Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-01-24

two kinds, the one Of which may be de.
nominated Pecuniary, and the olher poll
teal the former respects property -
while the latter is closely conne6led with
political character. The citizens Of Que
nation whose chief pursuits are so inter
woven with those of the citizens Of To-
reign nation as 10 become in a measure
Identified. will be reciprocaiIy Influenced
by each other and generally he citizens
oil the smaller or weaker nation will be the
most Influenced. Such, we have seen,
has been the case in the intercourse Of our
merchants with those of Bit ain, whose
supetior wealth, backed by the superior
power ot their government, has given
Them great, not to say dangerous inhu
ence IN this country. And so far as orr
merchants, with the numerous classes Of
men dependent upon them. have thrown
their weight into the political scale, i, has
too generailybee charscterised Ivy q spirit
oil humility to that nation. Unfortunate
| ~, 1t has not stopped hare, but has exhi.
oitsd spirit OF bsst,lity TO all nations who
are the enemies OF England thus becom-
ing her parilssns, and welding danger.
GUS power cf,sn inimical to liberty and
The rue interests oftheir country. These
remarks are not made in the spiri, OF re-
prosch. Nor rs 1t TO be inferred that the
American merchants are less patriotic
than those Of other countries. They are,
on the contrary, believed much more pa,
triotic. But still they are merchants. and
as such cannot resist the influence Of the
common feelings and motives attached TO
their profession. Their avowed o5ieet is
gam and 1t is no, to be expected tina,
they will be always ready to silence hair
ruling passion, when the good OF their
country requires il. The eager pursui,
at personal gain will mekc he N Blind to
national honor. If such is tie sfFect of
extensive ccmmerce, which censis,. in
The exchange OF our own productions for
those oil foreign powers, bow desirable i.
TO limit he degree of this dependence
as much as we can by diminishing GU,
wants; which can in no way be so effec-
tualiy accomplished as by fabricsipy
thsse articles hich we et present receive
rom others Is 1t not evident thst in the
ratio IN which ihis diminution shall take
place, We shall become an independent n
tIon, embracing within our limit, citizens
united together by common interests.
and living in harmony and peace like bro.
,hris!
Even it it should appear that some OF
the articles of our consumption nomipalIy
cost Us more than if they were imported
from foreign countries, does it follow tina,
they would not in the end be dearer, il
purchased at the expense of harmony O.
mone ourselves, or at the expense of ma
tiOnsl honor
| When, however, full view i. taken Of
the actual price paid by the consumes for
articles of foreign manufacture, it will no,
appear so evident as las generally been
imagined, that thoss articles cost less chan
1t made by our own wo,kmen.
Letus IN the examination of this point,
suppose that the labor nj present engaged
In producing the subjects of expectation
10 the amount Of Ten millions of dollars
were employed in fahricating articles Of
the like kind with those now imported
from Europe. The effect of this chang
would be,
j. TO diminish the demand for Euro.
pean fabrics, and thereby reduce the
price paid for them, which would ueces.a
rily fall with the decreased demand for
them.
2. To diminish in proportion to this di-
version OF laboF, the quantity of agrcultu-
raj productions, while it increased in a
ike ratio the demand for. them among
ourselves. The consequence would be a
dlminution, IN the ratio of these united
causes, ef the mass Of surplu, articles oil
expectation, which being generally srti-
cles oil the first necessity could no, be dis
pensed with by Europe. and would OF
course. rise in value in like ratio.
3. The great capital al present engag.
ed IN the transportion Of our surplus pro.
duce and foreign fabrics would, in he de.
gree stated, be actively occupied in max
ing internal improvements, in adding to
he fertility OF our lands, and augmentiner
with unprecedented rapidity their produc
tive capacity.
! Who IS there that will pretend TO say,
after ma,urely weighing these considers-
tons, and after pursuing them into their
extenSive rami6cations, that il is clear that
the substitution OF manufactures for aeri-
cultural pursuits, would not to a certain
extent be an individual as well as natl.
onal benefit
The subject admits OF another vie "
scarcely inferior in interest. VIVA, /. the
I ~ a T.. n