The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-09-05

sir, it is commerce, which now regu-
lates the international relations of the
world. 1t is upon commerce, that the
new code of the law ofnations is based.
1t was upon commerce, that the British
empire was founded. It's by CONNER
cial monopoly alone, that it can be sus-
tanned. 1t is the danger to which that
monopoly is exposed, from other ma
tions, and chiefly, from the United
States, which renders the British en-
pre- more precarious, at this day, than
ever before, and feebler,.by far, than
any other of the old leading monarchies
Of Europe. Yes, sir, Notwithstanding,
| am aware that in doing so, place
myself in opposition to the universal
conviction Of men, in both Europe and
America, nevertheless, boldly affirm,
that the British empire is, at this very
hour, not the most powerful, but the fee
blest and the least to be dreaded, of all
those Governments. say SO, because
such is her internal condition, arising
from the shock already given to her
commercial monopoly, that she, of all
those Governments, is the only one, TO
which single great reverse of fortune
at arms, and especially at sea, must
prove utterly destructive. That COM
mercial monopoly upon which her en-
pire depends, has been extended and
upheld solely by commercial wars, and
was doomed, therefore, TO decline with
the empire itself, as soon as the means
of prosecuting such wars, were dimin-
ished by internal exhaustion, or their
success obstructed by the increased
means of the balance of the world
The French Convention, even before
the close Of the last century, fully un-
derstood this secret of her strength.
and Of her weakness, and the great
man who soon after succeeded to the
government of France, acting upon the
same conviction, attempted her over
) throw, by closing upon her, all the ports
of Europe. He failed; not because he
had misjudged the true point o f attack,
, but because Europe, manufacturing
nothing for herself, was, therefore, IN
, no CONDITION to dispence with English
, commodities. He failed, because a
great commercial revolution, which
, carried with it a total change in the
, habits and modes of life among men,
was a thing, not to be suddenl y effect
ed, by the abrupt mandate Of armed
power. 1t was thing to be accom-
pllshed only by time. peace. artisan
, skill, and maritime enterprise. Yet,
did the armed efforts of France, by ex-
. hausting the resources of England, by
entailing, through all coming time, a
, merciless tax upon her labor, to meet
the interest on a debt, that can never
be paid or diminished, prepare the way
for that "continental SYSTEM" which
subsequent peace, with its arts and its
instruments, has been silently enforc-
, ing against her. The fall OF Napoleon
f threw back into the mass of productive
labor, millions of men, from the fields
|, of battle; cleared the ocean of CONNER
ciaI distractions; gave being to capi-
: tai, to manufactures, and navigation,
t throughout Europe, as means of repair
l ing the waste, occasoned by war, and
: thus made every nation. which had be-
e fore been consumer Of British pro-
s ducts, producer of its own consump-
ton, and, with its surplus, competi.
t tor with her, in the open market of the
b world. Thus, has peace accomplished
h against her, what war alone, could not.
: Thus, are the effects of the French
!. Revolution, now found in the treasu
!. ry of England. They are seen in g
h debt, the mere interest on which i'm
d poses upon her furnishing people, ar
9 annual tax of $l9O,ooo,ooo. They are
i. heard in the distressiul cry of those peo
G pie, for bread. Thus, too, has it become
If the interest, as it is the ability and dis
e position, of the nations which formerly
# Ieagued with her, in sustaining her com
l. mercial monopoly against the efforts o
= France, now to league against her, ir
J. breaking down that monopoly, by par
J. ticipating, themselves, in the work anc
d traffic Of the world, and by the disrup
;. ton of that colonial system. or which
e her commercial ascendency depends
o Consciuos of this--conscious of hel
e danger, from domestic convulsions, pro
l. voked by taxed starvation conscious
h sf her danger, in the remote parts o
e her empire, from the ambition of he
Is rivals, as, also, from those instincts
h which ever prompt colonies to revol
l. against declining parent authority
e conscious of these, England sternly re
e solves to brave the peril; and, armed
J. against the word, she goes forth, witt
h fire and sword, to open new highway
l. for her commerce in the East, that sh'
h may postpone;yet longer, the catastro
j. phe which awaits her. For this rea
J. son il is, that she turns her cannon, al