ON HEMP. 139 



the other, and to escape themselves from the imputation of bad 

 and imprudent legislation. It is indeed a " queer'^ tariff, but we 

 are inclined to think will not be so ruinous in its consequences, as 

 many would fain have us believe. If it bears hard upon any par- 

 ticular section of the United States, that section will probably be 

 New-England. Yet she will hardly feel it — nay, it will be strange, 

 if she does not ultimately turn it to better advantage than any of 

 her sister States. We know not which to wonder at most — the 

 folly of the idea, of its ruining New-England, or the folly of uttering 

 such a thought, if conceived. What ! crush New-England with 

 such a paltry weapon as this ! You could as well be^it down her 

 everlasting hills with a feather. Look at her resources — almost 

 innumerable and exhaustless. She can live as long, as well, and 

 as happy, without the productions of other climes as they can with- 

 out hers. Her mountains are full of Iron : Her quarries are full 

 of marble, coal and granite : Her forests are almost boundless : 

 Her valleys are fertile and exuberant : Her sheep and cattle are 

 without number, and her children hardy, industrious and frugal. 

 But, say the complainers, it will stop much of the lumber-trade. 

 We hope it will, and send some hundreds that are now destroying 

 the forests, back to their farms where they belong. '' It will stop, 

 in a great measure, the importation of molasses" — True, and there- 

 by check the distillation of it into N. E. Rum, that poison of the 

 soul and body — that curse which has withered and blasted so many 

 of the choice ones of the earth. These " evils," therefore, have 

 their corresponding good. There are other things in which the 

 tariff will be felt much more severely. The high duty on hemp, 

 canvass and duck, will, for a time, be a matter of some inconve- 

 nience, and the only way to obviate it, is, to set about the business 

 of cultivating Hemp, and manufacturing the articles from it that 

 are needed. This may be made a profitable business. We are 

 not aware that any considerable quantity was ever raised in this 

 State ; but there could not be a better region for it. It is a hardy 

 plant, and will grow in almost all climates. It is grown in India, 

 in Italy and in Russia. It may be cultivated throughout the whole 

 extent of the United States. Our thrifty housewives will tell you, 

 that it will flourish luxuriantly here, for it is their custom to scatter 

 a handful of seed by the side of their Bee-houses, where it springs 

 up and grows without care or attention, and continues to blossom 

 and yield food for bees until tliey retire intp winter quarters. One 

 sowing, for this purpose, is suflicient. It will spring up year after 



