Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-02-01
Far the .Acrand,Ta Daily 4dusise,'.

~ ljNNHIJ VI4AI " -! 20 y, 81
J bv any other interest but zeal lotnis soui
/ common - country, shall endeavor this es-
sav.to shew the utiiityof conmeroana the
4 necessity Of navy. Nature seen 70 s hass
formed the United States for commercial
nation The fertility and felicity oher seil'
her vast inlets and numerous bays Id estua-
ries. are sufficient indications that aa future
day the United States must becom the nrSt
maritime power of the earth. In lssession
Of every advantage which is necessY 70 con-
ssitute us a trading people, we oapt not 70
neglect the means OF extending our fVlgauon
and enriching our country: when Wloonsiaer
agriculture and commerce 50 hapPli blended
/ and united, surely the advocatesof agriculture
must, by parity of reasoning, adnt the uti-
J Ity and necessity of commerce. w certain
ly know that agriculture and comntrce fou-
/ rish and grow in the same soil, ad spring
from the same prolific parent. Ahiculture
and commerce are the breasts fromFhlch the
commonwealth must draw its nouishment !;
they are the pillars on which we lust erect
/ our independently ard liberties. ehall we
crush our commerce in Its infant buI, andnot
suffer it to shoot out into all thostvigorous
plants and branches, which illineyfably tend
TO support our rising fabric, and foan one OF
! those solid stocks, upon which we must graft
| the ease and felicity of the people. Into Its
| innumerable ducts and channels, the granary
of agriculture is emptied, which, by theanes
I Unable efficacy of commerce, is candneted to
| the remotest limits of the globe. Ceres, with
her golden shelves, welcomes her tair hand
maid with her eornucopia, replcte with all the
! Injuries, elegancies and conveniencies OF lite
| Were it not for commerce, agriculture would
no longer yield luxuriance and plenty, but hel
fields, lately crowded with the rich and exube-
raat gifts Of bountiful providence, would then
! present naught but one continued range OF
sterihty and weeds. Industry and labor, those
| great supports of moral economy, and the
very tie of yirtuous liberty, would then nc
| longer prove the source of individual wealth
and national grandeur. BY a happy issue o.
things, and by the bold and ennobhng Judg.
ment of our forefathers, who rescued our Il.
berries from the demon of tyranny, by thai
Judgment which has elevated us to a level with
European nations, we have formed a social
compact. which, unless impaired by innova-
ton, by popular delusion, CT too fond pre-.
deiiction for particular systems. bids TAR to
ferm the United States power efficient to
preserve a balanse in the affairs OF nations
and by degrees to gain a glorious, anhonera-
u i4-y4------1 ----..-.-y s,rS,
cause Of freedom, we have vindicated the in.
dependence CT America, and have, from The
CONFUSION of times which tried mems souls
established a government, which, if properly
administered, Will assure to the people the
greatest political renown and happiness, GER
tainly the commercial weight, which occupies
chief place in the political scale, would in.
cline us to nourish and support it as the vita
principle, the life blood of the American SO.
yernment. IF to avoid the shipwreck of uni
on, we must adhere to certain fixed and stable
znaxims, surely this maxim, (which needs
notthe aid Of enlightened philosophy " that
commerce is the grand ligamcnt which mast
bind the Atlantic to the back states" presents
itself to every mind, free from the shaekles
of prejudice. The nations of Europe, view
ing with no regardless eye the solid grandeur
of our exalted republic, would at any time
permit Us to rifle the temple of commerce,
and with sacriiigious hand to PROSTATE that
noble pillar, which upholds tie monument of
American Liberty, the proud, elevated princi-
pie ec union. What has formed tie bitter
contentious between England andthi country,
but the carrying trade, and is not this strong
proof of the political importance of com
merce. Why has she thrust into the mari
1 time code interpretations, and why has she and
France SO tenaciously and persevering.y re-
-stricted neutral navigation But for this plain
reason, to clip the wings of our all towering
commerce, lest she should soar to a dangerous
height.
Its utility and protection must be obvious to
every patriot, every lover of his country
Even the agrioulturist, who beholds not with
envy and JEALOUSY tie honest merchant reap
ing his harvest ofwealth from the fruitful and