Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-07-24

own recollections who can count, who
can estimate, the general mass Of i'm
provement Commerce has been eX-
tended, and made commensurate with
the globe. Agriculture has not only
been pursued in the ordinary way, but
has called to its aid, to give it just
dignity and Importance, the arts and the
sciences. Not only indigenous plants
have been improved by culture, and car
ried to great degree of perfection; but
exotics also. The ingenious arts have
been carried to pitch of perfection and
improvement, which former days have
never known land many Of them ema-
mated from the originality and invention
of the American artist. The fine arts
have also received very large and ample
Improvements, particularly that OF ar
chitectnre and that admirable compo-
sition Of design, uniting taste and ee-
gancc with use and convenience, is no
where better understood than in the
| United States.
Before the revolution, the people of
the different states had but little inter-
course with each other the conse-
qucnce was, that they imbibed many To-
cal prejudices and local peculiaritics.
| individuals in the different states, felt all
the hatred and prejudice towards each
other, that is customary between differ
ent nations. Since we were united TN
der one efficient national government,
! these preludiccs have been wearing
away, and they now merely exist as sub
iects of amusement, ami fit themes for
pleasurabic conversation and laughter.
Individuals from the north and the south,
| from the Atlantic and the western states,
have mingled together in the same mar
| tial strife, and felt all the friendship and
attachment, which similar scenes, similar
hardships, and similar sufferings, are
calculated to inspire.
Consequent upon the general pros
perity of the nation, has been the ability
Of the government to discharge the debts
OF the revolutionary war, and to provide
the means Of defence in future wars.
1t has also been able to chastise the In
dians upon our borders, when chastise-
ment was necessary, and the only means
| OF preserving peace with them. They
have almost all Of them felt the weight
oil the American arms, and been COM
PEELED to submit. Humanity has indeed,
preserved remnant of the aborogines,
| who in former times were numerous,
powerful and warllke. Notwilhstand-
ing many opinions to the contrary, eX-
perience has fully proved, that the form
OF our government, and our institutions,
are equally well calculated 10 sustain
the shock Of war, as they arc to flourish
in peace. The late contest with Eng
land proves this proposition to demon
stratlon. 1t has besides not only been
able to defend itself, but has also been
able to make serious impressions upon
our enemies. The maritime strength Of
England has been more affected, and its
commerce has suffered more, and sus-
tanned greater losses, in two years and a
| half of war with the United States, than
| it did in thirty years with the principal
powers of Europe. Experience has
proved that those who reasoned from
European examples, entertained erro-
neous opinions. Before the late war
with England, many supposed that, be-
cause the European nations could not
meet the British upon the ocean, there
fore the Americans could not. The
agricultural population Of the southern
states were generally Of opinion, that we
were in no respect maritime people.
Previous to the late war, Mr.. Randolph,
celebrated member in congress from
Virginia, expressed himself as follows:
We are great land animal, and our
business is On shore. What shall the
great Mammoth ofthe American forest
leave his native element, and plunge
s. into the water, in mad contest with
g the shark Let him beware lest his
probcscis be bitten off in the engage
q ment Let him stay on shore; and
q not be excited by the muscles and the
periwinkles on the strand, or the po-
g litical bears in boat, to venture on
:. the perils of the deep. Gentlemen
say, will you not protect your violated
g rights? And l say why take to the
water, when you can neither fight nor
/" swim. Look at France; see her YES
sells stealing from port to port upon
"hcr own coast, and gccollect that she is
6. the first military power of the earth,
and as naval power second only to
" Great Britain. Take but away the
g British navy, and France Tomorrow is
" the tyrant of the ocean," But a
RoDGERs, DECATUR, HULL, Balm
BRIDGE, and a PORTER, with many
| IL ...r .,n ,,roIl &c Z, ,-1,,thf ,I Dnnru nrI