
glimpses of more extended views that might
readily be furnished, but they are sufficient to
Indicate the variety and extent of our pruduc.
tive forces. 1t all comes forth from the Givis.
ion of our labor, the organization Of our in
dustry, the separation of our employments,
the application of experimental science and
the useIu! arts, 1t is this which makes our
little territories imperial. The abstract to
which have referred discloSes a wonderful
multiplicity OF occupations in every quarter
OF the state, united by constant and copious
admixture Oi interests 1t reveals production,
and exchange, and consumption under almost
every conceivable style and denomination of
labor. The commonwealth presents scene
OF life and energy, of action and achievement,
that possesses all the interest OF martial drama.
Not an army has come upon the field, marshal.
ed its squadrons, and contested its issues, each
man ranging under his banner and responding
to his bugle, with mere OF method and subor-
dlnation than is displayed by more than three
hundred thousand men in Massachusetts, as
they come forth IN the morning OF every day,
file of under their chosen pursuits, and lay
down their trophies at nighltal upon the affairs
OF home. Some three or tour years since, the
secretary OF state published II table OF the mum.
beers and occupations OF all male persons in the
SOlIlliOll" Sditii ONSl liitStn years OF age. ana
l lind that they humber three hundred and
thirty four thousands thiId Of a million
and are classified under one hundred and fittv
different occupations. AS the eye passes over
these printed columns, and the imagination
follows these men 10 their various posts of enl-
ployment--to the tranquil fields of agriculture.
to the resounding workshops, to the busy
marts OF trade, to the mysterious and prolific
Sea-to the ponderOus machine that is meas.
ured by hundred or thousand horses, aud
the subtle conceptions of genius that work
their honest ten hours in iron brass, aud COP.
per, and never tire-to the fine lashiunlng Of
rude woods. AMI the textiles wrought from the
raw tibers OF every land-in short, through
the vast laboratory OF mortal skill which is
ever at work transmitting air and water, the
earth and all that can be emlced out Of it
aye, and thought, and reason Itself, into pro.
ductions for the market and supplies for man.
kind-with what comprehensive siguiEc4.
ton does our idea of the productive labor of
Massachusetts become invested! Such re
sources, capacities, developments-su such uccu
mutations OF stores, supplies, and wealth.
these sources and springs of our power-are
now brought TO the test of conservation for fine
lie OF the government. l can have no doubt
that they will bear us securely iudeDeudpntlv
triumphantly, through the struggle. They
are now interrupted, but they can not he de.
stroyed. They will shortly and with renewed
VIgor again assert their supremacy over the
competitions Of other states, over the viciss-
tudes and adversites OF human lot They
will bear us again 10 fortune. Soon again the
commonwealth will resouud with the echoes
of industry through all her borders, and
spread the sails of her commerce, the plide of
the seas.
The bill now under consideration especially
invites our attention TO the aspect of our local
finances. 1t leves what | eoncede TO be A
large tax, 81 100000 The nearest approxi.
nation to this which we have before had in
the present generation was In 1857, and that
was only half the present amount. Some idea
of the practical application of this bill upon
the people OF the cities and towns may be de.
rived from document sent in to the house by
the secretary on Saturday last, showing the
aggregate of taxes assessed in the slate in
1861; from which it appears that the total
amount taxed Tor county, city, and town pur-
poses, the last year was $1,000, 000 Assum.
ing the same amounts to be raised the present
year by the several municipalities Tor local
purposes, it will be seen that the bill will add
nearly twenty five per cent more 10 the pubic
taxes. The necessity for this is certainly to
be regretted but let the people consider that
it is part and parcel of the necessities of the
war. Or the amount proposed to be raised by
this bill, 100000 is for the national tax as.
sumed by the state, and nearly $500 900 is for
reimbursing to the towns their allowances to
the families of volunteers. The people of
Massachusetts need not be reminded TINT
what amounts they expend in aid of the fam.
lilies Of our brave volunteers will be recoined
to them in the wealth and treasure of the