Staunton Spectator

We have frequently urged upon the people of the South the propriety of engaging to a much greater degree than heretofore in manufactures of all kinds, and have mentioned many advantages possessed by the South for engaging successfully in that branch of industry. Labor employed in manufactures is much more remunerative than when employed in raising grain or ever cotton. The conversion of cotton by manufactures into the plainest, commonest and cheapest cloth doubles, trebles and quadruples its value. It only requires one-third as many hands to manufacture as it does to raise a certain amount of cotton. It will be seen then that if the conversion of the raw material into cloth or yarn only doubles its value one-third of the number of hands required to raise the cotton make as much money as all the hands employed in raising the crop. In other words, the labor employed in manufactures is at least three times as profitable as that employed in raising the raw material. When our readers remember that the culture of cotton is more profitable than raising any kind of grain, they will be able to see how very profitable manufactures are. As the South raises the raw material, if it act wisely, it can have the benefit of all the profits of both planting and manufacturing. Even now, the infant factories in Georgia ship them North, and then sell them at a profit to Southern merchants. What we have said of cotton applies to factories of all kinds. It is the duty of the people of the South to encourage and patronize factories of all kinds which are established in the South. Money should not be sent off to benefit other communities when it can be expended for the same articles at home.

A small amount of money kept in the community will pay hundreds of debts and relieve hundreds of people. Money sent abroad is so much lost to the community. If there be factories in the neighborhood or county or State which can supply the article you need, do not send off to other neighborhoods, counties or States for them. Keep the money at home.--To illustrate -- if our merchants wish to buy brooms, they should buy them from the factory recently established at Churchville -- if they wish to keep for sale any articles, (stoves for instance) manufactured at our foundries they should buy them of those who make them here, and so of any articles made in any kind of factories in our county or State.

Every Southern State should now be busily engaged in establishing factories of all kinds.--The State of Georgia is leading off handsomely in the right direction. Georgia has seventy-two mills for the manufacture of cotton and woollen goods now in the course of construction, some of which will manufacture calicoes. Upon which the Mobile Gazette comments: Well done, Georgia! that is the way to reconstruct yourself. But would it not be funny, if one of these days, our friend, Alexander H. Stephens, should be found voting in the Senate of the United States, along with tariff-king, Morrill, for high duties on cotton goods, to protect Georgia manufactures?

After Rome had conquered Greece, by force of arms, Greece turned around and conquered Rome, by literature, and the arts, and sciences. If in process of time, cotton growing States should manufacturing all their own raw material -- and this our policy -- would not New England be flat of her back? Like Macaulay's New Zealander, sitting on the ruins of London Bridge, and wondering what people once inhabited the great city, some future traveler might wander to Lowell, and ask for an explanation of the wreck and ruin around him. The answer would be, that Georgia, soon after the war, put up seventy-two cotton mills, and the other cotton States followed her example.

P. S. -- After the above was put in type, we received the National Intelligencer containing the following in reference to the profits of manufacturing in New England:

"The very large dividends made by the manufacturing companies of the Eastern States, for some years past, have stimulated inquiry, if not competition, in other States. The best business that is done in the country is in manufactures. If joint-stock companies, with large operations, the success of which depends upon the fidelity and skill of salaried agents can divide from twenty to forty per cent a year among the shareholders, how much more profitable are smaller mills, or private work, that are conducted under the vigilant personal superintendence of their individual owners!

The demand for domestic goods of all kinds is on the increase. Their consumption is yearly increasing. The manufactures of New England are now the most profitable branch of business there, or anywhere in the country. So far as their prosperity depends upon the present high tariff, it will continue for years, for while the public debt remains the revenue from the customs will not be much reduced. The first reduction of the revenue that will be effected, after the debt shall be diminished to moderate proportion, will be in the internal taxation.

In this state of things it will be surprising indeed if New England can find no competition, in the best business that is open to enterprise, either in the Middle, Western, or Southern States."