The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-31
Our Manufacturers aud the war
r-, Lesson from the Census.

Individuals grow rich" il has been
said, "by the acquisition OF wealth pre-
viOusly existing nations by the creation
of wealth that did not before exist"
With cettainlimitations, this is undoubt-
edly true. For every country will obvi-
ously develop its resources and power in
proportion as its citizens are quick TO find
now sources of material wealth, and la n
bOriOus in ayailing themselves of such as
are old. Hence, as the Inventive powers
and enterprising genius of any people
lead them TO work 60 better purpose, so
in proportion as they possess these high
qualities, is their growth in Opulence
and prosperity. ..a.r ,...u-. y, .rr
A passing glance at any Of the -four
ishi1g branches Of our national industry
may not be without interest in this point
of view. Take, for instance, the deparl-
ment of manufactures. In 1860 the an
nual products, according to the census
report, was over one thousand millions of
dollars, (Sl,0l396 ,4G3D and to show
how much the country was enriched
thereby, the average rate of profit was r
stated at 43.43 per cent A glance at the
figures shows that the aggregate gain TO
the country on the years production must,
| on this estimate, have amounted TO S434,
100000. Moreover, il must be remem-
! bered that since the year 1910, the small
er establishments have been disregarded
| in the census reports, so that IL may be
safely said that 1--WE hundred millions of
! dollars wero the years increase of wealth
| derived by the country from this single
/ branch of its industrial enterprise.
The amount, however, has steadily in
| creased since that time; for new manu-.
features have been introduced, and an
augmented demand has sprung up, both
at home and abroad, for American goods.
| The last census returns are sufficiently
completed TO show that the total value Of
our manufactures for the year 1860 has
swelled to tho unexampled sum of 900
millions Of dollars. II we add the omit
ted products Of the small establishments,
the total will be over 1000 millions, and
| the profits, az the same rate as before.
will amount TO S68 Millions This hand.
some contribute niO the Opulenee Of their
country was the work Of about 100000
male, and 235, 900 female operatives
| According 20 these data, no less than 297
dollars a year Is added 10 the national
wealth by every man engaged In manu-
featuring labor. Such is the money
value of our industrious artisans Of the
country, and such the productiveness Of
skilled industry, when made available by
abundant capital, home markets, LAHORE
saving machinery, and dauntloss Aneri-
can enterprise.
Here lies, In part, the explanation Of
that amazing recuperatiye power which
I 10 a.. 4 "A
exile, the envy Of oppressed nations, and
the scene Of the greatest industrial tri-
umphs the Anglo-aaXon race ever achioy-
ed. Every man In our restless energetic
community is worker--most are skilled
workers Hence, the unparalleled in
crease Of our national wealth is the result
of our ever augmented deXterity, intelli-
gence and judgment with which our la
Dor is directed, and Of the unsurpassed
ingenious contrivances by which that la
Dor is economised, while its productive
ness is enlarged.
Does any one, then, affect 10 doubt the
ability Of this great hourishing nation 10
r put down a rebellion which aims 10 mu-
tilate, If not 10 destroy the fair, glorious
Tree Of Liberty which our fathers have
planted, have watcred with their best
blood, and At last consigned with their
diving hands 10 our care, Tor the behOof Of
generations yet unborn We need only
point out 10 such a man the fact that
100000 Of our millions of operatives
have created, within the limits OF q single
year, a larger aggregate Of wealth, and
have enriched the nation with a larger
amount Of profits, than will suffice 70
carry on the war for two years, should
, the struggle, contrary 20 our hopes, last
80 long. As our cause is the noblest the
, holiest for which men ever fought, 30 our
superiority Ia numbers, in resources, 10
: such that IL rests only with ourselves 70
make the conflict both short aud decisive