American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-12-15
FRENCH spoLIATIoNs.-No Xxx.

TO the Honorable the Senate and House Of Repre-
ssntatires of the United States Of .3merica when
in Congress assembled.
May it please your Honorable Body
Since the introduction OF Christianity, the most
important event which has occurred in the world.
grew out oil a spirit Of commercial enterprise.
The Republic of Genoa derived her wealth and
consc quence from her commerce; and although
she was not in a situation to furnish Columbus with
the means OF giving Immortality TO hi, name, she
gave him nautical education, and an undaunted
spirit OF commercial enterprise TO which We owe The
discovery OF America.
To like commercial spirit are We in great
measure indebted for the uncxampl,d prosperity OF
this great and growing Empe.-Commerce has
caused our wilderness to blossom like the rose
A foreign market for the surplus produce of our
SOIL has converted millions ot uncultivatcd acres into
fertile plains.
Our commerce visits every cline, and whtens
every The annual exports Of the U. States fall
bu, little shor, of One Hundred Millions Of Dol
lars
Nearly one fourth in value, Of the returns Of this
immense commerce, is paid in duties, into The pub
lie treasury. and employed in ceitayng the expen
ses OF our National Government, thus exemptlng
! our soil from taxation Commerce IS the parent Of
Liberty. To prove this, we need not refer to Car
thage or other ancient Republics We need only
cast our eyes towards the late Spanish possessions
| in our southern hemisphere. For ages, the ports
of these Colonies had been sealed against foreign
commerce, during which time their inhabitants
groaned under the yoke Of an iron despo,ism. The
invasion Of Spain, however. left them free to throw
open their ports to the trade of ell nations. Com
merce, tregh,ed with Freedom, sooner unfUrcd
her banners, than man recovered his lost dignity a
group oil degraded Colonies became confederation
Of Sovereign and independent States. So intimate
| ly is spiri, OF freedom identified with spirit oil
commercial enterprise, that liberty can never die
whilst commerce survives.
Its needless to mention the influence OF com
merce in cyilizing, refining and in multiplying the
social relations OF man. A distinguished author OBJ
serves that Commerce is the golden girate Of the
Giobeo
These observations upon the importance OF Com
merce, are made with view OF showing its hg h
claims TO National protection Bot, whilst Com.
merce enriches the public treasury, and invigorse:
public liberty it enhances the value our soil
and rewards the hand which cutvates it, willis, ii If
fords employment and competence to the artisan ano
the mechanc-whi't, BY giving extended circula
ton to wealth, il creates occupation for the arm o
industry, in thousand various forms-in fine, " hills
Commerce promotes the general prosperity OF tn,
Nation, 1t is melancholy reflection that the grea
majority oil those who pursue it profession, en-
Joy the least Of its benefits. Where one Merchsn
acquires an independence by Commerce, alas how
many are enPulphed in the vortex Of bankruptcy
These misfortunes are sometimes occasioned b.
sudden changes in foreign markets sometimes b
Ructuaton in the value of the circulating medium
at home. Often by misplaced confidence, land ire
quen'ly by The injustice of foreign powers. Losse
Of the latter description have given birth to the pt
o sen, address.
; During the late wars in Europe, numbers OF gu
fellow citizens. corhding in the relations OF peac
and amity subsi,ting between the United State. an