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the progressive increase of population, would be strengthened, or, at least, remain unimpaired.

The errors and imperfections of human institutions constitute the principal barrier to the increase of population; for there is no political division of the globe whose physical resources are not capable of sustaining a larger number of inhabitants, than is now embraced within its limits. We may refer to Ireland as an instance in proof of this assertion. According to McCulloch, of the 20,399,668 acres which that island contains, only 14.603,473 are cultivated. It is true that the uncultivated land consists chiefly of bog and mountain, but is nevertheless susceptible of improvement. Ireland also exports breadstuffs and provisions, and yet a considerable portion of her population is continually so near the verge of starvation, that an unpropitious season for her crops subjects the nation to the horrors of famine. Now it is obvious that the natural resources of Ireland, if fully developed and justly distributed, would be abundantly sufficient to sustain even a larger population in a comfortable condition. But owing, in part, to the operations of the political and social institutions by which the country is governed, and in part to a defective system of public and private economy, a considerable number of the inhabitants have been coinpelled to emigrate to escape from famine.

Referring to the facts and principles suggested in the preceding observations, we may justly conclude, that those who enjoy the most extensive privileges and property under the existing institutions of Europe, will cheerfully countenance and encourage the emigration of the poorer classes; for, by adopting this policy, they relieve themselves from the burthens of supporting the destitute, and at the same time remove the causes which are most likely to produce revolution and subvert the existing order of society.

Urged by necessity, induced by the prospect of improving their condition, and encouraged by the rich and privileged classes, we may reasonably expect that the emigration to this country will be augmented to an amount that will materially affect our own condition. The movement is gradually assuming a more systematic organization, and from present indications the number of passengers destined to our shores will, for years to come, be equal to the means provided for their transportation and subsistence on the voyage. And it is not extravagant to suppose that the time is near when the numbers annually arriving will exceed 500,000, or that they may even amount to 1,000,000, provided the nations of Europe should remain in peace during the next ten years.

It is not in the nature of things that so large an influx of for eigners can take place without producing important changes, as well in our commercial relations with other countries, as in our own public and private economy; and we should now begin to con template the nature of these changes for the purpose of enabling us to guard against any evil consequences which may possibly at

tend them; and, also, to make them subservient to the advancement of our national prosperity.

It seems to be the general impression in this country that a large influx of foreign population will tend to reduce the prices of labor to the European standard; but we are persuaded that instead of reducing the price, or, at least, the rewards of labor here, it will tend to raise the rewards, and perhaps the nominal money price in Europe to the American standard.

Owing to the abundance and cheapness of lands in the West, it is in the power of every able bodied and industrious man to become the owner of a homestead; and whatever may have been his condition before, he is then no longer a hireling; and it is a well established fact, at least in this country, that where lands are cheap the price of labor is always so high as to leave but little profit to the farmer who employs it. In rural districts, therefore, instead of depressing, emigration will tend to enhance the price of labor, provided the demand for agricultural products should keep pace with their increase. Many causes will operate to augment this demand. The emigrants of one year necessarily increase the demand for the products of the year immediately preceding: and from this cause alone the prices of bread and provisions always rule high in districts which are rapidly filling up with new comers. sides, a large proportion of the emigrants are mechanics and artizans, who, locating in cities and towns, must be fed from the country; and if we take into consideration the numbers which will probably be employed in mining, on works of public improvement, and in the many new branches of industry which will be introduced by themselves or others by whom they will be employed, we shall find many reasons in support of the opinion that foreign emigration will not depress the prices of labor below the average rates heretofore obtained by the citizens of this country.

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This is the first, and to us the most interesting point to be considered in connection with the subject of foreign emigration. For if we can give employment to all foreign emigrants at remunerating prices, their labor, added to our own, will produce results which, long before the close of the present century, will astonish the civilized world. Hitherto our population has doubled in about twenty-four years; but with the annual addition of 500,000 emigrants, it will increase 100 per cent. in about fifteen years. Our tonnage, employed in commerce, has doubled in about sixteen years, and has increased about seventy-five per cent. during the eight years ending 30th June 1850. It is now supposed to be equal in amount to that of Great Britain. Judging from the present aspect of the civilized world, we may calculate our population in 1865 at 46,000,000, and our civil marine, including steamboats employed on our rivers, at 10,000,000 tons. These estimates may be regarded as extravagant by some of our readers, more especially by our British patrons, as the latter will be reluctant to admit that

the scepter of commerce is destined so soon to depart from those by whom it has been swayed so long over land and sea.

In this mighty tide of emigration now flowing to our shores, we recognize the progress of a great commercial revolution, especially in this country. It is bringing the consumers of our surplus breadstuffs and provisions nearer to the producers, and the manufacturers nearer to the raw material, by which all parties must be greatly benefitted; but none so much, perhaps, as the American agriculturist. For by the purchase and consumption of British goods, he assists the manufacturer to pay the British farmer a profit on his produce, after adding to its cost, land rent, tithes, poor rates, and other burthens imposed by an expensive government. By transferring the manufacturers and operatives to this country, these profits will inure, at least in part, to our own farmers and landholders, who now contribute to the support of foreign governments, minister to the extravagance of the rich, and assist in maintaining the poor of other nations.

