The recorder, or, Lady's and gentleman's miscellany. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1801-1802, 1802-10-13


nopalized by the tl1ip-own and .fner-
chants of'the north.
To enumerate all the evils fpringing
from the pretent direction Of oar COM
merce, would be talk no le(s painful
than lengthy The Jingle faa here fpe4
Ken OF, the difference between tl1e price
OF wheat in .hisfdare, and and in Pean-
Syivanla, is 10 Important 70 rile elfentiaa
interetts OF numerous and mott ref
Pe6table clais of the people, that che
iegiilature are bound TO remove the
oaute from which it originates. In rrutla
there cannot be flblect more worthy
OF their ferrous attention.
Z. Nothihg has been more common
for many years pait, than che complaint
founded OF the .ecuffd remark. In ak
the itates north Of this, the trade of che
country is principally contacted BY ma
tives. The commerce OF Virginia il
alrnolt excillively in The hands OF TO-
reigners. This IS ltngulaf circt1!
france, 1t cannot be founded on any
aVeri,on to COMMERCIAL buGneis enter
talned by the people OF this country.
hey frequently engage in 1t, thoagh
they generally tail. Nor can it be the re-,
iuir OF any temporary and Accidental
Combination OF circumstances. Ii has
seen the caie for forty years and more.
50 powerful, indeed, is the cauie
which prod ices this effect, tllat t!ie
trade or Virginia III the years I7s2,
1884, s., and Sc, was conducted almoIf
entirely by foreigners, In fpiye # the
advantages which our own citizens ma
tlraily poilefs, and in fpite OF the dli-
sepute IN which one clais Of the fornef
has uniyeFiaily held. The caufe de
ierves 70 be developed.
The citizens of this commonwealth
who nave large pode ilions, cannot ealilv
convert them lnro money, even if cley
were difpoted 10 exchange She life Of an
independent plantol or farmer, for tic
perpetual drudgery oftrade. None bpF
perions Of lnall fortunes, therefore, eyer
engage IN merchandise. But their ruin
Is alnloit the inevitable conteouence.
hey Purchafe in the country; they nug
ieli on credit, and not being able 10
connnandcheir frnall flock of property
when II IS wanted, they become bank
rllprs at once. This fac is uliyer{alEv
known. Bur the foreigner backed
byi his tranlatlahtic connections, carr
afford to lie longer without his money.
AS long as the standardization Of iui..
ttice, therefore, continues on tile footina
on which Itnow 4tands, foreigners viii
monopoIize the commerce OF VIRGINIA.
Surely it is a mater of fome irnpor.
tance that 1t fhould be reftored TO rhe
natives. D
3.Tle third circumstance with fr;res
our attention. is, thar few great caDi.
,tais are employed in our trade. Ineve-
'ry Country credit mult be given. IL is
q maxim, and an obvious one, that Gre
dit IS The life OF commerce. But If IT be
given II this country, the man who has
large capital, and makes great enoao-
11snts, viii certainly fail. Merchants.
therefore, Of grear wealth do not fix
here. lhe dilatvantage arifiag from this
IS apparent. The man who has 40. or
100000, viii be content with a frnaller
pfofir on his took, than be who has on
" twentieth part OF thofe funs, ard
generally fpeaking, viii deal On better
and faircr terms.
T. The ha which is cited in the
ioarth ioitance lpeaks language which
cannot be mifiipderltood. That men
it'ouid become banl1rupcs, and be ex-
Poitd TO the milery and diierace ola
,l'9at'oa, which TO Perfons bred up j4
haolta Of indnltry and pu&tuality, IS Of ali