Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-02


furnishes it has been ingeniousy called great lamp
lighter "e trims the lamp Of the cottager, and lights
up the saloons of the gay lends his solitary taper to
the thonght-worn student, who IS out watching the
northern bear over some ancient volume.
IL the influence of commerce can be traced IN the IN
creased prosperity aud strength of the body poltc is
scarcely less conspicuous in lis effect upon manners
and in lis congenia spirit with orr free institutions lis
tendency to refine and clvlze has been universally &C
knowedged. The asperitles of nation are broken
down by INSTRUMENTATION with Others and improve
ments in the manners and customs Of society are in
ported and introduced, just as the cut Of coat, or the
fashion of ladys dress. So too of literature and the
discoveries in the sciences and improvements IN the
mechanical arts, and the new inventions in machinery
which astonish the world and form in its his
tory ail-all are disseminated wherever commerce
! pu sncs tier adventurous steps.
With all these blessings we have the heartfelt conso-
latnn OF knowing that the benecent spirit which
owe so much ever smiles with kind regard upon the
abodes of freedom. ain the middle ages the iron yoke
Of the ieudal system was broken by commerce. The
emancipation Of Europe from the detesable sway OF
the barons began with the privileges granted to cities
The wealth acquired in commerce afforded the first
counterpose TO that Of the feudal chiefs, and in the
space of a century and half gave birth to the most
pervading change in the state of civilization. This
was the natural course of things. The very nature OF
commerce is at with despot;sm. 1t cannot live IN
It's uncongenal atmosphere. 1t must wither, itself, or
beraze the land into which II introduced 1t either
strikes the scepre from the tyrans hand flies rapid
wing to chimes in which wel-reguiated freedom reigns.
When, therefore, for their comforts enjoyment,
the barons of old permitted privileges to commerce, they
unwngly introduced among themselves the deadliest
foe 10 their authority.
ITO carry on the system of Exchanges, says dis
tingushed and orator, sit is necessary that
the articles accumulated should be safe in the hands of
their owners. The laws of society for the protection
of property are founded this truth. The only way
in which man could elevate himself from barbarism,
and in which he can maintain his elevation, is by be-
ing secured in the possession, of that which he saves
from daily consumption, and which constitutes his
resource sickness and old age, and is TO be transmit
ted as an inheritance his children. II is this surplus
too, which constitutes the fund by which the system
Of exchanges sustained TO strike, therefore, at the
principle which protects his earnings his acquisitions,
to destroy the that the field which ne plants
in youth will remain to him for his support in old age,
very life spring Of commerce, security is its natural
soil, and freedom its proper atmosphere. Not but that
may exist where the rights Of man in their broad
est not perfectly secured, provided the rights
of property scrupuously protected. Such was the
case in Genoa and Venice, with the freedom of whose
institutions mingled some of the harshes features