The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-05-16
ron TuE vrR0INIAN.
n. NJ. TALIAFERRO.


Rich commerce gIides where hope expands
the snls
" To shores of wealthy mines With pleasing
gales \ Ueich Poet.
Commerce consists in the exchange Of
the products 81 the labor Of one country
for those of another. II Is founded on tie
mutual wants Of mankind, real or fictitious,
aud Is ready alwaysto furnish supply for
those wants which II either finds or creates.
BY affordlng u vent for the produce Of
labor, aud prot uring, In return, the means
OF desirable accommodation, II lnerrasca
industry, promotes che art and thereby
adgmcnts The wealth OF q state. Commerce
IS the hand maid of agriculture and the
arts, aud by distributing thcn productions
over the world, prompts lhc industry of the
hnsbandman, and qulckcns The ingenuity of
the ariizan.
The more extensive = state is, of the
more value To il commonly is It's internal
commerce, II it possesses the means Of
convenient interchange Of commodities
! through SEAS rlvrri or canals, aud The less
dolhlis prosperity depend on foreign traffic.
This is an advantage which The l.. STAINS
may possess ~ an eminent drgrce, extend
ed rs they are through various climcs, aud
ntrrscCted by numerous rivers, If they are
"ise enough 10 preserve their Union, aud
liberal enough 10 favor and assist, without
Jealousy, the. natural advantages enjoyed
by each, which may ultimately rebound 10
the benefit ot the whole aud OF every part.
Civil Liberty is absolutely nrceseary 10 the
existence Of noailshlug cnmmercc.--
Freedom IS the nurse of industry and en-
terprlzc and IN the bosom Of liberty alone
IL the property of the mefcllan, at all times
secure from the grasp Of power. In abso.
lnte munarf hlcs, the industrious Oc equations
Ot merchant are held in contempt by the
superior Orders Of society. But under the
projection OF II free government merchants
have been found capable uf the grandrst
cnlfrP' ICES The TENDENCY Of commerce
/, 10 refine manners, by opening liberal
intercourse among all nations; at the same
time, II begcts Il certain spirit Of exact JUS
ttce, and habltuhl calculation Of interest,
which is rather unlrlendly to the highest
polish aud ease o social manners, and To
the hospitablc reception of strangers, cx-
cept where s0mr interest recommends their
admission Hospitality, and indeed all
other national virtues or defects. arse, not
from the difference between nations as they
are men, bat MS they are affected by the
state Of society. The ch4raclcrs Of rneo
are formed by the circumstances in which
they are placed. And those nations who
entertain the greatest contempt for each
others manners, would, with exchange of
situations, exchange characters. The in
stltution of banks, when property restricted,
is beneficial 10 trade, by facilitating rea
sonable credit TO merchants, by which they
are enabled to encourage industry, aud To
extend the nsefu. enterprises of commerce.
On the other hand, the multiplication of
banks beyond the necessities OF trade, or
unsupported by an adequate capital Of spe
Gle, becomes a pernlcious evil, by augmen
Ting unduly an artificial medium of trade,
aud thereby increasing the price of labour,
aud of all The commodities in the market
and at leogth defrauding the credit which
had been reposed in them. The incoipo
ration of exclusive companies of merchants
for managing and enjoy ing the sole benefit
of any partculss branch of commerce, =