The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-08-29
The Indusirtal Condition OF the
United States im 1860.

The eighth census of the United States
was taken in 1860. The inquiries embrace
ed not merely the number of persons. but
also the number of domestic animals. aud a
great mass Of statistics in relation to the in
dustry of the people. Since the return of
The marshals were made at the Census Of
fee in Washington, the Superintendent. G.
G. Kennedy, Esq, has been busily at work
arranging them for publication. and the pre-
liminsry chapters OF his report have just
been issued.
10 1907 the first permanent English set
Element on this continent was made at James
town. in Virginia. and during the 255 years
that have since elapsed steady stream Of
immigration has poured across the Atlantic
while the descendants Of the earlier settlers
have been constantly multiplying. producing
an aggregate population in 1860 of 81, 749'-
2Sl
The continent at the time ofits settlement
was principally covered with dense forest
and most Of the settlers were poor. but they
were eager to improve their condition by in-
dustry and economy, and they had the sa-
gacity and resolution to found and main
tain a republican government which secured
the most perfect protection of life and prop
srty ~ the smallest cost, while it left the
citizen untrammoled by restraining enact
ments to pursue his own well being. under
the stimulus. free competition and the nat
ural laws Of trade. Attic same time the
founders Of the northern States most wisely
made provision for the general education. of
the people. The combined industry of the
nation. thus guided BY intelligence. protec-
ted by law, unburdened by taxation and left
free in its Development. produced results
which are accurately shown By the census
statistics, aud which have never been equal
led in the same length Of time and from the
same beginnings. The continent has been
cleared Of its forest, made into cultivated
farms, covered with comfortable dwellings
reticulsted with roads. canals and railroads,
and dotted all over with opulent cilies.--
The mass Of people are supplied with food.
clothing, dwellings, and other means of
comfort and enjoyment immeasurably su-
perior to those of any other people that ev-
er existed.
Unfortunately afew negro slaves were
imported into the country from Africa. and
their descendants now number 4. AL. .765,
of whom 8. 1858, 100 are sill slaves, the others
being free. In the northern States the
slavery system was soon abandoned, but in
the southern States it has been cherished and
as the controlling sentimen; in those States
was opposed to popular education. the two
evils together the slavery of the blacks
and the ignorance of the whites-have gem
Grated state of society which seems to be
incompatible with free institutions that have
caused our prosperity and which have result
ed in desperate effort to overthrow them. II
this effort succeeds no future census will
exhibit so satisfactory result as those Of
1860. for our wealth will decline like that Of
the Grecian, Italian, and all other republics
after their institutions were overthrow; and
even il the effort does not succeed, it will
inflict very serious check on the prosperity
of the conutry. The lessons Of the war will
cause a great augmentation Of the naval and
military force, which with the interest on the
public debt. will multiply the taxes; bur
dening the industry ofthe people with load
that will powerfully tend to repress the
growth of our wealth. For generation
to come the census will probably exhibit q
much less rapid advancement than that
which is shown by the eight that have been
taken.
Each year however, from the increase in
machinery and Improvements in the modes
Of operation, We ara able to produce . larger
amount of wealth than daring the previo IS
year, and il the rebellion is pretty quickly
subdued, We shall soon pay off the ma
tional debt and resume the multiplication Of
our means. probably with greater rapidity
than ever before.-Scieahfc Americas.