The Slave Trade, Domestic and Foreign: Why It Exists, and How It May Be ExtinguishedCarey, Henry Charles
History
The Slave Trade, Domestic and Foreign: Why It Exists, and How It May Be Extinguished
Carey, Henry Charles
Labor; Slave trade; Slavery; Slavery -- United States; Tariff -- United States; Working class
"Necessity imposes," he continues, "that order of things" which "is
in every country promoted by the natural inclinations of man. If
human institutions had never thwarted those natural inclinations, the
towns could nowhere have increased beyond what the improvement and
cultivation of the territory in which they were situated could
support; till such time, at least, as the whole of that territory was
completely cultivated and improved. Upon equal, or nearly equal
profits, most men will choose to employ their capitals rather in the
improvement and cultivation of land, than either in manufactures or
in foreign trade. The man who employs his capital in land, has it
more under his view and command; and his fortune is much less liable
to accidents than that of the trader, who is obliged frequently to
commit it, not only to the winds and the waves, but to the more
uncertain elements of human folly and injustice, by giving great
credits, in distant countries, to men with whose character and
situation he can seldom be thoroughly acquainted. The capital of the
landlord, on the contrary, which is fixed in the improvement of his
land, seems to be as well secured as the nature of human affairs can
admit of. The beauty of the country, besides the pleasures of a
country life, the tranquillity of mind which it promises, and,
wherever the injustice of human laws does not disturb it, the
independency which it really affords, have charms that, more or less,
attract everybody; and as to cultivate the ground was the original
destination of man, so, in every stage of his existence, he seems to
retain a predilection for this primitive employment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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