Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-11-26
Exports and Imports.

We need to build up the clements OF bust
ness in all branches at home. Manufactures
and mechanic arts will spring up as soon as the
region around US, which has been deSo!ate oy
armies and bostilites, shall fully revive aud
pour its agricultural products into our markets.
Here should be the place for their sale, and
for the sale of what is wanted in return. The
mischief of seeking markets and purchases
afar off, arc thus set forth insthe Norfolk Old
Dominion:
" rhc farmers of Norfolk co. and the whole
of Eastern Virginia Rave for years been IN the
habit of exporting or sending away TO distant
mark cts he truck or produce Of their farms
Their experiences, added TO that Of other PEG
pie in O. her parts OF his country ard Europe
gucs to swell the proof Of the tact that any
country which exports raw agricultural produce
IN 50 dong is literally sending away TO other
cIimcs the very elements which con>tl ute the
fertility of her soil and necessarily becnmeS
30 rer and weaker as the work ot ruin goes o..
|, is because Of this fict lha' We are to-day
h alng 50 much abOut The WORKOUT lands OF
Eastern Virginia. Our soil has been robbtd
=" support drnsc populations in other carts Of
he world han our own, thus forcing Us 10
% CONF the "hrwcr> Of wood and drawers OF
water" for the merchant princes and manutac-
turing districts OF the North and OF Europe.
While by this exporting policy we have
robbed our soil Of its native fertility, We have
10, only robbed the soil, but have robbed cut
selves OF the richest legacy on earth. and this,
too, by The miserable policy, OF building Up the
fortunes of q people foreign to US IN every
sense of the word The wealth a0d prosperity,
the power and grandeur, Of Great Britain, have
been built up by the simple process OF lmp0rf
the resources Of Goa! and iron which she pos
scssad: Massachusetts and Rhode Island are
American proofs (and they are not isolated
cases. Of the advantages gained by importing
raw products. They have and are cnlich!ug
themselves at the expense Of a people who
have allowed them to tap the veins from which
the life blood OF their soil flows in rivers.
Steamer after steamer, vessel after vessel,
leave our dock. laden with truck to support
the people of Massachusetts,, engaged in manu-
featuring our cotton into cloth-Whch we buy
back again with the profits Of exportation,
manufacture, and importation, and the exhauS.
ton of our soil attached. By carrying out this
ruinous exporting and importing policy, we
drive labor from us, and force the sklliu
artisan to accumulate wealth. for the State OF
Massachusetts, or for fore On nations For
example: We send a bale Of cotton to Lowell,
and with it corn, wheat, or farm truck to sup
port the people engaged in manufacturing oHr
bale of cotton. We sell the cotton and truck
for prices which in the abstract appear very
profitable.
But let US follow this cotton and truck to
the end. The capitalist Of the North charges
US with the freights and commissions, and
makes US pay it, by deducting It from the price
of our produce, and then takes our cottoa and
runs it through his mill, worked by operatives
who are fed on our truck Is it not evident
that, in buying the cloth manufactured from
cotton raised upon our soil, We also buy
our truck back again, at wonderfully advaDc
ed price? We need but glance at the condi-
our cities-thc sparsely-settled condition Of
labor, TO readily understand that our custom Of
exporting and importing is all wrong. We
must bring the loom, the anvil, the machine
shop, mechanic arts, and trades Of all kinds, to
our assistance, and by placing them in lnmc
diate conjunction with the farmers OF Virginia,
do away with the ruinous necessity Of letting
our life-blood flow from our veins of wealth,
to enrich the already rich "blood-suckcr5' OF
New as well as Old England. When our
farmers can obtain better prices for their pro
ducc at bone than they can find tor it abroad
when the consumer becomes his nelghbor, the
mystery OF Virginia land spolia'ion will have
been solved, and not before. Our expectations
will consist in goods and wares representing
labor in all its diversified forms, as well as the
corn and truck consumed by the people who
manufacture them. Then we shall cease to
rob our soil, ruin our own and children, S for
tunes and become wealthy and truly great