Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-06-18
PROVIDENCE, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 1s, 1925

mens. For ALL who Cal do it, finish their various
tolls ON the farm; and their latest iabors seem TO be
connected with the wish to close their eyes, the
fresh bosom of their mother EARTH Notwithstanding
those have been deifed, (" Who gave US corn Tor
mast, for water wine; yet those who gave us bread
for parched corn; who strpt from the STEMS and the
seeds Of plants the mat erias OF cothing and taking
the wool, lehe beast in possession of his skin, while
they wrought this and the others, into the most
venient or ornamental garments, must be allowed to
have followed uD tho dictates Of nature, ' to better
our condition" by progress in the arts of utility,
beyond what, any thing merely agricultural, could
ever have Done 1t is said, and undoubtedly with
truth, that there is in man natural disposition and
genus, TO trade, barter, and exchange; TO buy and
SELL Ii was, therefore, ,-thc impulse Of nature, as
well as the spirit OF adventure, which originated
commerce.; and carried it in ships over the seas,
from one region to another. Not ancient fable,
but fact, delivered in no very lofty metaphor, did,
in allusion to the annual wealth of the shep-
herd, assign to the toll and enterprise Of COM
merce the richest ofihc golden fleece" II cannot
be wonderful, while each these arts seem to have
sprung from the dictates ofnaturc that each Of them
should have been pursued, genius, inclination,
gave different council to different men, in the acqui-
stion and in the labors improvements Of the great
mysteries Of wealth and accommodation. In the pres
ent, or at any former point Of their progress within The
memory Of man, il seems to be true, that we could
dispense with the OF the productions Of any
Of them as conveniently, with those OF any other.
II is moreover truth, that all nat ions, furnishing
any example worthy of imitation, are striving as
we'll by labor, by legislation to become Of
all the three. What has appeared and still does
appear TO me- and must to all, most wonderful is that
while all rejoice in our improvements, and cherish
our progress, in agriculture and commerce; any
should be found, do not say discouragiDg, but
tually laboring and intriguing to overthrow, and
Danish, manufactures, from our country. We have
fertile lands, they say cultivate them. We have
tall ships; they say man and freight them. Do we
not from tables; live in convenient and well fur
nshed houses; wear suitable, and some what costly
clothing and travel in vehicles, appropriate to peo-
pie, engaged fair, Industrious, and stirring con-
cernments May we not make all these, with our
own hands! They say we must buy, and import
them from the workshops of Europe. Ifthey allow,
that we have advanced to point Of Skill and civili-
zation, high enough to manufacture, some things,
hob nails" perhaps, they will not admit, :hat it
bo either wise. profitable, to manufacture our
own clothing, our necessary wearing apparel What
a paramount absurdity This manufacture is above
all others connected with our agriculture and COM
mercc; not only in the supply of its materials, but
also, in the moving power connected with BOTH Our
rivers drain, and iIrgate our lands for culture F;
supply the channels Of internal commerce; and fur
nish the power especially used for this manufacture.
If any thing be more singular, than opposition to
arts, plainly nducted by nature, it Is the fact,
that they are discouraged when something almost
providential to have furnished TO our country
the necessary instruction to begin, aud conduct
them. Al the commencement OF our present ma
tional government, man arrived in this very place,
do not call his name, because it belongs TO history,
and must be known 10 all and he brought with him
that art in these manufactures, which enabled Eng
land in the progress Of its improvement, so to null
ipy lnhor and increase wealth. that she did, by
the aid OF her machinery, in the close OF the last and
the beginning OF the present century, stand between
the military despotism of one part OF Europe, and
the entire liberties Of tho world. The military
dcspotisms of all nations, and all ages are Ca kind
a i l., .l.z.. Ar
which have ovcrthrown Of the fraternity, in one
region of the world. may very naturally become
o1ious TO those men, who would establish another IN
our country. 1t is, nevertheless, singular, aud
almost unaccounta able how other men, who love their
whole country, approve its form ofgovernment, and
cherish, and support the present wise and sauiary
administration oft, should not, at once, perceive
how much wealth, happiness, and independence
are united with the equal pursuit, and Improvement
Of agriculture, manufactures AMI commerce. Per-
nit TO repeat here and to you, what have often
publicly sad IN other places, aud to many other
men that the great truths Of this proposition were
embodied, and confirmed by the very first general
enactment of the ional legislature. This law, by
uniting private wealth, with public revenue, gave
birth to a system of encouragement, and protection
so equally salutary to each o. these great national
arts and so german to the very genius, and inter-
ests of our county, that it now hears the name Of
the very land, where all these United States stand
and trust in God will continue to stand and Hour
ish together under those wise and patriotic provis-
ions.
Standing, as we stand, on tho elevated ground Of
the present age, it is deeply interesting 10 us, to
look backward and forward, under that light of histo-
tory which, while it shines the course, in past ages,
of these arts ofuty and acquisition, cannot fail to IL
illuminate their path, and direct and cheer our hopes,
for their future progress, IN this our country The
different nations of the world have adopted two d-
ferent plans Of general policy and these have been
conformabc to the two different schemes pursued by
the various nations Of the earth for the acquisition of
wealth. BY one scheme, wealth has been earned by
labor by the other, it has been won by conquest
The nations Of antiquity which labored, seem to have
been at the mercy of those which fought. Whcrey-
or toll and economy had under the encouragement OF
civil institutions accumulated any considerable sur
plus; it was soon claimed and carried off ly those
whose laws were purely military, and VINO laboircd
at no other trade than the sword. Fable, however
false to fact, yet true 10 the voice OF nature, assigns
to the great founder of tho last military government
Of the ancient world, descent from the very God
of war and derived the nurture OF his infancy from
that food, which renders the wof the most proving
and pundering Of all those animals which disdaih
all The fruits Of the earth, and living alone by prey,
thrive only on blood and carnage. The vast mill
tary camps Of the east which had Swallowed up the
labours of the elder world, were at last dcvoured by
this. Paulus Emc'ius, perhaps the most wise, and
humane, certainly the most patriotic OF their tencr-
ais boasted thai he hal conquered the Kingdom, aud
led IN for triumph the last descendant OF Alexander
in fifteen days. With su5tcty worthy the ancient
nurse Of their race, this man sacked seventy c-
ties Of Epirus, in one morning drove the rem
nant Of their slaughtered population, one hun
drcd and seventy thousand mon, women aud chill
dren, into slavery; aud all this was done for the in
diyidua and noional purpose Of dividing to his SOL
dicrs from the spos, something like, fifteen dollars
n head; and placing in the public treasury more sll-
yer and gold, than any former general had gwen to
tho wealth of the nation. Ifmon Of modern times
who boast Of wealth, derived from labor, and disdain
to enrich themselves by punder, would compare
their institutions with those which rendered thIs man
a warrior, and patriot, they would cease to ap-
plaud those whom, for military achievement, they
aoaborina to bring into power; nor amidst the de-
lights of free governments sigh for the bobdy regu-