Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-05

banling of some Of our infatu,tcd country.
men, that If they cannot carry il or upon
the principles Of national respect and anu.
tuai honor, thsy are willing to forfeit both
in the way of smuggling
1t is infinitely to he lamented that the
same source which furnishes nourishmcnt
to liberty and refinement, should at the
same time furnish its antdo,es It is an
acknowledged principle in history and ex
perience, ihat altho' commerce brings in
wealth, it brings in also luxury, which IS
AN acknowledged bane in politics, to virtue
and republican simplicity. In the most
admired government Of antiquity, COM
merce was inhibited by Lycurgus, and for
reasons which apply with too much force
to ourselves, because II subjected him TO
insults and outrages which he had not ma.
val force to repei. We wish not to be
understood as abandoning commerce. alto
gelher, but not to encourage it to that
dangerous excess, which won q render us
unable To do without it. If we were in
similar situation to that Of Great Britain.
every effort ought 10 be made 20 encourage
and expand II. There, il is the vital CIR
culatlon Ok the body polite land notwith.
Standing the pride tf the late writers viii
not admit it) If il is stopped, she is noliti-
really deod. From whatca has this zig.
my island acquired this colossal strength
but from cammerce II must strike the
most carclc- observer who reviews the
naval history OF ~ ( country, thar as her
trade las sunk her navy has fallen, and
that rs II rose her navy has Increased
Wtih what prOprlety then. car Mr WilH-
am Spence indulge himself with this dav-
dream security, "that though Europe ard
America, Asia and Africa. were TO resolve
n vfsN. tn nsa ft-rr IS
manufacture, Still this favored isle l,s the
means within herself not merely OF retai-
niBS TIE high rank which she possesses,
bus of progressively going on in her career
OF prosperity and power" Men who as
sumo knowledge Of politics and endea-
vor 70 deiude their ccun r., or 70 Gatter
ii5 vain credul, y By dOctv mes Of this cast, ,
must soon he detected as scribhing iatter-
,crS, partizan writers, or pretended patri-
ois, who chance with the "vary.nc hour' -
II The overthrow Of Britain, might ava
ken the desire Of universal conquest in
fon1partc, and therefore we most sincere
Fly wish that the event may never occur
But If the ministry of Britsin shall CONT
lnue obduratcly TO pursue that blind policy,
1--we lock npon the event according 30 the
! best poli;ical calculations, as certain.
4 Ii we consult the authors upon tic pew
UeFS ara commerce OF Grsnt Erita.U. from
the time of becoming commercial coun-
I try u"ul the present time, We shall be fully
4 convinced hat she canuCt support herself
ihy naval defence, unless she has an ex..
tensivc trade. in proof Of this, we have
the authority Of aceiebratud writer, who.
among others observes, 4" that the power
Of our neigiborS both BY land and sea is
/ grown so formidable, hat we must he up
or our guard, with fleets too big, 70 be
mti"taincd merely by the ih;ural produce
! and income of cur country; we must there
I fore have recourse TO those artificial helps
(which industry and a well regulated trade
may minister. If we could so contrive
| IL, as never to have a foreign war, we
might content ourselves with less foreign
TRAFFIC, which not only brings in the mo
ney, that must pay the men, but breed up
the very men that must defend u.s.