tucky, 75,000 320,000 Which are valued thus 290,000 bales upland at $75 30,000 sea island 115 6 per bbl $240 per hand 180 140 107 84 We have no certain returns whereby to calculate the quantity of sugar and molasses made in the United States. In 1810, the marshals returned 9,665,108lbs. of muple sugar, and 9,671 bhds. from 22,050,000 the cane, together about 20 millions of pounds3,450,000 with 3,590 hhds. or 179,500 galls. molasses. The quantity of maple sugar made has not, probably, in*$25,500,000 creased; but it may be safe to say that Louisiana now makes at least 30 millions from the cane. The bale is not a determinate quantity. But we 6. Rice-the export last year was 137,848 tierces, are told that it may be averaged at 320lbs. This valued at $3,555,000, $26 per tierce, nearly. For estimate then would give us a product of only the year 1809, '10, '11, and '12 the average annual 102,600,000 lbs. The average of the four years ex- export was about 115,000 tierces. The estimate port before the war, viz. for 1808, 1809, 1810 and before referred to, gives the whole crop of 1816, as 1811, was about 55 millions; but in 1815 we ex-being only 110,000 tierces, valued at $3,600,000. ported 83, and in 1816, 82 millions. We know that The quantity we think cannot be less than 150,000. the cultivation of this commodity has been greatly extended; and if we can take 80 millions as the surplus quantity over the home consumption, the whole quantity raised can hardly be less than 120 or 130 millions-it having been estimated that our factories could consume 27 millions, as they stood in 1815. These have somewhat declined, perhaps, but household manufactures, as before observed, have greatly increased; and we shall put down the crop of last year at 125 millions of pounds, of which 13 may have been sea-islands. But as its home consumption comes in lieu of wheat, corn, and other grain, we shall consider it as already accounted for in the vegetable food we have supposed was consumed. The cultivation of rice appears to be declining. 7. Sheep's wool, hemp, flax and flaxseed, must make a large amount of value. Perhaps as high as 40 millions. But this is altogether "guess work." 8. The produce of the forest exported last year, such as skins and furs, all sorts of lumber and timber, naval stores, and pot and pearl ashes, was valued at $7,293,000. This amount is considered as agricultural, because the labor required to prepare the articles for market is chiefly of the agricultu ralists. 4. Of Tobacco we exported in 1815, 85,337 hhds. and in 1816, 69,241 hhds--the last valued at $12,809,000, or an average of 185 dollars per hhd. For the years 1808, 1809, 1810 and 1811, the average was somewhat more than 45,000 hhds. The cultivation was declining for several years before the war, Having thus passed through the chief things in but has, since the peace, been far more rapidly ex detail, we shall endeavor to ascertain the portion tending-and we may accept 70,000 hhds. as the of labor that might be added to the business of surplus quantity. The table before referred to esti-agriculture by abstaining from the following manumates the whole crop of last year at 127,000 hads. factures: -valued as follows: 45.000 Virginia, 30,000 Louis'na & Kentucky 7,000 North-Carolina, at $130 at 96 $14,562,000 90 7,500 South-Carolina, 7,500 Georgia, 30,000 Maryland, This gives an average of only $114 per hhd-871 less than the treasury estimate of last year. But the price of the article has decreased; and this may be a pretty fair estimate of the quantity produced. The export of manufactured tobacco is not worth taking into the account. 1. Spinning and weaving. 2. Works in iron, except common smith's work. 3. Distilling and brewing, 4. In glass, clay, paper and paints. For these items take in all that we talk of abandoning to make out our proposition. It may be estimated that one fifth of the whole population of the United States is capable bearing arms; of course, of performing a day's labor in the field. One-tenth of the whole, males over 45 and lads under 16, may be regarded as "half-hands." We have 7,850,000 free persons and 1,350,000 slaves 5. Sugar is becoming a very important item in our agriculture; and the time is close at hand when it will nearly cease to be imported. Large tracts of land are continually brought into the cultivation of Whole amount of day's labor the cane. Mr. Darby tells us there are 250,000 But not more than of the people are acres in Louisiana fit to produce it. We have rea- engaged in agriculture-the other are son to believe there is a much greater quantity than mechanics and manufacturers, seamen, that; but 250,000 acres, worked by 83,333 hands, at fishermen and watermen-merchants, traone to three acres, calculated to produce 1000lbs. ders and shop-keepers, and other dealers, per acre, would give us 250 millions of pounds! in town and country, civil and military