[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 20,000. 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.
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Footnote 2:
North Carolina. The gold mines commence in Virginia, and extend
south-west through North Carolina, part of South Carolina, Georgia,
and Alabama, and end in Tennessee. The chief mines at present are
those of North Carolina and Georgia.
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