THE UNITED STATES.
Reading edition
[Remarks on the Statistics and Political Institutions of the United States. By William Gore Ouseley, Esq., Attaché to his Majesty’s Legation at Washington. 8vo. London, Rodwell, 1832.]
The book before us is rather a rambling one; and we cannot say that it appears to us to contain much that is new, or that it has been prepared with all the care, even in regard to its merely literary qualities, which ought to have been bestowed on it. But the work is written in a moderate, fair, and manly spirit, and is calculated to beget a very favourable opinion of the general liberality and philanthropy of the author’s views. Although it contains some sensible remarks upon Mrs. Trollope’s volumes, which we lately noticed, and also upon a variety of other minor points, the greater portion of it is devoted to an examination of the financial results of the American system of government, and a comparison of the burthens which it imposes upon the people with those which are borne by the inhabitants of England and of France. The settlement of this question appears to be the principal aim of the writer; and he has brought together the tables and estimates of various authorities by whom it has been investigated.
In looking at these statements, however, it must be borne in mind, that the two countries are differently situated in many other respects, as well as in regard to their political institutions; and the difference between the amount of taxes paid in the one and that paid in the other, may arise, wholly or in part, from circumstances with which the form of the government has really nothing whatever to do.
It is our duty to mention this circumstance to point out that any belief that the two countries can be brought to the same point of taxation is somewhat irrational. On the other hand we can have no hesitation in expressing an opinion, that the nearer they are assimilated, the greater will be the amount of public happiness in the more highly-taxed country. A wise government will always strive to reduce taxes to the lowest point that is compatible with security against foreign violence, the maintenance of the laws, and the preservation of national credit.
A great part of Mr. Gore Ouseley’s book is made up of extracts from the American Almanac, and other recent publications. The following passage, relating to the gold mines which have been lately opened in some of the Southern States of the Union, contains some curious and interesting information, which is also copied from other works, but which is not generally known:—
“These mines have not been worked to any considerable extent for more than about five or six years, or probably much less. And yet many of them are worked upon an extensive scale, and mills for grinding the ore, propelled by water or by steam, are erected in vast numbers. The company of Messrs. Bissels, which is one of the most considerable, employs about 600 hands. The whole number of men now employed at the mines in these southern states is at least 13420,000. The weekly value of these mines is estimated at 100,000 dollars, or more than one million sterling annually. But a small part of the gold is sent to the United States Mint. By far the larger part is sent to Europe, particularly to Paris.
“Of the working miners the greater number are foreigners—Germans, Swiss, Swedes, Spaniards, English, Welsh, Scotch, &c. There are no less than thirteen different languages spoken at the mines in this State[2]! And men are flocking to the mines from all parts, and find ready employment. Hundreds of landowners and renters work the mines on their grounds on a small scale, not being able to encounter the expense of much machinery. The state of morals among the miners or labourers is represented to be deplorably bad. This may be attributed to the absence of any general organization as yet for the police and regulation of the mines, combined with the usual effects of gold upon the uneducated and needy classes of men (often not the most favourable specimens of their various nations) who generally seek employment in the gold districts. The village of Charlotte, in Mecklenburg County, is in the immediate vicinity of several of the largest mines. It is increasing rapidly.
“One interesting fact deserves mention:—When speaking of the gold mines, there are indubitable evidences that these mines were known and worked by the aboriginal inhabitants, or some other people, at a remote period. Many pieces of machinery which were used for this purpose have been found. Among them are several crucibles of earthenware, and far better than those now in use. Messrs. Bissels had tried three of them, and found that they lasted twice or three times as long as even the Hessian crucibles, which are the best now made. It is to be regretted that some antiquary has not had an opportunity of at least examining these curious relics; and it is hoped that they will be preserved in future, notwithstanding the temptation offered by their superior qualities.
“These gold mines prove that the whole region in which they abound was once under the powerful action of fire. And it is a fact, not generally known, that the miners who have come from the mines in South America and in Europe pronounce this region to be more abundant in gold than any other that has been found on the globe. There is no telling the extent of these mines; but sufficient is known to prove they are of vast extent.”—pp. 151-153.