offi a quantity that we should not know what to do with. cers and men, lawyers, doctors and cler Besides, it succeeds well in Georgia and the most gymen, persons living on income, &c. southerly parts of South Carolina. At present, it The latter classes (merahants, &c.) may is the most profitable crop of the planter-Mr. Dur-have in them unproductive labor to the by estimates the product, per hand, thus: amount of *This valuation is not at such a high rate as that made at the treasury department, allowing the bales to be of 300lbs. weight each, as it is probable they were rated at. of 24 millions a year, including the cost of 27 mil-culture. [I am, indeed, pleased to find that what lions of lbs. of cotton-and of employing, in all their were chiefly suppositions, or my own calculations, departments, 100,000 persons; 10,000 of whom were are so nearly supported by acknowledged facts. males above 17 years old, 24,000 do. under that It inspires me with a confidence that I may be tolerage-the rest, 66,000, women and female children. ably correct.] Knowing the ages of the boys employed in such On the same principles, the woolen manufacturing establishments to be, generally, from 8 to 12 years establishments afford us only $760, and, deducting old, only, we cannot estimate the day's labor in the whole as equal to more than that of 16,000 hands, fit for agricultural services. But, as much of the work of those factories goes out in yarn, and is afterwards spun by men, we shall rate them at 20,000, which is a large allowance. the value of the raw material, nearly $500 per hand, as above. But the rate of profit is much greater in the household manufactures; in which nearly all the labor, except that of weaving, is performed by wo men who otherwise might not labor to any profit at all. Taking the preceding estimates as data and The woolen manufacturing establishments, in a making due allowance for the fact last stated, I have report made to congress [see vol. X. p. 82] were calculated and do conclude, that the supply of 132 estimated to produce a value of 19 millions annu- millions worth of cloths (of all sorts) made by the ally, the raw material of which was worth 7 millions; people of the United States to meet their own and to employ constantly 50,000 persons, and occa- wants, does not take from agriculture more than sionally 50,000 more. The average number may 102,000 hands, that might reasonably be expected have been 60,000; neither the ages nor the sexes of to labor in it-viz. 50,000 for manufactures in co:those persons are mentioned-but, as the manufac-ton, &c. and 52,000 for those of wool; and they creture of wool is less adapted to the labor of women ate a home market for 45 millions of dollars worth of and children than that of cotton, we can suppose wool, cotton and flax. that the male spinners, weavers, dyers, fullers, Our works in iron, other than common smith's shearers, &c. &c. may have possessed a quantity of work, in glass, paper and earthen wares, and in the labor equal to that of 25,000 field hands. distilleries and breweries, producing an annual vas From these elements we may, perhaps, be able lue of 65 millions of dollars, (the most of the busito get an idea of the whole quantity of labor that ness being performed by men) require about 54,000 might be applied to agriculture by a retirement able hands; which, including the cost of the raw materials and their waste, both of which is very from the manufactures stated. We have calculated that it requires a value great, the vast capital employed, high wages paid, equal to $178,500,000 to clothe the people of the with the tear and wear of costly machinery and apUnited States, to which we must add 15 millions Paratus, appears to me to be reasonable-being at for all the great variety of stuff's needful to them in the rate of $1200 per hand. their family capacities-together 193,500,000. We have thus patiently waded through the chief Mr. Briggs, in his inestimable letter to the chair-points that strike us as being very important to a man of the congressional committee on commerce due consideration of the subject before us, and and manufactures, January, 1816, [see WEEKLY RE-shall proceed to our summary, and haste to conclude GISTER, Vol IX. 389] ascertained that the amount of this long and laborious article. RECAPITULATION. We have seen that the cost of clothing and sup It is goods imported and consumed for clothing and of cloth consumed for family purposes, in 1804, (for an average) was equal to $5 for every person in the United States, at their official value or original cost. plying the people of the United States, as stated, If we were to judge by the imports of the year 1815 amounts to 310,000,000 dollars, per annum. [see present vol. p. 186] the same result would needlesss to repeat the items which make up the nearly appear-but there was an extra supply in this aggregrate. 