The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-09-12
The Dismal swamp Canal.

Ine DISMAL swamp canal.
The protective spirit has its origin and
foundation in the principle of seldshness
This, in the estimation of individualism, and
communities, which are the individuals of
which society is composed, regards its inter-
ests as sacrificed by the prosperity of others
which may be defined, the general prosperity.
This old protective spirit has had its advo-
Gates in all times and communities, and will
probably have them to the end OF time. 1t
has always prevailed and will continue to
prevail 1t has manifested itself whenever
any improvements have been introduced by
the ingenuity of man to economist labor and
facilitate the agricultural, commercial and
manufacturing elements OF country, by
which its material resources may be more
speedily and effectually developed. 1t had
its advocates when the coach and steam wei e
preached, and when the various improve
ments in the Cotton manufacture were intro
dued in England, by which labor was econo-
missed and that great source of wealth, the
Cotton manufacture, was enlarged to the
manifest benefit and advantage of all classes .
of the community. The opposition to which
such Improvements have given rise, has also
led to Illegal and disgraceful mobs Of men,
who like the shrine-makers of old, when "the
new way" was preached, deemed that their
peculiar vocation was to be sacrificed by the
genius Of HARGREAvEs, an ARKwEIGHT, a
CRoMPToE, or a WHITNEY. This protec
tive spirit loses sight of the fact in political
economy, that all Improvements result in the
general good of mankind. of which its advo-
Gates form part; and that all railroads and
canals are constructed for the purpose of de-
veloping the material resources nf a country
by facilitating INSTRUMENTATION bringing
distant and remote localities, in the interior,
in nearer ju1taposition with the great marts
or centers Of trade, thereby acting as CO.
workers with the agricuiturist and manufac
surer, and performing the service Qf hand
maids to commerce.
The United States Government has lately
by act of Congress provided for the sale of
it. stock in the Dismal Swamp Canal Com
parry, work, in the construction Of which,
vast amount Of money has been expended
This act of the Government has attracted the
notice of the protective spirit, which, it is
said, exists in a portion of this community,
and which has been stimulated to apprehen-
sion of injury to Norfolk, growing ont Of the
stupid fear that the present gut, which con-
meets us with North Carolina u4ay be en-
larged and converted into ahip-canai Out
Of this apprehension has sprung the absurd
idea, born of the protective spirit, that Nor
folk will bs injured because the ships laden
with produce, that VII come through, will
pass by her and go elsewhere, The argll-
ment assumes this conclusion: therefore
shackle the facilities Of trade and the develop
ment Of the agricultural resources of the inte-
ror, because we are without the energy and
enterprise to manipulate the products and
render them subservient to our prosperity and
profit" Such corollary il so absurd, and its
spirit so contracted that it only needs to be
stated in order to expose its nonsense, and to
elicit the hope and belief that it has but few
advocates in Our midst IT. when the period
arrives, we are unable to handle the products
that may be brought to our doors. then let us
wish them God-speed in their transit to others
who are able to do So We must eypel the
dog-in-the- or protective spirit, if we
ever expect to admit that more enlightened,
liberal and unbranded one Of freedom and
progress, which characteristics the agein which
We live In other words, we must abandon
the slow-coach argument