Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-11-08
P9AlYiCAk..
JONATHAN FREEMAN's LETTERS
To the E,!itor Of the Illinois Gazette.

SIR,
The complaining tone which has be-
come 80 common among us, is no doubt,
occasioned by inconvenience which we
pretty generally leel, or wants winch We
are al present unable to satisfy.
! People who suffer, are apt to COM
plan, aud ! suppose there is relief in il !;
bot sometimes We indulge this propen-
sity unreasonably, and spend llme and
| strength IN grumbing, which, we'll APP
piled, might set AL 10 rights. Tins am
inclined 10 believe IS our present case.
Here we are, about sky thousand
persons, old and young, possessing the
portions OF our choice IN rich and beau
liul country, lately a wilderness; bat
under well-hircoted industry, last be-
coming " fertile field" We labor for
ourselves and our children, and have
nolhlng to pay but for our benefit.
Our operations commence M the Gre
alton OF real 7veaHh: we bulid houses
and they are our own make enclosures
which produce mere than enough for
our subsistence. We have planted
orchards, and are beginning to gather
their fruits. We have store OF cattle OF
all descriptions, sheep exceplet) beyond
our wants. We have also made our
selves clothing; but in this particular,
our industry may have been somewhat
deficient.
Things have arrived at this point with
out much money; for the little we
brought WIKI us has been mostly ex-
pended IN paying for our land, bud in
purchasing articles Of The first necesslty,
which arc not to be found in new coun-
Try. There are, however, other artic les
necessary for oar comfort, If not for our
subsistence, which cannot be procured
without money; and here lies our ditii-
Guilty. The times are somewhat "out
oi Joint" The old world does not, as
heretofore, take off the Surplus produce
OF the new. Tae plain articles of food
yield at New Orleans, which IS our en-
poriun, little more than the cost Of
freight, and afford Us very scanly sup.
ply OF foreign productions ot luxury and
comfort.
" h"N - Jul iSboPliuOiC kUuloC HiltCf
these Circumstances ? TO direct a TOR
ton Of our industry TO The sNfhty Of our
ozon giants, instead Of raising uamar-
feta6ke hroduce. Let us examine inlo
he resources Of our country, and avail
ourselves of them. Have we 10 iron
ore in the state? no clay suitable for
pottery ? Al all eVenFs we should grow
the materials OF our clothing, as we have
certainly skill to manufacture them
and the skill which is nor ererted, is
dormant cafltai, lost to The hubhc.
No country ever acquired tasting
wealth and prosperity, BY exporting raw
produce. 1t viii! be fortunate event
which we are now dcpIoring as caa,nI-
ty, should it pu, us in the way OF work
ing up aud consuming our own produce.
We shall! hen be as independent as any
people on hl to be.
Foreign commerce is not to be view
ed as me source of 4oeaith, but of coH-
Uenience, We must give an equivalent
Tor all that we receive. The balance of
trade is held by the even hand of mutual
interest; both parties are served by il.
The merchants in each country, may
grow rio h, but il is at the expense OF their
home customers.
The real wealth of country is of its
own creation; consisting in its arts and
industry us productive lands; IFS build
ings; lis roads, canals, and pubic lnsti-
! tuioss and in the means of enloymeni
possessed by the people. Illinois might
be both rich and happy, though walled
| in from the rest OF the werld-certalnly
neither SO speedily nor to an equal de-
gree, as through liberal communlca-
ton with other nations.
Let US have patience and perseverance
and al will be we'll. We generally left
our ancient abodes under the pressure
or apprehension of distress ;-some from
want, or the fear OF il; some from the
CALLING OF political oppression. Now,
let US be thankful Want is far from us,
md we are free. Just escaped from the
grippe OF poverty, or the more horrible
grippe OF tyranny, it becomes US not to
murmur because we have nothing better
than liberty and plenty. Shall we COM
plain because our corr -cribs are over
flowing and our pork 100 abundant Ii
any of us choose TO exchange four, or
even eight bushels Of corn for pound
Of tea, we have good right so TO do; or,
FIVE choose to give one hundred and
twenty bushels for coat Of British
broad 10th; so be il; but-no erum-
bling +! The better way might be, to do
at Present without the tea; and for ever