Such money as I have described would excite no alarm, it might easily be tried. It would, in my opinion, certainly be tried, for all would know that it would pay every tax to government, and even borrowers of large sums might make trial of it, without any risk at all, because if it would not answer their end, they might after a few months, repay it, and take up their mortgage. But I cannot help thinking that the principles of it are so just, and the plan so certain, that all understanding persons would perceive and approve it. The operation of political causes is as uniform and certain as that of natural causes. This is the case, in some degree, with all political measures, without exception, yet I am mistaken if it is not eminently so with respect to commercial dealings.
Commerce is excited, directed, and carried on by interest.
But do not mistake this, it is not carried on by general universal interest, not even by well informed national interest, but by immediate, apparent, and sensible personal interest. I must also observe that there is in mankind a sharp-sightedness upon this subject that is quite astonishing. All men are not philosophers, but they are generally good judges of their own profit in what is immediately before them, and will uniformly adhere to it. It is not uncommon to see a man who appears to be almost as stupid as a stone, and yet he shall be as adroit and dextrous in making a bargain, or even more so, than a man of the first rate understanding, who, probably for that very reason, is less attentive to trifling circumstances, and less under the government of mean and selfish views. Views expressed on this web site are not necessarily the official views of The Constitution Party.