Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-31
NO. Xxx.

NO. Xxx.
u The Honorable the Senate and House of Repre-
satehves of the United States Of .amey1ca, when
in Congress assembled.
MAY it please your Honorable Body-Since
te Introduction Of Christianity, the mos, inn
OOrtant event which has occurred in the world,
gsv out of a spirit Of commercial enterprise.
The Republic of Genoa derived her wealth
udconsequence from her commerce; and, al
though she was not in a situation TO furnish
Columbus with the means of giving inmorta-
Gy phis name, she gave him a nautical educa-
lion, and an undaunted spirit of commercial
e~psrprize, to which we owe the discovery of
America.
To like commercial spirit are we in a great
measure indebted for the unexampled prospe-
iy Of this great and growing Empire.-Com-
usrce has caused our wilderness to blossom
like the rose.
A foreign market for the surplus produce of
our soil. has converted millions of uucultivated
acres into fertile plains.
Our commerce visits every cline, and viii
tens every sea. The annual exports of the u
nited States fall but little short Of one hundred
millions of dollars!
Nearly one-fourth in value Of the returns of
Ghimmense commerce, is paid in duties into
dtpublic Treasury, and employed in paying
he expenses Of our National Government, thus
armpting our soil from taxation. Commerce
bthe parent of Liberty. To prove this, we
ned not refer to Carthage or other ancient Re-
pblics. We need only cast our eyes towards
the late Spanish possessions in our Southern
hemisphere. For ages the ports OF these CO.
lGes had been sealed against foreign COM
merss, during which time their inhabitants
sruaned under the yoke of an iron despotism
Themvasion o. Spain, however, left them free
10 throw open their ports 10 the trade OF all ma
ions. Commerce, freighted with Freedom, no
sooner uniurled her banners, than man recovered
his lost dignity. A group of degraded Colo
MES became a confederation, OF Sovereign and
independent States So intimately is a spirit
Of Freedom identified with a spirit Of CONNER
cia' enterprise, that liberty can never die whilst
commerce survives.
Hisneedless 10 mention the influence OF COM
nerce in civil:zing, refining, and in multiplying
NE social relations Of man A distinguished
author observes, that "Commsrce is the golden
srde ofths Globe"
these observations upon the importance OF
commerce, are made With a view of showing
US high claims TO National protection. But,
snNst enriches the public treasury,
Mhvlgorates public liberty-while it enhan-
UsNesalue of our soil, and rewards the hand
'achcultivates it-whiist it affords employ
A'nlanG competence TO the artizan and the
~%eOanlc-whilst, by giving extended circula-
ISalo wealth, il creates occupation for the arm
Industry, in a thousand various forms-in
Is, whilst Commerce promotes the general
~SScsperty Of the Nation, it is a melancholy re-
lection, that the great majority Of those who
p'sue II as a profession, enjoy the least of It's
tusnls. Where. one Merchant acquires an In
s~speldence by Commerce, alas! how many are
"s%Siphsd in the vortex of bankruptcy!
-nese misfortunes are sometimes occasioned
!? saadenchanges In foreign markets-some-
IlmeS oya hucluation in the value of the circu-
Jug medium at home. Often by misplaced
f%%adence, and frequently by the injustice OF
ign powers. Losses of the latter descrip-
saave given birth to the present address.
upflns the late wars in Europe, numbers OF
a'eHow citizens, confding in the relations OF
Ss.e and amity subsisting between the United
a% % and France, and relying upon the faith
Sae law Of Nations, as we'll as the solemn OBJ
sssaons of a public Treaty, embarked largely
1s .. Commerce, particularly to the CONT
'oi Europe.-It is not intended here, TO go
~ - asfa'ls of the various depredations commit
upon our lawful Commerce, by the Govern
ra'o Of France.-At present, it is only necessa-
la" S'a'e.-Ihat, between the years 1907 and
un;.., property belonging to the citizens of the
SsuIed States, to the amount of Three Millions
,.Do'iars, was seques,ered by the French Co
H onnnent at Antwerp, at St Sebastian, and in
'"Aao' which was afterwards disposed of