Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-06-10
Vol. A..

uIuR SuilC buBRcblIOUS tOuCIllHS Jul COHl-
mercial affairs. 1t is a truth quite trite, but
not the less important, that the great inter-
ests Of society are all harmonious and
united; that the agricultural interest, the
commercial interest, the manufacturing in
terest are all entwined,--if we may say so,
around the same stem, supported by the
same trunk, to be nourshed together or to
fade together: and he is friend to neither
who would attempt to set up an opposition
between one and another of them. This
truth, however common, is one which can
not here be too often repeated: because in
the contests Of interests, in the struggle for
preference by law in favor Of one or
against another, this general union-I may
say this common destiny, is not always I'M
derstood, or if understood is not always re-
gardcd.
We live in country in which the greater
part Of the inhabitants find their sustenance
in the pursuits Of agriculture; in which al
so great masses are fed and clothed and
housed by Manufacturing other great
masses fill the marts of Commerce-whose
houses are on the seas; and the very first
proposition of the American statesman is
the essential connection between the inter-
ests of these various persons, and the high
importance that they should always be re-
garded as essentially the same. If we look
10 the agriculture of country, we find that
it furnishes means of sustenance to human
beings; but it does not furnish the means of
cheap and comfortable clothing. What
then will be the fortune of agriculture if
there is no demand for its surplus in the
consumption of masses without agriculture
| manufacturing or commercial! The man.
ufacturing interest-what would become of
| it if there were no consumers of manufac-
tured articles? There must be commodi-
ties to be transported exchanges to be
accomplished, before the destined transport
tiers or the agents employed in exchanges
can find support or employ.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen--Alow
me on this occasion to express what feel
to be ndeniable-that it is to the CONNER
cial interests, it is to the association, and
spirit and enterprise of the commercial cit
liens of the country that is to be attributed
in the first place the original movement in
| favor of the great works of internal i'm
| provement now so extended all over the
land. This results certainly from natural
causes. The capital is in this class: the
means, the stimulus are with this class.
Where were the canals and railroads and
all the great works which distinguish mod
ern times, but for the activity of the COM
mercial classes? And where is the individ-
ual treasure poured out like water, not on
| the ground of rich return of interest in
dividends, but in the advancement of bu-
siness and the general accommodation of
society? Long, long since has this magnif-
icent enterprise been engaged in, and this
railroad--worthy of Rome when Augustus
stood at the head of the Empire; worthy
Of Bonaparte, as great in peace as he was
in war, worthy of any government and
any European power, by which should be
connected the waters Of the Chesapeake
and the Ohio river, work which proposes
to surmount some ridges Of the Alleghanies,
to penetrate others, to proceed from tide
water by steam power on land till the
power of steam on land shall yield to the
power of steam on the water, and connect
the great Valley of the West with the
Great Ocean that lies along our Eastern
border, is in process of completion. The
prosperity of the commerce of a country
then as connected with individual happiness,
with the growth of cities, with the reve-
nue. of country | may add, and as con-
nected with all works of internal improve
ment which connect by so many ties the
North and the South, the East and the
West, the prosperity of the commerce is
the highest and most important considera-
tons which could engage the attention of
all public men and of all intelligent citizens.
may be permitted to state that we hear
all around US, in every part of the country,
that there exists a conviction of this truth
We are now at the end--I am incorrect in
that expression, for we have not, trust.
reached the end; was about to say we are
now at the end of universal peace of 25
years; | meant to say that we are now at
the end Of universal peace of 25 years;
+ meat to say that we are now at point
of time when .25 years of universal peace
had elapsed. During that period all civil
lied nations have been turning their lhols
from war to peace.
They have given their attention to their
own improvement, TO the advancement of
their own interests, agricultural, CONNER
cial, or manufacturing, so that while there
is not now a contest about the pOlOer of
any nation, there is severe and we'll
maintained contest on many sides in re-
gard TO the progress of arts, the further
ance of the pursuits and products of labor
and the general Improvement of all ranks
of society. In short, we live in an age--it
J is our good fortune to live in an age
in which Governments and indlvid-
/ 80. are thinking more of benefitting them.