The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-21

II at StaEe.--l mean commerce.
In its most extensive sense, 1t Includes the
internal traffic, which is carried on between
citizens of the same state-or nation, or diff
fercnt states, by purchase or exchange; as
we'll as that intercourse which is carried on
betweendifferent countries by uavigaticn.-
The former-is Usually called internal trade,
the latter Foreign commerce.
The former is calculated by economists, to
be from hve to twelve times AS extensive as
the latter; varying its proportion according
to the extent OF foreign enterprise. This in
tcrnal trade Is assisted BY its freedom from
taxation, by the activity of foreign commerce.,
and by occasional bounties granted b. states
for the culture of PARTICULAR articles. i,
ought to be stimulated by public, Improved
roads, canals. and bridges, and by every
thing which facilitates internal intercourse
between the scabord and the country, and
different parts of the interior.
Nothing is more certain, than that as YOU
increase the safety of internal transportati
on, and lessen its expences. you Increase the
value of each mans farm-open an additi-
tional country to market, extend the amount
or your products Tor foreign commerce., ana
enlarge the means of acquiring the comforts
and elegancieS OF life.-Nor is it less clear
that by internal improvements, the national
domain might be increased in value, a sum
equal to the necessary expenditure ; so that
by = judicious and liberal plan, the facilities
of intercourse might be furnished to the in
terror, even without the Inconvenience of a
temporary advance When to these consi-
derations is added one of higher Importance
the amalgamation of local interests and
feelings width these" improvements would pre-
duce, without i~njuring the rights OF ssate Sc
vereignties, is it not matter of deep regret,
that Notwithstanding the repeated attempts
Ot the President to induce an attention to this
subject, no one step should have been taken!
What is easnr than by a rule which shall do
equal justice to each state, to effect these ne
cessary and all important improvements?
And is it not worthy of serious reflection,
that while more than twenty eight millions
OF dollars, have been advanced to aid foreign
commerce, in which five sixths of the natl :
OF have only an indirect and partial benefit.
not enc cent has been advanced to aid the
farming interest directly although it would
indirectly give an equal AID to commerce.
Few men entertain a higher opinion than
I do of The value OF foreign commerce: it
produced before the revolution a great por-
ton OF the capital that enabled us to carry
through the struggle. 1t generated that spi-
rt OF hardy enterprise, which aided by our
nautical skill. severely anso"sa the trade cf
the enemy /; and supplied this nation with
many articles of the first necessity. 1t en-
courased that love of liberty, and indie pend
ence of thought and action, which eminently
contributed to our becoming a nation.
IL has since given life and spirit to agricul-
ture, raised the value of our lands, and fur
nIshed an extensive American capital, in
deed. superior. to the demands of our whole
commerce. A capital which may constitute
q fund for the support Of the nation iii the day
of necessity.
Nothing is more untounded thar the sug-
gestion that american commerce is indebt
ed to Europe the reverse is the fact, to the
amount OF many millions. England's pre-
tended balance embraces all the insolven-
cies and bankruptcies of sixty years; and
British merchants have more of American
capital than sufficient 10 pay British demands.
1t has furnished fluids for the most of our
banks, assurances, turnpikes, bridges, and
canals.
TIC this it has been principally ow ing tn 1t
New-England has arrived 10 her present
state of Improvements x wealth In New
England it is coeval with her existence -
The revolution and constitution both found
YOU highly commercials; in that character
you became parties to both of CT
wi government, and Your right to !. reason
able support in your fuvOritc pursuit, is rs
f~ai y MAJ A4AAI Sio 9illNSdg 90 U > 10 Gltk IL
'her class in society, its pursuits and itte-
rests.
In further considering the rights of this
commerce to the cOuntenanCs and protecti-
on of government, its division into Two clas-
ses will lead to a more perfect knowledge
and more correct decision.
First. The carry ing trade.
lie is that commerce, where the merchant
sends MS vessels with q cargo of ourrproducts
or commercial capital to any foreign port, &
brings in return the merchandise of that port,
destined for foreign consumption, or ia such
quantities as exceed the demands Of our
market; and after it has been incorporated
with the body of our merchandise, it is sent
to another foreign port for sale. Often it is
extended still further--afier leaving our
ports, it disposes of rs cargo at the port of
its first destinations prOcures another, sells
it at a third, and so on till finally it returns
home enriched with TIE commerce of many
countries. IL always exists in a limited ex-
tent but its profits are principally derived
from a state OF warfare among the great ma
tions Of Europe.
From it this nation derives the following
benefits.
LIST. An annual increase of wealth drawn
in time Of war from foreign countries, e.
quail to from ten to twenty millions of dol
lars.
ID. A more perfect knowledge of the COM
merce Of the world, from which our mer-
chants are enabled to make more correct
calculations in favor of our necessary foreign
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