1815, for our manufactures have done something since 1804, and a more reasonable estimate may 1. Grain and meat annually consumedbe at 48 per head. Which, deducted from the whole cost of clothing and all sorts of cloths, leaves nearly 132 millions to be furnished by home manufactures. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. $86,500,000 9,200,000 persons at 7 bushels of 2. Food of horses.— 155,112,000 12,000,000 253,612,000, 25,000,000 36,000,000 *61,000.000 2,000,000 horses at 14 tons of hay per The work in the cotton establishments, at the rates stated, gives the great sum of $1225 for each field hand; so much of the labor being performed by machinery, attended by females and children whose labor would otherwise be lost. Deducting the value of the raw material, (74 millions for the whole) we have $862 for every such hand. Herein we see the real advantage of manufactures-and it will not appear that we are very far from the truth, when it 3 Cotton-whole crop is known to be generally believed that the labor of one man, aided and assisted as he is by lubor-saving machinery and by women and children, has been generally con- 4. Tabacco-whole crop sidered as equal to that of four men employed in agri *This would not be so great if luxury had not so much increased-we are now retiring a little from it. 112,000,000 lb upland-at 25 cents 13,000,000-sea island If there are any errors of great magnitude in the preceding, (and where so much depends upon opi. nion many will be of opinion, no doubt, that there 9,596,000 are some, notwithstanding our earnest endeavors to ascertain truth) I am confident that they are in favor of agriculture. The above balance must stand an nually against us by ceasing to manufacture the few things named. It is for those that are opposed to manufactures to shew how that balance is to be paid. I say it is impossible, utterly IMPOSSIBLE to pay it. 2,093,000 But we shall have to recur to this matter again as 350,000 we proceed to examine some of the rest of the propositions, and dismiss it for the present. 426,441,000 †13,800,000 Wood for other purposes than fuel †15,000,000 products Total annual value of agricultural $462,534,000 Now to shew what might be added to this product by the abandonment of spinning and weaving, and the works in iron, glass, paper and paints, and of distilling and brewing. Three fourths of all the labor of all the people of the United States, fitted for agriculture, is enged in the business of agriculture, and furnishes us with commodities worth $426,441,080, exclusive of the product of the forest, because the labor of 1000 men would do nothing, (according to our present habits) to increase the quantity of timber. The whole amount of days' labor performed, or that may be performed, in the field is 2,437,500-three fourths of which is 1,828,125, or about $233 per hand, which, at the present very high price of produce, may be nearly right. To the first amount Add the amount of labor equal to that of 154,000 men, (the manufactures ceasing as proposed) at $233 each Add again, for the labor of seamen,§ fishermen and watermen, snipwrights &c. 100,000 at $233 Product of the forest that might be exported 426,441,000 PROPOSITION THE SECOND. That if agriculture could furnish such surplus, the fo reign market will not receive it one year in tenunless at such rates and on such terms as would beg gar us. Wheat, at 50 cents a bushel, delivered on our sea-board, for example, might, perhaps, general: ly find a market-but could we raise it at that price? This requires only a very brief exposition. Ac cording to the preceding estimates we should have nearly $180,000,000 worth of agricultural products to spare. There cannot be a steady foreign market for it-and the surplus would be so great as to low. er the price or value of the whole 50 per cent. Every thing would be a perfect drug in the market. PROPOSITION THE THIRD. That the foreign market is never to be relied upon, and may be lost altogether by war, &c. No argument is necessary to demonstrate this proposition. The fact must be evident to every one. The 4th proposition is interesting, and with the 5th, 6th and 7th, will make the subject of the next number. than the amount stated-but the amounts given may be about the value they are of to the farmer. The free laborers assisted by horses and oxen, may earn more than this, but we must recollect that almost one third of the number of days' work we have allowed to agriculture is performed by slaves, Sugar, Mr. Darby says, may produce to the plan. 35,882,000 ter 240 per hand, cotton 184,-tobacco only 107which it is presumed is an addition to the culture 462,323,000 of their own bread stuffs, &c. These are added because the cost of their maintenance is calcuated, and because the value of 23,300,000 their labor is estimated in the consumption of the people. 