Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-24
ATlEX tNnPIA:
Wednesday, yMaRCH "a, 1919.

WC1fDEsoDsIt, sHsInCH 81, 1919.
A great orator, in the last century, speak
ing nf the effects of trade in narrowing The
mind, and illiheralizing, saio, that mer-
chants desk was his altar-bis ledger his
bible--and money his God. To this Sc
we're general sentence Of repWbatioI, men
of more cool temper and less ardent imagi-
nation opposed decisive practical contra.
diction. by pointing to the character long
maintained by the body of British mer-
chants for private charity and pubic mu-
ni6cence, NOT equalled, certainly not sur
passed, by any body or class of men in
England, or any other pat of the world.
That there are certain callings which have
tendency TO contract the sentiments, where
they are not early expanded by liberal edu
cation, is certain; and it is probable that
the habit of trucking, and hartering, and
dealing in the lower departments of traffic,
imparts sel6sbncss to the heart, injurious
to the more exalted feelings, and subver-
sive of generous sentiment in the human
bosom, where It has not been previously
fortified by an enlarged and liberal educa-
tion.-But men who have had the advan-
tage OF such training, and adopted libe-
raj sentiments previous to their being en-
gagged in any particular profession, will car
ry those sentiments along with them through
life, and perhaps there is no profession in
which they can he exercised with more adj
vantage or utility than in that of merchant.
In this profession, man, while he is aug
menting his own private fortune, will en-
joy the agreeable reflection, that he is ike
wise increasing the riches and power OF lis
country, and giving bread 10 thousands ot
his country men.-Of all professions, his is
in lis nature the most independent tile
merchant does not, like the soldier, recei"e
wages from his sovereign NOR like the law
yer and physician, from his fellow citizens
Ills wealth often flows from foreign sources,
and he is under no Obligations to those from
whom It IS derived. The nablt which he
is in Of circulating millions, makes him lay
less stress on few dollars than the pro-
prietors OF the largest estates +; and the con-
sequence is, that IN most countries, partl-
QUARRY n those where commerce is not con-
sdered degrading, tie commercial part OF
the inhabitants give the most exalted proofs
OF generosity and public spirit.
In countries where nobudy who has the
smallest claim to the title OF gentleman,
can engage in commerce without being
thought to have demeaned himself, fewer
examples OF this nature Will be lOund anu
in every country it must be acknowledged
that those who have not had the advantage
OF a liberal education who have been bred
from their infancy to trade who have been
taught 10 consider money as The most valu-
able Of all things, and to value them
selves and others in proportion to the guam,
tity they possess; WHO are continually re-
volving in their minis, to the exclusion OF
all other ldeas, the various means OF IN
creasing their stock-selt-lnteles becomes
the constant, and often sole object oil re-
gard--money swells in their imagination
is rated beyond its real wor'h-and at
length, by an inversion Of the christian pre-
cept, is considered as the one thing need
ful to he sought with the most urremitting
ardor, that all other things may be added
to it.
In commercial towns, where every body
finds employment, and is agitated by the
hustle of business, the minds oil the inha-
bitants are apt to be so much engrossed with
the affairs of this world, as too often to for
get that there is another; and neither the
true religion nor false ones, have such
hold on the minds, as in places where there
is more poverty and less worldly occupa-
lion. In the FIST, they consider the remon-
strances of the clergy as interruptions TO
business; and without daring to despise the
ceremonies Of religion, ike the speculative
sceptic or inhdel, the hurried trader hurIies
them over as fast as possible, that he may
return to occupations more congenial with
The habits of his mind-The preachers /,
may cry aloud and spare not; they may !
lift up their voices like :,umpets, proclaim
ing the nothingness of this world, ard all
which it contains; it is in vain. Men who
have been trained to the pursuit of money