The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-09

depsndcncc-Great Britain is perhaps thei
most dependent nation in Europe; because
depending on manufactures and commerce.,
having few of the materials for manufacture
within herself, she is at once bound by poll
tical necessity, to maintain foreign colonies,
and foreign trade, and navy toprotcct both,
in order to procure the means upon which
her existence as power depends.
But surely it would be the extreme of infa- |
tuatiOn for a nation possessed of all the re- |
sources of the first necessity for use, for COM
fort, and even for luxury, within itself. to
send her raw productions abroad, exposed to |
risks and delays, and the uncertainty of TO-
reign markets, and toreceive the same goods
in d manufactured state at a price enhanced
from to 90 times the first cost-yet such has
been the policy that the United States have
blihdly pursued, overlooking permanent Sc
curity and independent peace and prosperi-
ty. in the momentary avidty of adventure
ard speculation.
Events have brought about season in which
| every man who really values the blessing of
| American government and social happiness,
| must perceive the true interests of the uni
on. Every man must perceive that the cX
change of superfiuities is the only natural
commerce; and that's profit on the exchange
OF goods, one sort the growth of the soil from
| the industry of the farmer, and the other the
product of the fields or the forests, mprov-
| ed by the ingenuity and labour of the manu-
| faeturer, must give both a greater variety
| tor choice and certainty in the gratificati-
on OF our national comforts and wants, when
tobe had at our own doors, and without
paying tribute to foreign nations, who arc
inseDsible to the good which they derive from
our consumption.
Every man must perceive that it would
be impracticable in the order of civil society,
for nation like this to be confined exclusive
| ly to agriculture: for it would be to infer
| the absurdity, that man in society is
| subject to no other want than food or that
| there was a willingness in the nation to be
dependent on other nations for all those ar
ticles which go to the support and CONTEXT of
| man, as well under the vicisitudes of seasons
as in variety of climates-it would be say
ing to the human mind, ''stihe thy insatiate
passion for knowledge, forcgo all the gifts
of genius and mind, which providence has
so bountifully but needlessly bestowed up
on thy species, and emulate the rude abo-
rhymes of your woods for such would ne
cessarily be the retrogression, and their fate
would assuredly be ours; because the very
| dependence for the necessaries of life on a
foreign nation would immediately subject
nation without arts to nakcdnesS and the pri-
vatons of all those articles which contribute
to the enjoyments of a civilized and liberal
|
| The great principle of social policy is to
possess such a proportion of all the various
professions, farmers. mechanics, manufac-
turers, and merchants, as the natural pro-
| ductlons AID civil wants, the means of Dur-
chase, and the superfuX for exchange afford !,
in society so constituted, the means for ex-
portis ever abundant and the nation so Cir
| cumstanced is always independent; because
independence does not consist so much in the
accumulation of pecuniary wealth, as in the
possession OF all that is necessary to ease and
convenience, and our rational enjoyments.-
a nation possessed of these, would need nci :
Their armies, nor navies, nor taxes. Our for
tunate country is exactly calculated for such
a nation, II we have but the wisdom to max c
the right use of our resources and improve our
condition. The progress already made only
within fifteen or sXten years, surpasses all
that has been done in the annals of mankind ::
ana ought to be proud and auspicious omen
OF what we can and will do, whepeXss" . - nd
shafeei @ peeps l9adIces and fatal attach
ments which have so long bound them in the
| slavish trammels of European monopoly.
The Premium Society of philadelphia. has
been Instituted with a view to invite the ma
ton at large to the consideration ofthose first
interests which are here feebly but fairly re-
presented. 1t is the purpose of this society
to offer premiums for the encouragement of
articles of useful intlustry-The premiums
are the product of voluntary contribution.
e the society neither derives emolument nor
any other reward from the objects which they
propose, than the qualification which thev
must feel in common with every faithful CT
tizen, in promoting the prosperity of our hap
Ply country.
| In looking over the vast field of human in
dustry, which contributes to the strength and
| substantial wealth of nation; articles of
the first necessity, such as food, appear to
be more abundant and plentiful, and Iabeur
better rewarded than in any other country.
In the catalogue of wants, there appear to
be four classes.
FirSt-Articles Of the first necessity. such
as clothing of different descriptions.
oecond--Articleso OF Unnecessary utility, which
so into the convenience of both sexes.
such as needles, pins, articles for house
furniture, use and ornament blanket
and carpet weaving.
Ihird-Articles necessary to the execu
ton of arts and manufactures, such as
wire dawing, file cutting. hinge casting.
door locks, and table cutlery, woodscrew
making
Fo'!''tA Ln;ar;cS, of those articles, vi ,iof,
as the production of foreign nations. are
pernicious and wastcful, by carrying a
broad vast sums of money, for little o.
he ,t,u