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ately fit them for these pursuits. Nevertheless, the comparatively high prices that labour always commands, and that will continue to exist, so long as the unpeopled districts of the western country, as well the irreclaimed lands of many of the Atlantic states may create a demand for whatever supply the wants and necessities of the population may occasion, has retarded to some extent, the more general progress of manufactures, and that can seldom compete, especially in the production of the finer fabrics, with British skill, except aided by the protective duties that continue to be imposed, though ostensibly as a necessary source of revenue, under the present existing tariff laws of the country.

The discernment and prudence of America has often been questioned in this respect, and her policy in directing so much of her attention to her manufacturing capabilities, which for many years to come must contend with these disadvantages, rather than depend upon her immense agricultural resources, very generally condemned. The richness of her soil, which amply rewards the husbandman's industry and exertion, and repays him far beyond his first necessary outlay in its reclamation-the immense extent of territory within the Republic, and comparative cheapness of land, which must always encourage emigration from the most distant parts of the old world, points out agriculture as the most natural, as well the most important interest in America. The resources derived from it, though perhaps restricted in amount, are more certain, and in the end more

remunerative, from being removed beyond the casualties and restraints of an unsettled commercial system, and that with the ever-varying interests of opposite intersections of the people to contend with, must generally be the case-independent of its healthfulness, in the promotion of an independent, sturdy, and as far as it is possible to expect in America, a vigorous and robust population.

In speaking on this subject, the late President Jefferson, in his "Notes on Virginia," observes

"The political economists of Europe have established as a principle that every nation should endeavour to manufacture for itself, and this principle, like many others, is applied to America, without calculating the difference of circumstances that should often produce a different result. In Europe, the lands are either cultivated, or locked up against the cultivator. Manufactures must, therefore, be resorted to, from necessity, not from choice, to support the supplies of their people. But we have an immensity of land courting the industry of the husbandman. Is it best then, that all our citizens should be employed in its improvement, or that one-half should be called off from that to exercise manufactures and handicraft arts for the other? Those that labour in the earth are the chosen people of God, if ever he had a chosen people whose breasts he had made his peculiar deposit for substantial and generous virtue. It is the focus in which he keeps alive that sacred fire which otherwise might escape from the earth.

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Corruption of morals in the mass of the cultivators is a phenomenon of which no age or nation has furnished an example. It is the mark set on those who not looking up to heaven, to their own soil and industry (as does the husbandman), for their subsistence, depend upon the casualties and caprice of customers. Dependence begets subservience and venality; suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition. This, the natural consequence and progress of the arts, has sometimes been retarded by accidental circumstances; but generally speaking, the proportion which the whole of the other classes of citizens bears in any country, to that of its husbandmen, is the proportion of its unsound to its healthy parts, and is a good enough barometer, whereby to measure its degree of corruption.

"While we have land to labour on, never let us wish to see our citizens occupied at a work bench, or twirling a distaff. Carpenters, masons, and smiths, are wanted in husbandry; but for the general operations of manufacture, let our workshops remain in Europe. It is better to carry provisions and materials to workmen there, than to bring them to the provisions and materials, and with them their measures and principles. The loss by transportation of commodities across the Atlantic, will be made up in happiness and permanence of Government. The mobs of great cities, add just so much to the support of pure government as sores do to the strength of the human body. It is the man

ners, and spirit of a people, which preserve a republic in vigour; a degeneracy in these, soon cuts to the heart of its laws and constitution."

The commerce of the United States absorbs a large amount of capital, and gives employment to a numerous shipping, that are to be met with in every sea-traversing every remote section of the navigable world. Its extension has been unexampled, as well occasioned by the increased quantity of bulky materials, which constitute a material part of American exports, as from the great annual augmentation in the population of the country, and extent of its carrying trade. The registered tonnage, or tonnage employed in foreign trade, from 1793 to 1801, was 358,815 tons, having nearly doubled in eight years. From 1793 to 1810 the increase was 616,535 tons. The tonnage employed in the fisheries, also increased from 1793, to 1807, about 40,000 tons.

The whole tonnage of the United States in 1810, was 1,424,780 tons, of which the different States owned the following proportions:

dred miles of sea-coast, with numerous inlets and harbours; her amount of tonnage is considerably greater than other State in the Union. The ton

any

nage of the principal sea-ports in 1810, was, of-

The total United States tonnage in 1815 was 1,368,127 tons, being 56,643 tons less than in 1810, so much had peace all over the world lessened the external commerce of the United States. In 1820 it was 1,280,166.24; in 1825, 1,432,110.77; in 1830, 1,191,776.43; in 1835, 1,824,940; in 1839, 2,096,478.81; and in 1843, in which we have the last published returns, 2,158,602 tons.

Of the amount of United States tonnage for the year 1839, the following States and territories owned, viz.: