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fertile land still uncultivated in Canada； in Australia； and in
other quarters of the world？ Was it not almost as easy for England
to transplant her surplus population to those countries as for the
North Americans to transplant theirs from the shores of the
Atlantic to the banks of the Missouri？ If so； what occasion had
England not only continuously to protect her home manufactures； but
to strive to extend them more and more？
The argument of the school； that with a high rate of wages in
agriculture； manufactures could not succeed by the natural course
of things； but only by being forced like hothouse plants； was found
to be partially well…founded； that is to say； it was applicable
only to those manufactured goods which； being small in bulk and
weight as compared to their value； are produced principally by hand
labour； but was not applicable to goods the price of which is less
influenced by the rate of wages； and as to which the disadvantage
of higher wages can be neutralised by the use of machinery； by
water power as yet unused； by cheap raw materials and food； by
abundance of cheap fuel and building materials； by light taxation
and increased efficiency of labour。
Besides； the Americans had long ago learnt from experience that
agriculture cannot rise to a high state of prosperity unless the
exchange of agricultural produce for manufactures is guaranteed for
all future time； but that； when the agriculturist lives in America
and the manufacturer in England； that exchange is not unfrequently
interrupted by wars； commercial crises； or foreign tariffs； and
that consequently； if the national well…being is to rest on a
secure foundation； 'the manufacturer；' to use Jefferson's words；
'must come and settle down in close proximity to the
agriculturist。'
At length the Americans came to realise the truth that it
behoves a great nation not exclusively to set its heart upon the
enjoyment of proximate material advantages； that civilisation and
power more important and desirable possessions than mere
material wealth； as Adam Smith himself allows can only be
secured and retained by the creation of a manufacturing power of
its own； that a country which feels qualified to take and to
maintain its place amongst the powerful and civilised nations of
the earth must not shrink from any sacrifice in order to secure
such possessions for itself； and that at that time the Atlantic
states were clearly the region marked out for such possessions。
It was on the shores of the Atlantic that European settlers and
European civilisation first set a firm foot。 Here； at the first；
were populous； wealthy； and civilised states created； here was the
cradle and seat of their sea fisheries； coasting trade； and naval
power； here their independence was won and their union founded。
Through these states on the coast the foreign trade of the Union is
carried on； through them it is connected with the civilised world；
through them it acquires the surplus population； material； capital；
and mental powers of Europe； upon the civilisation； power； and
wealth of these sea…board states depend the future civilisation；
power； wealth； and independence of the whole nation and its future
influence over less civilised communities。 Suppose that the
population of these Atlantic states decreased instead of growing
larger； that their fisheries； coasting trade； shipping engaged in
foreign trade and foreign trade itself； and； above all； their
general prosperity； were to fall off or remain stationary instead
of progressing； then we should see the resources of civilisation of
the whole nation； the guarantees for its independence and external
power； diminish too in the same degree。 It is even conceivable
that； were the whole territory of the United States laid under
cultivation from sea to sea； covered with agricultural states； and
densely populated in the interior； the nation itself might
nevertheless be left in a low grade as respects civilisation；
independence； foreign power； and foreign trade。 There are certainly
many nationalities who are in such a position and whose shipping
and naval power are nil； though possessing a numerous inland
population！
If a power existed that cherished the project of keeping down
the rise of the American people and bringing them under subjection
to itself industrially； commercially； or politically； it could only
succeed in its aim by trying to depopulate the Atlantic states of
the Union and driving all increase of population； capital； and
intellectual power into the interior。 By that means it would not
only check the further growth of the nation's naval power； but
might also indulge the hope of getting possession in time of the
principal defensive strategical positions on the Atlantic coast and
at the mouths of the rivers。 The means to this end would not be
difficult to imagine； it would only be necessary to hinder the
development of manufacturing power in the Atlantic states and to
insure the acceptance of the principle of absolute freedom of
foreign trade in America。 If the Atlantic states do not become
manufacturers； they will not only be unable to keep up their
present degree of civilisation； but they must sink； and sink in
every respect。 Without manufactures how are the towns along the
Atlantic coast to prosper？ Not by the forwarding of inland produce
to Europe and of English manufactured goods to the interior； for a
very few thousand people would be sufficient to transact this
business。 How are the fisheries to prosper？ The majority of the
population who have moved inland prefer fresh meat and fresh…water
fish to salted； they require no train oil； or at least but a small
quantity。 How is the coasting trade along the Atlantic sea…board to
thrive？ As the largest portion of the coast states are peopled by
cultivators of land who produce for themselves all the provisions；
building materials； fuel； &c。 which they require； there is nothing
along the coast to sustain a transport trade。 How are foreign trade
and shipping to distant places to increase？ The country has nothing
to offer but what less cultivated nations possess in
superabundance； and those manufacturing nations to which it sends
its produce encourage their own shipping。 How can a naval power
arise when fisheries； the coasting trade； ocean navigation； and
foreign trade decay？ How are the Atlantic states to protect them
selves against foreign attacks without a naval power？ How is
agriculture even to thrive in these states； when by means of
canals； railways； &c。 the produce of the much more fertile and
cheaper tracts of land in the west which require no manure； can be
carried to the east much more cheaply than it could be there
produced upon soil exhausted long ago？ How under such circumstances
can civilisation thrive and population increase in the eastern
states； when it is clear that under free trade with England all
increase of population and of agricultural capital must flow to the
west？ The present state of Virginia gives but a faint idea of the
condition into which the Atlantic states would be thrown by the
absence of manufactures in the east； for Virginia； like all the
southern states on the Atlantic coast； at present takes a
profitable share in providing the Atlantic states with agricultural
produce。
All these things bear quite a different complexion； owing to
the existence of a flourishing manufacturing power in the Atlantic
states。 Now population； capital； technical skill and intellectual
power； flow into them from all European countries； now the demand
for the manufactured products of the Atlantic states increases
simultaneously with their consumption of the raw materials supplied
by the west。 Now the population of these states； their wealth； and
the number and extent of their towns increase in equal proportion
with the cultivation of the western virgin lands； now； on account
of the larger population； and the consequently increased demand for
meat； butter； cheese； milk； garden produce； oleaginous seeds；
fruit； &c。； their own agriculture is increasing； now the sea
fisheries are flourishing in consequence of the larger demand for
salted fish and train oil； now quantities of provisions； building
materials； coal； &c。 are being conveyed along the coast to furnish
the wants of the manufacturing population； now the manufacturing
population produce a large quantity of commoditi