Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-12-17
FOR THE ALEXANDER, GAZETTE.

prove the advantages WIN Whte" os'.
fcent Providence has surrounded us, IS
a crime which was thought OF sufficient
magnitude to merit the pointed reprehen-
sion Of heaven itself; and the due I'M
provcnent Of the talents entrusted to our
care, both in our Individual and social
relations, is duty Il less emphatlcaiiy
enforced by the soundest dictates OF rea-
son and common sense. To amellorate
the general condition Of his species, is the
noble ain of the rhilanthropist and the
philosopher, and to improve and extend
the advantages of his local sitaatloa.,
should be the object Of every member Of
an enlightened community and no sra
ton, however humble, eau rendeT US I'M
able to contribute in some degree towards
its attainment. Wherever q sense OF
this duty is generally felt, a union oil OBJ
ject and energy Of action is almost ln'a-
riably attended with success cores
ponden. to the degree of activity which
il excites. We sec, in many places as
sociations formed for promoting improve
meats IN agriculture and the arts, and IN
those places where proper estimate OF
Its Importance is made, we see individual
and united exertions directed to the I'M
proyement g extension OF commerce, and
these exsrtions may generaHy-nay, uni
versally be taken as evidences Of The
healthtul, vigorous and HouIishing state
of the particular local communities IN
which they originate. In glancing over
the map OF our extended country, The
eye scarcely rests upon spot combining
more numerous ard important advantages
Of situation for commerce than hlexan-
dria, even taking into the prospect those
fertile regions Of the south aud west'
where the restless aud unsahshed adseh-
turer fancies wealth as within his grasp
and counting his acceptance; and yet,
10 where does there exist so confirmed
an apathy and Indifference to every thins
connected with the subject. Win
back country to the west, the extent anu
fertility of which CONNECTED with us as
1t is by the navisable waters OF the P'to-
mac and Shenandnah) would enable US
10 export more bread stutis than any other
port IN the union-with the tobacco anh
corn trade OF the Northern Neck oi Vir-
sinia, and a great part Of Maryland IN
cur olfer--with large shacs of the inter-
nal trade OF the Chesapeake and its wa
tiers, safe and easy communication WIN
the ocean, and a salub'ious climate, we
]anguish in comparative obscurity aud IN.
siguifcaDcy, almost unknown and UNI
numbered amongst the commercial cities
Of The union; aud our progress towards
commercial consequence Is so SLOW as 10
be almost imperceptlb!e TO the eye oil the
NEST sUlicitous observer. With popu
lation of upwards OF 5000 Inhabitants,
banking capital of more than two millions
OF dollars, an annual export of mere than
a million oil dollars. and 10000 tons oil
Shipping, our market scarcely oficrs 10
the western merchant. who would be our
natural and exclusive customer, seiec-
ton Of foreign commodities superior to
many village, retired in situation, poor
In natural means, and supported alone
by the union, activity and enterprise OF
the Inhabitants aud by compelling him
to pass US by aud make his purchases in
the north, renders the sale OF produce
which he makes to US rather a disadvan-
tase to US than benefit, inasmuch as il
becomes the means OF draining US Of mo-
gey to encau age the Importers OF Balti-
more, Phils4elphla and New-York. Four
ff.hs at least OF the produce purchased
in aud shipped f,om Atexasdria is paid
for in money The greater part of which
Is transmitted to those places Tor the pur.
chase of foreign merchandise, By which
balance Is created against US. and the
fair operation of our barking capital
checked and impeded, when the natural
and proper course would be, a direct in
terchange, which would leave within the
District the psoft now paid 60 the larger
cities, and render US perfectly independ-
cnt of them; and there is natural con-
nexion and identity of interest between
this District and the country west of Us,
which will ever render it cur own fault
If We fail to derive from it the advantages
resulting from its exclusive t,ade--great
aal valuable exports from the most solid
foundation on which an extensive catn-
uierce can be raised: all other is unsta-
bic, liable to be vitality affected by every
political change and untoward eAtianeous
circumstance: bat where there is regu-
lar and valuable exportabie commodity,
particularly If it be bread stuifs, trade
will always flourish in degree proper.
toned to The demand for the staple, and
there will, perhaps. never occur year of