Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-04
c o n G. r Z S S.
THURSDAY, March 8.

DEB.f7E,
ON Mr.. GRECG's RESOLUTION
(ceNT1suKp
, Ma. SMILE. I am in favor, Mr..
Chairman, OF the resolution under con
sideralion and lest II should be suppo
sed am an enthusiast IN respect Ia
commerce, and deserve 10 be cIassed a.
mong that desperate order of men called
merchants, according to the representa-.
lion which We have lad yesterday from
the gentleman from Vnginia,I beg leave
Rtn make few remark on the abstrac,
question, whether commerce ought 10 be
considered as beneficial in its relation to.
The United States. l have long though,
that there is an essential difference be-
tween what's, In the common language
OF the world, splendid aid great, and
a happy people, have been led 20 think,
lhat1he situation of the people of tho
O"ited States, separated from the res
of the world by an ocean of 3 ooo
miles, possessing AN immense region
OF land, having full employment for all
nee people in the cultivation Of the Garth,
hasi"g, from the variety of her clirsates
AID the difference Of her soil, the means
OF supplying herself, not only with all
the necessaries of hfe IN abundance, but
with meny of its comforts, ard even
some OF It's Injuries; from these co,,si
oGraiohs lhave been led 10 think II had
been happier if the American people,
when they became an Independent ma
ton, had found themselves without coIo
merco, and had stiA re NAMED so. Thus
circumstanccd, they would certainly have
avoided .hose dangers winch flow from
the ueskusss oi an extended trade and
( those iuXuriss which have hitherto nro-
vsd SO fatal to morals, happiness aud
liberty. In my opinion @e should have
been happier people WITHOUT commerce
! Among the Cons drrdiions which have
reduced me TO believe thar this would
have been happy state, 10 .ha, we should
nave enJayed petfect SAFE of safety,
We should not have been under The neccs
silly OF conflicting with foreign nations b !.
cause commerce. 6 CONNIE ce alone. can
produce those conflicts. have eyprcss.d
this opinion, to shew that have no. br.,
lea ny anf parucni n attachment 10 com
merce, to take that part which have d,
( ciared would 90 Oh The present occa.
SION But what was the sItuatton or m :.
American people when they FIRST found
! themselves nation and VIVA. are ~ :
duties imposed upon US by the compact
we en,ered ihso :! As 70 any abstract
cpInions we may entertain on this su,,-
Ject, 'hey ought To have no influence
mere upon Us. stand here on o.ber
ground, ana dare not resist the dic,a,es
oil du'y. 1 was aseonished yesterday to
hear mentioned by the gen .Ieman from
Virginia tMr. J. Randoipf) and boliiy
asser.ed, referring 70 the const,tn.ian.
that the American government was ua
Ger no ooi'Satio" 10 project any pToperty
OF rs c,uzcns orc foot from the shore. /
was as,ooished his declaration. he
cause could see 10 wha, II went. I
saw, 1t This was the opinon of The sou,b-
ern states, where 1t woulc end Tbe
situation OF this people, when they NJ
came natiod was this - The eastern
states might properly be SAID TO be a
commercial people as they lived by
commerce the middle states wer,
partly commercial aad partly agri-
Cultural the southern STATES, proper
ly speaking, were agricultural. This
opposition of character mus. have Gre
ated great difficulty IN farming the
cons duiion, and, 10 truth, hi, and o,her
points threw great obstacles IN the wny
oil Its formation. But gpirit of conc. =
SION ovefcame all difficulties. Ist bow.
ever, To be believed, thai the eastern
states properly CONNER lal, Or the md.
die, pariakl5g equally OF the Commercial
and agricultural charsclsr, would have
united with the southern stu es, If they
had been told bat commerce. was To re
celge no protection +? M, sir, II c,nuot
be believed. But | lake higher z. onnd
the compact Itself referred to by the
gentleman from Virginia. Let Us ex.
anime the powers vested IL Congress
under this compact, and decide whether
cOmmefce was, or was not intended 10
be protected. If there was nothing spe
/ cllic 80 these powers, the fitst page would
show he lnten ION offs i,a6crs. mWe
the people Of he UnHsd states. in ordc,
TO ioFn more pe'iccl union, establish
Il =