9,000,000 To pay 310,000,000 with, or exceedingly re trench our present expences. And we have the capacity to produce $495,653,000 a value of Declaration of Independence. *30 millions from the cane and 10 from the ma Philadelphia, June 16th 1817. ple. We have left out the value of this product in Messrs. William M'Corkle and Son, the table of costs by charging only the amount of Gentlemen-Several applications have been recentforeign sugar consumed, but it is of no great conse-ly made to me to state the errors which I had ob quence, †These items, at market, are worth much more See next colunm served, and often mentioned, in the publications of the names of the members of the continental congress, who declared in favor of the independence of the United States, on the 4th of July, 1776—1 have not at present sufficient health and leisure to reply on comparing the names published as subscribed to severally to each application. There can be but one the declaration of independence, he observed a vacorrect statement of facts: one public statement, riance, and the omission in some publications, of therefore, through the press, will serve the pur- the name of Thomas M'Kean; having procured a pose of the gentlemen who have made the request, certificate from the secretary of state that the name and may also give satisfaction to the minds ofothers, of Thomas M'Kean was affixed in his own hand writwho have turned their thoughts upon the subject. ed to the original declaration of independence, If I am correct in my statement, it may be of use though omitted in the journals of congress, Mr. to future historians; if not, my errors can be readily Dallas then requested an explanation of this cir corrected. I wish, therefore, by means of your pa- cumstance from me, and from my answer to this per, to make the following statement of the facts application, the following extracts were taken and within my knowledge, relative to the subject of en-published by Mr. Dallas in the appendix to the first quiry. volume of his edition of the laws. On Monday, the 1st day of July, 1776, the argu "For several years past I have been taught to ments in congress for and against the declaration think less unfavorable of scepticism than formerly. of independence, having been exhausted, and the So many things have been misrepresented, mistated measures fully considered, the congress resolved and erroneously printed (with seeming authenticity) itself into a committee of the whole; the question under my own eye, as in my opinion to render those was put by the chairman, and all the states voted in who doubt of every thing, not altogether inexcusathe affirmative, except Pennsylvania, which was in ble. The publication of the declaration of indepenthe negative, and Delaware, which was equally diedence on the 4th of July, 1776, as printed in the vided Pennsylvania at that time had seven mem-journals of congress, vol. 2, page 242, &c. and also bers, viz. John Morton, Benjamin Franklin, James in the acts of most public bodies since, so far as reWilson, John Dickinson, Robert Morris, Thomas spects the names of the delegates or deputies who Willing, and Charles Humphreys. All were present made the declaration, has led to the above reflecon the first of July, and the three first named voted tion. By the printed publications referred to, it for the declaration of independence, the remaining would appear as if the fifty-five gentlemen, whose four against it. The state of Delaware had three names are there printed, and none other, were on members, Cæsar Rodney, George Read, and my self. that day, personally present in congress, and assentGeorge Read and I were present. I voted for it, ing to the declaration; whereas the truth is otherGeorge Read against it. When the president re-wise. The following gentlemen were not members sumed the chair, the chairman of the committee of on the 4th of July, 1776, namely, Matthew Thornthe whole made his report, which was not acted ton, Benjamin Rush, George Clymer, James Smith, upon till Thursday, the 4th of July. In the mean George Taylor, and George Ross, esquires. The time I had written to press the attendance of Cæsar five last named were not chosen delegates until the Rodney, the third delegate from Delaware, who ap-20th of that month; the first, not until the 12th day peared early on that day at the state house, in this of September following, nor did he take his seat in place. When the congress assembled, the question congress, until the 4th of November, which was four was put up on the report of the committee of the months after. The journals of congress, vol. 3d, whole, and approved by every state. Of the mem- page 277 and 442, as well as those of the assembly bers from Pennsylvania, the three first, as before, of the state of Pennsylvania, page 53, and of the voted in the affirmative, and the two last in the general assembly of New-Hampshire, establish these negative. John Dickinson and Robert Morris