This passage is excerpted from Alexander Hamilton, “Report on Manufactures,” originally published in 1791.
It is not uncommon to meet with an opinion that though the
promoting of manufactures may be the interest of a part of the
Union, it is contrary to that of another part. The Northern &
Southern regions are sometimes represented as having adverse
interests in this respect. Those are called Manufacturing, these
Agricultural states; and a species of opposition is imagined to
subsist between the Manufacturing and Agricultural interests.
This idea of an opposition between those two interests is the
common error of the early periods of every country, but
experience gradually dissipates it. Indeed they are perceived so
often to succour and to befriend each other, that they come at
length to be considered as one: a supposition which has been
frequently abused and is not universally true. Particular
encouragements of particular manufactures may be of a Nature
to sacrifice the interests of landholders to those of
manufacturers; But it is nevertheless a maxim well established
by experience, and generally acknowledged, where there has
been sufficient experience, that the aggregate prosperity of
manufactures, and the aggregate prosperity of Agriculture are
intimately connected. In the Course of the discussion which has
had place, various weighty considerations have been adduced
operating in support of that maxim. Perhaps the superior
steadiness of the demand of a domestic market for the surplus
produce of the soil, is alone a convincing argument of its truth.
Ideas of a contrariety of interests between the Northern and
Southern regions of the Union, are in the Main as unfounded as
they are mischievous. The diversity of Circumstances on which
such contrariety is usually predicated, authorises a directly
contrary conclusion. Mutual wants constitute one of the
strongest links of political connection, and the extent of these
bears a natural proportion to the diversity in the means of
mutual supply.
Suggestions of an opposite complexion are ever to be
deplored, as unfriendly to the steady pursuit of one great
common cause, and to the perfect harmony of all the parts.
In proportion as the mind is accustomed to trace the intimate
connexion of interest, which subsists between all the parts of a
Society united under the same government--the infinite variety
of channels which serve to Circulate the prosperity of each to
and through the rest--in that proportion will it be little apt to be
disturbed by solicitudes and Apprehensions which originate in
local discriminations. It is a truth as important as it is
agreeable, and one to which it is not easy to imagine
exceptions, that every thing tending to establish substantial and
permanent order, in the affairs of a Country, to increase the
total mass of industry and opulence, is ultimately beneficial to
every part of it. On the Credit of this great truth, an
acquiescence may safely be accorded, from every quarter, to all
institutions & arrangements, which promise a confirmation of
public order, and an augmentation of National Resource.
But there are more particular considerations which serve to
fortify the idea, that the encouragement of manufactures is the
interest of all parts of the Union. If the Northern and middle
states should be the principal scenes of such establishments,
they would immediately benefit the more Southern, by creating
a demand for productions; some of which they have in
common with the other states, and others of which are either
peculiar to them, or more abundant, or of better quality, than
elsewhere. These productions, principally are Timber, flax,
Hemp, Cotton, Wool, raw silk, Indigo, iron, lead, furs, hides,
skins and coals. Of these articles Cotton & Indigo are peculiar
to the Southern states; as are hitherto Lead & Coal. Flax and
Hemp are or may be raised in greater abundance there, than in
the More Northern states; and the Wool of Virginia is said to be
of better quality than that of any other state: a Circumstance
rendered the more probable by the reflection that Virginia
embraces the same latitudes with the finest Wool Countries of
Europe. The Climate of the South is also better adapted to the
production of silk.
The extensive cultivation of Cotton can perhaps hardly be
expected, but from the previous establishment of domestic
Manufactories of the Article; and the surest encouragement and
vent, for the others, would result from similar establishments in
respect to them.
It is not uncommon to meet with an opinion that though the
promoting of manufactures may be the interest of a part of the
Union, it is contrary to that of another part. The Northern &
Southern regions are sometimes represented as having adverse
interests in this respect. Those are called Manufacturing, these
Agricultural states; and a species of opposition is imagined to
subsist between the Manufacturing and Agricultural interests.
This idea of an opposition between those two interests is the
common error of the early periods of every country, but
experience gradually dissipates it. Indeed they are perceived so
often to succour and to befriend each other, that they come at
length to be considered as one: a supposition which has been
frequently abused and is not universally true. Particular
encouragements of particular manufactures may be of a Nature
to sacrifice the interests of landholders to those of
manufacturers; But it is nevertheless a maxim well established
by experience, and generally acknowledged, where there has
been sufficient experience, that the aggregate prosperity of
manufactures, and the aggregate prosperity of Agriculture are
intimately connected. In the Course of the discussion which has
had place, various weighty considerations have been adduced
operating in support of that maxim. Perhaps the superior
steadiness of the demand of a domestic market for the surplus
produce of the soil, is alone a convincing argument of its truth.
Ideas of a contrariety of interests between the Northern and
Southern regions of the Union, are in the Main as unfounded as
they are mischievous. The diversity of Circumstances on which
such contrariety is usually predicated, authorises a directly
contrary conclusion. Mutual wants constitute one of the
strongest links of political connection, and the extent of these
bears a natural proportion to the diversity in the means of
mutual supply.
Suggestions of an opposite complexion are ever to be
deplored, as unfriendly to the steady pursuit of one great
common cause, and to the perfect harmony of all the parts.
In proportion as the mind is accustomed to trace the intimate
connexion of interest, which subsists between all the parts of a
Society united under the same government--the infinite variety
of channels which serve to Circulate the prosperity of each to
and through the rest--in that proportion will it be little apt to be
disturbed by solicitudes and Apprehensions which originate in
local discriminations. It is a truth as important as it is
agreeable, and one to which it is not easy to imagine
exceptions, that every thing tending to establish substantial and
permanent order, in the affairs of a Country, to increase the
total mass of industry and opulence, is ultimately beneficial to
every part of it. On the Credit of this great truth, an
acquiescence may safely be accorded, from every quarter, to all
institutions & arrangements, which promise a confirmation of
public order, and an augmentation of National Resource.
But there are more particular considerations which serve to
fortify the idea, that the encouragement of manufactures is the
interest of all parts of the Union. If the Northern and middle
states should be the principal scenes of such establishments,
they would immediately benefit the more Southern, by creating
a demand for productions; some of which they have in
common with the other states, and others of which are either
peculiar to them, or more abundant, or of better quality, than
elsewhere. These productions, principally are Timber, flax,
Hemp, Cotton, Wool, raw silk, Indigo, iron, lead, furs, hides,
skins and coals. Of these articles Cotton & Indigo are peculiar
to the Southern states; as are hitherto Lead & Coal. Flax and
Hemp are or may be raised in greater abundance there, than in
the More Northern states; and the Wool of Virginia is said to be
of better quality than that of any other state: a Circumstance
rendered the more probable by the reflection that Virginia
embraces the same latitudes with the finest Wool Countries of
Europe. The Climate of the South is also better adapted to the
production of silk.
The extensive cultivation of Cotton can perhaps hardly be
expected, but from the previous establishment of domestic
Manufactories of the Article; and the surest encouragement and
vent, for the others, would result from similar establishments in
respect to them.