Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-05

kI{fN
for the destruction Of commerce. lie teNs
us, our commerce has grown TO an enor-
NOUS size and warns us that It is not to DC
tri9ed with. The gentleman nom Gonnec-
sicut. too. tells us, that the avowed was not
the real object, of the embargo laws; and
that he so prophesied at the time OF passing
then--that thesr real object was TO encou-
rage manufactures, ut the expence OF COM
merce. This charge of insincerity is q Sc
rsoas one. 1t is of a nature to impose rs
straint upon the feelings, agalnSss -, $50 s,,r
prise more than any thing ever heard fall
from that gentleman; and the only apology
l can find for it is, that he unfortunately
Prophesied it. 1t is painful effort of the
na.nd to admit ourselves false prophets
by this time, il is impossible, but the gen
slsman must be convinced, that this was a
false prophcsy. lie reminds me Of two
lines in Hudibras.:
aman conyincca against his VIII,
Is of the same opinion stili.'
The gentleman must be convinced, but,
rec aims the ssase opinion. Sir, whether 1t
BE- suspicion or jealousy, Or whatever
delusion the gentleman is laboring under, |
peremptorily deny the existence Of the fact
has insinuated. How has it happened,
that the commerce Of the United States has
become So enormous bar from Coz. in2tsa.-
ng anu fta What act of hostility against
SSNe,n'-, has ever been shtWn by the go
eoInmelSSlI.sSgs .- ,>u.ase the gentleman 90
name one, or single act from the southern
members unfavorablc to our commercial
prosperity. Ga tae other hand, have We
not always concurred In the stimuli given 10
commerce by discriminating duties, both
on tonnage and merchandise, by the draw
back system and many other acts not ma
terial now to mention. 1t has been from
these causes, added to the enterprises of
our people, that commerce has arrived to
such pitch of prosperity. They certainly
do not warrant the charge brought against
toe government.
But what has excited my surprise, nnore
shan any thing else, respecting this sugges-
ton is, that the deiusion upon the gentle
mans mind, should be 40 strong as to ba-
nish his recollection Of the local interests OF
the different states in the Union. Iie seems
TO suppose that the southern are mapufac-
turing states--this is not the fact. The fact
IS, thst the commercial are, also, the manu-
featuring states. The southern states are
agricultural and commercial, not nanutac-
turing, except in the household way; and
that is not the species OF manufacturing that
has excited the gentleman's alarm. The
peculiar organization of society In the south
ern states, win, for a long time, forbid large
establishments of domestic manufactures
Thi. is the kind which gives the gentleman
so much alarm and, in this kind, the south
crn states have no local interests whatever.
They have, however, an essential interest
in commerce, although, generally, the mer-
chants carrying 1t on, may not reside within
them. The agriculturists know, that a pros
porous commerce IS essential to good prices
and, therefore, they have always contribut.
ed to its protection and prosperity. In this
state OF facts, the gentleman may find per-
feet security against his extravaganza and
unfounded lealousies. But that gentleman
is alarmed, because he has discovered in the
Presidents replies to sundly addresses from
the manufacturers, expressions OF sa,isfac-
ton at their prosperity and Improvement in
the manufacturing system. But the Pres;-
dent has no where expressed an intimat;op
or wish, that this Improvement or prospe-
rity should De encouraged and promoted at
the expence OF commerce. And if he were
20 indulge so extraordinary an inclination.
os could not expect to get vote south of