The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-11-05


From the Baltimore Morning Chronicle
Americans are looking with no common de
gree of interest towards Europe, for the results
of the Congress Of Verona They have more
at stake IN The adjustment Of this question.
than what love for liberty, and wish for the
prostration Of tyranny inspire. The truth may
as well be told now, as al any other season !;
the balance Of trade is 50 much against The
United States, as TO excite serious and alarm
ing approximations The exhausing drains Of
our specie, hitherto endured, and the still more
formidable drains that,will take place hereaf-
ter, have awakened at last our dormant ankle
ties. American productions. on the contrary,
bear no price al foreign markets. So long as
the present political state of things remain in
Europe, and commercial intercourse continues
on its presen; footing, we shall experience a
recurrence OF the same csiami,ies. We have
been furnished by a friend with an official
statement Of the import and expor. OF specie
into and from the United States, for the three
last quarters, The remaining qsarIer not having
yet expired. The amount Of specie imports
ls one million nine hundred and thirteen thou
total amount Of specie exported during that
time, is ten million ninety five thousand four
hundred and sixty eight dollars, leaving a.
gainst us The formidable bali, Of eight mil
lions one hundred and eigbty-two thousand
and ffty-tbree dollars. Bills on England
have arisen to l3 per cent. Our banks are
preparing all over The continent. TO make pro-
vision tor The trains which the last remaining
quarter will occasion. We pretend not 10
business, but The political influence Of one ma
on over another by lbe means Of trade, is the
most pernicious OF all influences. Ii creates
vssssllage worse, and more enduring, than
that Of colonial servitude. We are but too
apt 10 bewilder ourselves, when we speak Of
The concerns of nations and empires; but let
Us take the plain and obyious case Of creditor
and debtor between man and man.
The influence Of wealth is complained of
every where, and in fact two writer's now oc-
casionally occupy the columns Of the Cbroni-
Gle. ON the question whether there shall be
universally Of suffrage or not, 10 The choice
oil our corporation officers, that is, whether
there shall be property qualification to en-
able man 10 vote. If The influence of wealth
is felt thus incidentally and coafcraly, what
must It be when il assumes the decided east
OF creditor and debtor-how does debtor
teel IN the presence ofhis CREDITOR A deep
and degrading shame, fear of
offence, dread ofhis power to iufict an injll-
ny, Consciousness that liberty and property
are both dependant on his will. Now, if we
will but change the name OF two individuals,
and substitute two independent nstions-if we
will call one individual England, + the other
America. we may see precisely, our relative
situation, for nations are but collections of in
dl'iduals. To make this analogy more com
plele, we will suppose that one Of these par
lies possess al immense capital, and the
other is but young and thriving in business
that the rich capitalist had endeavored by a
lawsuit to crush his enterprising opponent !;
that his antagonist bad however, by means Of
his own internal energy, and the justice Of his
cause, obtained, contrary 10 the opinions OF
all The spectators. glorious and triumphant
verdict 10 his favor. The rich capitsist
then assumes an amicable department TO-
wards his victorious rival, promises to aid and
assist him IN business, and furnishes him with
goods on credit beyond his capacity to dis
charge When the day Of payment arrives,
can this young and adventurous man, NEE, bis
old opponent with the same steady eye, and
The same flrmness of nerve, as he did 10 the
hour OF his successful lawsuit? We seem
alarmed, and are sensiively, and exquisitely
alive TO the touch of English influence, when
he held or the ocean, is the theatre Of contest
We then talk of our star-apangled banner, of
Ihe glories Of our army, and of our navy, and
our children at school are all taught to exult in
he American Characteristic fourth of July
has been consecrated TO such recollections.--
But OF what avail will all these high sensations
BEL England is enabled by other means,by The |
fatal Influence of creditor and debtor, to hum
pie this lofty pride OF characterize exhaust
III our resources, and 70 command all the
active energies of the nation--,o make Us Ia
bour assduously for her aggrandizement, and
% reduce us to state Of worse tl.an colonial
sassallage? Why are we so exclusively Amer
lean TO certain poin', and beyond il 50 CAL
ous and Indifferent Why do we not feel the
same PRIDE IN American manufactures. that
we DO at The sight Of The spsngled banner?
This IS an Englishmsn's pride--the red cross
q -. George, j. stamped on every article ~
English fabrc.-We are fond Of recurring 10
our revolutionary day--the patriots of thai
period, those glorious and immortal souls.
commenced their revolution by Inc encour
agement which they afforded to home made
Americans were taught TO de,