But we must not expect to realize all the advantages, which have been suggested, without doing something on our part to secure them. Our excellent institutions cannot be preserved in their full strength and purity, without a high degree of intelligence and moral improvement, diffused throughout the entire mass of population. Of the emigrants who arrive in this country from Europe, a large proportion are poor and uneducated, and it will be many years before they can place themselves in a condition that will enable them to educate their children. And hence it will become an imperious duty on the part of the respective States of the Union, to organize and establish systems of public schools upon a plan, that will secure to every child within their limits, a sufficient amount of instruction to prepare them for the discharge of their duties as citizens of a republican form of government. If we neglect to do this, the large number of emigrants which may be expected from other countries, will tend to weaken our institutions, and retard our progress in moral and social improvement. Let no one object. to the cost of supporting such a system of education on the ground that our foreign population will be the principal recipients of its benefits. Such will not be the case: the benefits will inure alike to all; and we regard this as the only means, by which our country can avoid the evil consequences of foreign emigration and realize the important advantages, which it is calculated to afford. Therefore, we desire to impress this subject upon the minds of our readers, for the purpose of inciting a more lively interest in the adoption of a system of common school education. Let us discharge our whole duty on this point, and the most extravagant calculations respecting the increase of population and speedy development of the resources of this continent, will be more than realized.

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The machinery and capital of Europe will, in due time, follow

the operatives across the Atlantic: and when located here, the commercial revolution, to which allusion has been made, will be complete. We shall then, and not until then, have escaped from the provincial relation, which we have so long occupied towards Great Britain. It is true that our political relations as colonists were severed by the revolution, but we have, nevertheless, through the medium of our commercial relations, contributed largely to the support of the government and people of the mother country, and we must continue to do so, until our short-sighted policy shall be overruled by natural laws. The operation of these laws, however, is gradually becoming more apparent in the direction of our public and private economy, as we extend the area of our settlements, and increase in numbers. The great principles involved in our political institutions have been modified and, in some degree, restrained in their operations by our dependence upon other countries for many of the necessaries and comforts of subsistence. While our numbers were small, compared to the great nations of Europe, our form of government was regarded as a doubtful experiment; and consequently the influence of our institutions made little impression and was scarcely felt by the people of other countries; but the unparalleled increase of population and vast extent of our resources begin to attract the attention of the civilized world.

The poor flock to our shores to escape from a state of penury, which cannot be relieved by toil in their own native land. The man of enterprise comes, to avail himself of the advantages afforded by a wider and more varied field for the exercise of his industry and talents; and the oppressed of every land, thirsting for deliverance from the paralyzing effects of unjust institutions, come to enjoy the blessings of a government, which secures life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all its constituents. Let them come. They will convert our waste lands into fruitful fields, vineyards, and gardens; construct works of public improvement; build up and establish manufactures; and open our rich mines of coal, of iron, of lead, and of copper. And more than all, they will be the means of augmenting our commerce, and aid us in extending the influence of our political, social, and religious institutions throughout the earth.

But it must be remembered that these sublime objects are not to be attained without a strict observance of the great principles which lie at the foundation of our own political institutions. A high degree of intelligence, diffused throughout the entire mass of population; a liberal patriotism, so blended with self-love and local attachments, as to make their active and powerful properties subservient to the general welfare and glory of the nation; and, a profound sense of the duties imposed on each and every individual to do all that he reasonably can to advance the cause of civilization, are qualifications necessary to enable us to achieve the great objects of our mission.

The earlier emigrants, who settled the Atlantic slope of this continent, and their descendants, while defending themselves against savage incursions, subduing the forest, and suffering all the privations incident to pioneers in a country remote from the civilized world, laid the foundations of the most excellent institutions ever established by the wisdom of man. Nobly did they perform the first act in the drama of American history: and their deeds shall receive the plaudits of an admiring world, even of its last generation. This great valley has been settled under more favorable auspices and upon its inhabitants will devolve the important trust of preserving in their pristine purity, and of developing to their full extent, the political and social principles adopted and established by our forefathers of the Atlantic States.

The principal portion of the emigrants who reach our shores, will finally locate in the valley of the Mississippi; and their numbers in some of the newer States will in all probability exceed the native born citizens. Reared under institutions widely differing from our own; many of them ignorant of the science of all gov ernments; and all strangers to the practical operations of republican institutions, unceasing vigilance will be required on our part to guard against innovations and prevent the formation of parties, representing the interests and sentiments of those born in other lands.

To prevent such a result, we must give more encouragement to the cause of education, be more circumspect in the selection of our legislators, and by a liberal, yet firm and upright course of policy, secure the confidence and affections of our foreign population.

The considerations inducing the people of other lands to emigrate to our shores, constitute the strongest guaranty on their part that they will cheerfully conform to the laws and social usages of this, their adopted country, and zealously co-operate in carrying out all necessary measures, calculated to promote the advancement of our national glory. This much we have a right to expect: it is all we claim at their hands.

Thus united in the great cause of civilization, and acting in concert, the influence of our political and social institutions shall gain strength from increase of numbers, until the principles of despotism which have enthralled the masses of the old world, shall be eradicated, and the condition of all nations improved by our example.

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