The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-04

Can't John Smith, the most wonderiui
combination of chivalry and common sense
that history records, complained bitterly OF
one Of his dircst Affections IN America, and
pe,itioned most urgently the English author
tiles for relief 1t was not the savage war
riors of the Western wilds who thus veXeu
his valorous soul, and made him almost &c
spair Of the success of his great enterprise
The very sight of his grim face on the heio
of battle was enough to scare whole 1r'oo
of red men to the thlckest wilds OF theif
forests. 1t was not ptstilenee nor famine
that made him quail, and mourn, ana rage
No! II was GcaAsme'. 1t was men VINO
we're too proud and too lag to Work, VINO
Thought labor beneath their dignity, who
consumed the fruits Of the ear,h FASTER IMAM
John Smith could collect them, and who,
having nothing else to do, were continually
wrangling with each other and with him.
and wasting in selfindulgence and selfish
auarrels the little energy Of their natures
Send me over, said Smith implorlngiy to
the London Company, a hundred carpen'
ters, bIacksmiths, diggers up OF trees roots,
Instead of these gentlemen
II Was not that "the gentlemen in the
true acceptation Of that term, was distaste
full to one who was himself the first eentie-
man of that age, and the very Hover ana
mirror of the worlds chiyalry. 1t was not
that radical aud dwelling spirit married the
fair proportions OF his great understanding
and character The only radicali:m that he
-, fs words the ttluGinp
ND of the trees roots the only 'lcveiiihs'
that which pulls down and marches over the
obstacles 10 the cultivation Of the sou ana
The establishment of civilization Ii was an
often quoted maxim with him that ne VINO
would not work, neither should nc eat, ana
that kind of gentlemen lie wanted MOI III
Am erica. lie held that labor is not beneath
the dignity of true gent pan, and the
I,afers and yagabonns who looked upon Il
in that light as the worst enemies OF the
.olony Of Virginia Peter the Great seems
50 have had as keen an appreciation as capt
n.niih Of the value of mechanical labor. lie
z,eriecled himself in various trades, and en-
dyayoret TO iifiuse the knowledge OF them
among h!s countrymen. 1t Is Impossible
that any nation should attain prosperity, or
preserve it when attained, where the develop
Uncut of manufacturing, agricultural, or me
caanical industry is held in light esteem
Among the most cunning devices of Yam
kee legislation 10 render the south forever
a helpless tributary, was that system OIL
,olicy by which the North managed to ino-
nopo,za manufactures, and cajoled the
South iuio the belief that the cultivation OF
the soil was the only species OF labor winch
would rcmuaeratc her enterprise. II Tie
< Ju,h had diversified her industry, II she
lad built up manufactures aud commerce.
sGd encouraged mechanical Industry III
every form, how different would be her con-
tiition now, What would she care 10!
blockadipg squadrcns? What would she
have seen Of those enormous prices which
are now paid for every production OF me
chsu;caI labor? She would be world IL
herself; size would herself produce every
article OF wearing apparel, CT household and
agricultural use, build her OWE iron-clad.
aud rams, and construct ali her own weapon:
of war as we'll Us peace. But, unfortunately
fhe energy OF the South was devoted eXc,u
pively to agriculture and politics. Whai
might she be now if the vast capacity which
so long guided the affairs of the United
States, and raised 1t, under long succession
of Southern Presidents and statesmen, to al
amazing pitch of power ana glory, had beef
devoted 10 home affairs and the develop
ment of her own Industrial resources?
Let us trust that, In severing the last lin
of our connection with the United States
Syc are entering q career not only OF nomna
but of real independence. We must not
dependent hereafter upon New England o
Old England for any production OF huma
hands that human necessities require. W
must not dream Of giving even our carryin
trade to foreign powers. There was tim
when, in our anxiety for friends abroad
were proffering our future commerce
England or France, but they have been de
TO all those Establishments. This, whic
some among US have considered an evil to
tune, may prove the best OF all fortunes
Certainly it will If it leads us to depend upG
ourselves. We shall have no friends to r
ward, for the excellent reasonaAat We havel
friends We have been left aloneto strngg
with colossal foe, and alone we should res
the fruits of that struggle. We have Il
greatest natural facilities forbecoming gre
commercial and manufacturing people,
we'll "a mechanical labor. We must lea
to exa,t and dignity labor, and make 1t no
orable In every branch OF human entcrpris
We must encourage none of that genie
loafing aud laziness which impeded Capital
John Smith In the foundation of the Vi
ginn colony We should not import the d
graded manufacturing labor of Europe, b,
zaise up artisans among cur OWN peopl
manufacture our own clothing, furnitur
;.nd agricultural implements, build our on
si..ps, and man them with our own seame
Congress and the State Legislatures shou
encourage Mechanics Institutes, like tn
which was established In Richmond befo
lhe war aud similar associations in EDglaI
which the aristocrGcy OF that country ha
wisely assisted by their counsels and NEAR
aud cheerea by their personal presence a
corporation at the annual celebrate 49,
fVe shall never again have such a war rs q
ou our hands if We learn TO provide by O
own labor for our own wants. The swo
has acfieyed our independence, but 1t is OF
the indusiry'of the artisan and the agric
,utist which can make it secure.