The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-04-04
coM,rrRorAL "REMINISCENCES.

COMMERCIAL hEMlNloCENSLo.
We make the following extract nom an address delivered
before the aMerchants Fund Society" of Philadepha at
Its late anniversary meeting by Hon. William B. Reed of
that city. II will be found extremely interesting The
extract from Dr. Frankns correspondence the subject
of sIsmpng private property rsm capture at rea shows
Tat this idea which is prominent subjec of dis
CUSTOM also the subject Of consideration many years
ago;
This great esscd Of commercial Instability is told
page Of Toe history of ths world and nowhere
mpressvey than the record Of the life of the greatest
merchant merchant statesman, too, whose fame Is part
of Philadephias honors mean Mr. Morris the closing
hours OF whose usrous life shrouded in the thick
est gloom of mercantile embarrassment The great
chant Of colonial Pennsylvania who first planned and
eced commercial adventure from America to the East
ladies' land il needed holder genius then span the
globe by mercantile adventure than il does now) the
great merchant Statesman of the revolution who by his
individual name butressed up the dlapdated credit
of the nation in It's hour OF agony in his latter days
poor enough to need all sympathy-a ruined The
merchant who retiring from Office in 1884 gave public
notice that he prepared pay every e the claims
against himamountng to hundreds OF thon:ands of dol
iars-whch be had incurred in public service and who
did pay them, In les than twcy years was utterly and
hopeessly ruihed And his.ory and family tradition tall
us that looking back the record Of lite public
VICE ana OF noheS and patriotic impulses be bore misfo
tune Win ca dignity and temper and uttered no
word OF complaint, murInur, sorrow except for
tnose whom be had iunoceny injured
and now, merchants and business men Of Philadel-
pha--turnng from these perhaps rngracous differences
and lessousl glad of the opportunity while you
here gathered together with matter of politics TO divide
us but with the great sywpahies Of charity and lore for
fellowman to bind together here in Philadelphia
the city OF the constitution and the Unionhe city whose
historical DONORS greater and brghe and richer and
whose present attitude in its conservative loyalty that
never changes is impressive than any other 10 the
nation, ask you to with me- and let show you
what long ago done by PHILADELPHIA merchants and
then IL will be for you 70 say why they should not do
much and again, and take in the estimation of their
coanymen the attitude they once occupied II words of
pride in our history the history OF Philadelphia
inerchantscan stimulate, think they can, high
bton want in words Of counsel by man Of bns-
ness o the Of bpsness by one whose destiny lawyer
be is is bound up in YOURS and who all he has
you some rich memories of the glorious past raise you
above ice boats usury law half piioage s to
wellknown phrase very well in their sphere, but not the
GREATEST most enDobling topics in the world and to
show you what the merchant wac and what so easily
he may be again.
have no appeal to make to spurious local feeling to
jealousy here jealousy there. do not care, and VIC
need care what city ousrips in the Of
ical strength in physical advantages il but
cherish in hearts and make apparent in orr habua
action an earnest rational selfrean loyalty and local
pride built the foundations of history and truth Il is
oil care for, and all ask.
There is venerable merchant now living in PhiIale
pha unknown perhaps to nineienths of The young eeae
mon who were dancing night before last at the opera ball.
and went YEARLY to their work next morning, who has
always seemed to me TO be good Of true
Philadelphia spirit abatng fatering have
ever known. Carried infant in the arms he Iemeu-
bers ths American lines at Cambridge; and lives
amongst the extreme verge of human lie, walks
streets with erect stature and heart that beats faith
fully to tss his home 1t did when he first here
eighty years ago. FIRST remember him g representa-.
tive in Congress from this city flor the absudity of always
sending lawyers Congress then tho ru!e then
knew him as State senator; but have always known
him as aa out-andout Philadelphia Pennsylvania
mau-who when assailtd or depreciAttd or
threatened to be overwhelmed the exaggerated epua
tons of other communiieswhen Boston has soug ht
claim sill the merit of history, and tried TO hide our old
State House inside OF Fancu Hail. and nverng the cradle
of bery TO extnguish the place where liberty learned
takwhle New York. with her doubtful honors has tried
to dsparage us, this truehearted Philadelphia has
always been ready and able with tongue pen utter
eoquent words in behalf He may have been al
ways for Pennsylvania right wrong but be has
ways been and Let honor him for t for Penpsy lyana
and Philadelphia aganst the field speak now Mr. Pi
iden OF Mr. Samuel Breck probably the oldest Phiadel
paia merchant living
His ourscote years varied life are crowded with
ories that would we'll Justify Phladephias PRIDE for they
illustrate her advance from small colonial town. through
years OF war and revolution and sectional strife and
tul politics. TO great and peaceful metropolis DR. Breck
Ia almost old enough to remember tho first great united
act OF our merchants in f65 when they entered into sol
emn-and not the less solemn because simple in it's
suage-non importation agreement Ii is noble docu-
nen-that Philadelphia compassionate in its vieor, and
more noble In its simplicity and earneetness Its sanction
10 no spurious OATH but simple word Of hunorthe prom
use OF one American man to another thxt until justice s
done TO America, they WILL at any eacrfce of and
profit hold intercourse with Great Britain and then
tnere IS something Pleasantly grotesque In the saving
clause THAT all those amongst us that have already
orders to Great Britain for goods shall and will immei-
ately countermand Them until the stamp act is repealed
except such merchants Of vessels aread
gone who at liberty bring back in Them on their
own account Goals casks of earthenware grind stones
pipes iron pot empty bottles aud such other bulky arti-
ces as owntrs usually fill up their ships with, but dry
goods of any kind but dye sufs and utensils as m
De necessary for carrying manufacturer" There would
aeem to be something like centenary cycle dye stus
ana the raw material This compact 1855 enriched by
tue signatures OF our Philadelphia tadersthe nea an
ceslor5 OF many who hear me--s OF the NUM-
mens OF our little 10 constitutional liberty The
hs!Pea to lay Its cornerstone and deepest masonry
IL would be out of place here attempt the
huence of commercial through local history II
Is familiar to all who hear me- if it is not it ought
be-
The sending back the ships in l774 leading in
cident of the times, snd il in which mercantile
interests involved aud yet merchants most
cheerfuy coopeatd in it, The first secretary the Con-
unentsl Congress merchant Two at least of the
Philadelphia sgners of the Declaration OF Independence
were merchants; the of Washington Trenton
the turnipg-pont OF the war; aided by the application
OF private commercial credit Mr. Morris borrowing and
at his own risk ending to Washington the hard money
that he much needed. But was the CONNER.
ca influence Of the country felt and exercised than
in its diplomacy Let any modern representative of our
county abroad whether his post be snecure the
aoorons known to the public SERVICE contrast his mode
rate or his excessive duties with the terrible responsible
ties which weighed upon the hearts OF the great who
We're ministers abroad from 775 the peace
aterlet him read their correspondence transparent
the apxetes they endured and he will humble himself by
the comparison. NoW minister matter of pecuniary
concern, only knows his government when he receives
remittance OF his quarters salary Them the ambassador
was the iinancier abroad The bepgared government
homo was drawing bills which he bad TO provide for
There never merchant known your charities, or
to the annals of bankruptcy whose kie.Eying was more
desperate than that of