Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-11-15


the foreign commerce OF New York and
Virginia; and let US see il this principle
will not adequately account for the vast in
crease Of the one and the constant 'diminu.
ton ol the other.
AT the period Of The Rsvolutiou, the a
noun: of the foreign commerce OF the two
States was neatly equal; hut there existed
even at that time remaikahle difference in
the mode in which il was conducted. The
Stale of New York has but single seaport,
and hut one large river, which conducts all
her trade 10 that port. AT the period Of ihe
Revolution, then all the foreign trade of tho
State was conducted 10y and through the city
of n. York. AT the same time the trade OF
Virginia was conducted principally by tho
Scotch merchants, who had settled in all the
little towns near the head OF Tide on all the
larger rivers and creeks OF the State. Thus,
even at that day, though the trade OF the TWO
States was nearly equal, yet the city Of New
York was much larger, and lis business lar
beyond that of any single town in Virginia.
But II vas not 81 much larger, nor had its
capital so greatly increased as To destroy The
competition ni the Virginia towns IN tho Tor.
eisn trade. Nor did this result take place
Tor long time after.
AS the population of New York gradually
Increased, extending itself over the surface
! as we'll as becoming more dense, the increas>
ing trade thereby produced caused a con-
stantly increasing demand for capital with
which TO carry on that trade, at her only
port, the city Of New York. Tia, demand
Was as regularly aud as constantly supplied,
until New York became large commercial
: cuy. The same extension and increase OF
| popnlation IN Virginia, likewise ocC asioncd
! an increased demand Tor capital with which
| to conduct the increasing trade, Ut the vari-
Gus points from which that trade was carri-
ed IN And this demand was likewise reg
ularly and constantly supplied, SO that all of
our towns increased in size, all became lar
F., ger t0tDnS, but none oi them rose tn the dig.
nifty and size OF n city, because there was no
concentration OF trade or capital al either of
them.
The same difference in the geographical
position OF the two States, which produced
this striking diversity in the course of their
trade and lis results, operated also upon their
legislative policy in relation To the facilities
afforded 10 commerce. by means OF roads and
canals Every such improve .ncnt IN New
York WAS designed, and nsce ssariIy tended
III increase and facilitate the trade To the on
ly Commercial emporium Of that State.
Hence. every fe isible s;hems of improve
ment united al voices in is favor, and tho
work was s,pn eXeci;ed and aid ID its ci-
pacities 10 the great object OF swelling the
commercial prosperity OF the Safe In Vir>
ginia, on the contrary, a road which might
tie very useful in facilitating and increasing
the trade Of fredericksburg TO Richmond,
could be OF no sort Of service tu five other
places oil equal consequence consequently,
the improvement had one voice in the Le-
gislature for il aud five against il and thus,
II could never he eXeCuici, and the COM
MERGE OF each section was left 10 bait along
as il best might, unaided aud alone;
But we have now To view the relative
commercial position OF the Virginia towns
ena OF the city Il SsS Hs5s HIVE h ressrd EFF
'ncTH merely as the elrporia of the crniiuerre
OF their respective States But in The mean
time new world in the West has been fill.
ing up with an enierpI ising, busy, rich, and
uauing population. In less than forty years
from the period o! the Revolution tile ma.
y"rity OF The population OF the u. s; is found
10 The trans Allegheny region. Thi. re-
g'on, oil immense extent, Of infinite produc-
i've capacity, is locked up from The rest of
The world, with the exception of The single
dangerous outlet through The Gull of AleSi.
co. lie question early presented itself,
what happy portion oil the Atlantic border
shall be permitted TO enjoy the incalculable
"eaith which The possession Of the trade or
any considerable portion of the trade of this
vast region will afford; Which oiaIl The
Atlantic Por:s is destined to become the em.
pofinm oil the commerce of this immense
empire! This was the problem which the
virginia politicians 10 vain ATTEMPTED TO re.
solve 10y argumeni.-The New Workers re-
solved ii by constructing the Erie Canal.
1 he vast population Of the trans Alleeha-
ny region Was thus conducted 10 The city of
New York as The emporium of its trade
The necessary consequence was, that imme,
diaieiy demand was created al tina, single
point for capital with which TO carry on this
immense trade, equal 10 all the remaining
capital engaged in The foreign trade of The q.
St2tcs. And the demand thus created was
oieou-so supplied. Under The influence Of
Inc universal law OF trade already slated.
That the supply will follow the demand, the
The overwhelming capital Of New York was
accumulated and secured.
But The effect Of this seizure Of ibe Yves.
tern trade upon The actual and relative CON
dltion OF the city OF New York and o. the
virginia towns did not stop even here. The
immense capital thus accumulated at New
York and engaged in The foreign commerce
! oi That CITY, vciy soon operated to bring in
10 exercise another principle heretofore re-
ferred to. II speedily became manifest, .ha,
The smaller capital Of our Southern towns
could not enter into competition al all in the
foreign trade with the overwhelming CAPITAL
now accumulated at New York and engag-
/ ee in that trade, and that they could moi re.
tain even The foreign commerce which they
originally enjoyed. The merchants OF the
South, who, like merchants every where,
! perfectly understand their own interests. and
always pursue ii, we're not slow in ascer-