were facts. Although the six gentlemen named, had not present, and did not take their seats on that day. been very active in the American cause, and some Cæsar Rodney, for the state of Delaware, voted with of them, to my own knowledge, warmly in favor of me in the affirmative, and George Read in the nega-its independence, previous to the day on which it tive. was declared, yet I personally know that none of them were in congress on that day. on the 4th day of July, 1776, and signed the decla. ration, after it had been engrossed on parchment, where my name, in my own hand writing still ap pears. Henry Wisner of the state of New-York was also in congress and voted for independence Some months after this, I saw printed publications of the names of those gentlemen, who had, as it was "Modesty should not rob any man of his just said, voted for the declaration of independence, and honor, when, by that honor, his modesty cannot be observed that my own name was omitted. I was not a offended. My name is not in the printed journal of little surprised at, nor could I account for the omis- congress, as a party to the declaration of indepension; because I knew that on the 24th of June pre- dence, and this like an error in the first concoction, ceding, the deputies from the committee of Pennsyl has vitiated most of the subsequent publications, and vania, assembled in the provincial conference held at yet the fact is, that I was then a member of congress the Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, which had met on for the state of Delaware, was personally present the 18th, and chosen me their president, had unani-in congress, and voted in favor of the independence mously declared their willingness to concur in a vote of the congress, declaring the United Colonies free and independent states, and had ordered their declaration to be signed, and their president to deliver it to congress, which accordingly I did the day following; 1 knew also, that a regiment of associa- "I do not know how the misstatement in the printtors, of which I was colonel, had, at the end of May ed journals has happened. The manuscript public before, unanimously made the same declaration.-journal, has no names annexed to the declaration These circumstances were mentioned, at the time of independence, nor has the secret journal; but it to gentlemen of my acquaintance. The error re- appears by the latter, that on the 19 h day of July, mained uncorrected till the year 1781, when I was 1776, the congress directed that it should be enappointed to publish the laws of Pennsylvania, to grossed on parchment, and signed by every member, which I prefixed the declaration of independence, and that it was so produced on the 23 of August, and inserted my own name, with the names of my and signed. This is interlined in the secret journal, colleagues. Afterwards, in 1797, when the late in the hand writing of Charles Thomson esq. the se A. J Dallas, esq. then secretary of the common-cretary. The present secretary of state of the Uniwealth, was appointed to publish an edition of laws, ted States, and myself, have lately inspected the journals, and seen this. The journal was first print-them the chief magistrate of the nation, in the ca ed by Mr. John Dunlap, in 1778, and probably copies pacity of a private citizen, reposing himself, with with the names then signed to it were printed in just confidence, on the affections of a generous peoAugust 1776, and that Mr. Dunlap printed the names from one of them.” Your most obedient servant THOS. M'KEAN* The President's Tour. The president reached Trenton on the evening of the 7th inst. where he was received by the municipal authorities, volunteer companies, and a large concourse of other citizens-the bells were rang, a fue de joie fired, &c. The following extempore address was delivered to him by the recorder: 66 ple, and are happy to embrace this opportunity, in behalf of themselves and their fellow-citizens, to express to him the high sense they entertain of his private virtues and public services. Called by the voice of a nation of freemen to the first office in their power to bestow, you can pos sess no higher evidence of their approbation of your past conduct, and of their confidence in the able and faithful discharge of the important duties as signed to your present station. Nothing can add to the force of this testimony, founded, as it is, with uncommon unanimity on the sense of a free and enlightened people." The mayor and city council, and, through us, We learn, with great satisfaction, that your prethe citizens of Trenton, present to you, sir, their sent tour is connected with the object of carrying most unfeigned respects-congratulating you on into effect the measures of general defence propos your arrival, and give you a most cordial welcome jed by the congress of the United States, and that to this city, the scene, sir, of some of the services you have deemed them of sufficient importance to you have rendered our country. We most sincere- merit your personal attention. On this subject, per. ly wish you the enjoyment of health, a long life, mit us to say, that our citizens feel a deep and lively and a prosperous administration." interest. This state, from its local situation and To which the president spontaneously replied: extensive frontier, is peculiarly subject to become "I feel very sensibly this kind attention on the the theatre of war; and the city of New-York, while part of the authorities of the city of Trenton-the it affords the strongest temptation, is much exposed place where the hopes of the country were revived from its natural position to the attempts of a foin the war of the revolution by a signal victory ob-reign enemy; although, in the late contest, it has tained by the troops under the command of general not actually been assailed, we may presume it may, Washington, after a severe and disastrous campaign. without arrogance, be said, that the extraordinary I am well acquainted with the patriotism of the and spirited exertions of our citizens, powerfully eitizens of Trenton, and, indeed, of Jersey, for none supported by the patriotic efforts of the people of suffered more, or displayed greater patriotism, in this and a neighboring state, taught the enemy to our revolutionary contest. I beg you to accept my believe that such an attempt could not be made best wishes for your continued prosperity and hap. with impunity. The wisdom of our government is piness." displayed in the measures now undertaken to proA New Brunswick, the president's arrival was vide, in time of peace, the security required in war; announced by a discharge of cannon, the ringing of and we feel the highest confidence that, under your bells, &c. He was received by a very respectable auspices, that security will be afforded for every committee of the citizens and escorted into the future emergency. The present happy condition of town by the volunteer companies. He remained our country in general demands our highest gratihere only an hour, during which the patriotic people tude to the Supreme Ruler of events, and opens to of that place vied with each other in tendering him our view great and interesting prospects. In a state the most respectful attentions. of profound peace, after a conflict, in which the On the evening of the 9th, the president arrived rights of the nation have been vindicated, and the at the seat of the vice-president, on Staten island, honor of the American name been exalted, we see under a salute from the batteries, the Saranac sloop a great people united amongst themselves-devoted of war, and the cutter. He spent the next day with to a government of their own choice-possessing a the vice-president, and in visiting the military country as fertile as it is extensive-evincing a spiworks in the vicinity, and on the 11th entered the rit of enterprise in the various employments of agricity of New-York, accompanied by the vice-presi-culture, commerce and manufactures, ardent in the dent, general Swift, captains Evans and Biddle, of pursuit of science and in cultivating the arts which the navy, &c. He landed at the Battery under a adorn civilized society, and advancing in populasalute, and then reviewed the troops paraded on tion, power and wealth, with a rapidity hitherto the occasion, &c. &c. &c. Suffice it to say, that unexampled. The destinies of such a people, with every respectful and delicate attention was paid to the blessings of Providence, cannot be anticipated, him during his stay at New-York. and defy calculation. THE MAYOR'S ADDRESS To the President of the United States. SIR-The mayor, aldermen and commonalty, of the city of New-York, beg leave to present to you their sincere congratulations on your arrival in this city. It is with pride and pleasure that they see amongst *The venerable writer of this article, died at Phifadelphia on the 24th instant. He was, we believe, the last surviving member of the "stamp act congress," held in 1765. Mr. Monroe received a wound at the battle of Trenton, in the revolutionary war, that confined him nearly nine wecka. It is your happiness, sir, to have commenced your administration at a period thus propitious and interesting; and we have no doubt it will be your great ambition to bestow on those important objects all the patronage in your power, and justify the high expectations which have been formed. That the pleasing prospects we have indulged tion may, in all respects, effectually promote the may be happily realized, and that your administrabest interests of the United States, and that you may long live to witness the prosperity of your country and enjoy the esteem of a virtuous people, is the ardent wish of those on whose behalf I have the honor to address you. In behalf of the corporation of this city, I have |