True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-02-18
Commerce.

Weneed but cast our eyes over levees,
or see the spreading sails of merchant
vessels and monster steamers, sending
forth their volumes of mur ky smoke, TO
know that the ruling power of mankind
at this time is Commerce. The whole
country, interlined with numberless rail-
roads, the lakes and. seaboard harbors
filled with countless vessels from all parts
of the globe, presents, as it were, gigan-
tic advertisement of the commercial char
acter Of the present age. Never in the
history of the world, from the launching
of the first historical hat-boat. Commo-
dore Noah, to the sailing Of the fleets of
the Argonaurts, and continued to within
few late years, has commerce been a
tilhe of what it is at present. Japan,
formerly a sealed book to the civilized
world, has thrown open many of her
most prominent ports, and the star span
gled banner floats side by side with the
cross of ST. George in her harbors. Can
ton remains no longer the sole door of
entrance into China.
An American Charge is at home in
Siam while sails are reflected on eternal
icebergs, and the booming Of cannon an
nounce the arrival Of American CONNER
cial vessels in the Golden Horn ; and
Leander would no longer dare to swim
across the Hellespont, lest he should be
crushed by the wheels of passing steam
ers. Such is the spread Of commerce that
no port of the known world is not visited
by vessels in search of trade. How
grand is the result. The whole worl(
has thus been drawn into the. bands o.
f brotherhood by the principles of inter
change. There lies under this inter
change great and grand principle-th'
original permanent idea of the unity o
the race Of man. Whatever results com
merce may produce in the pursuit o
profit; other and gfander results will fol
] low. Man, as he should be, blythe bless
! ings Of Civilization, is bou nd to gain tn
sovereignty of the world, and Ignorance
|. and Suppression must melt away befor
the light Of knowledge. The interchang
, of commerce involves the intercourse @
mind with mind, the influence Of one ma
l.. ture upon another, the action Of life upo
0 life, and thus the foundation Of all gener
S al progress is laid in the operation of il
' progress. Although the origin OF com
merce arose in the selfish desire Of gain
v yet it has been wisely ordered that W
h should by this promote the welfare Of th
y whole human family. In every hous'
!, hold we see the products Of the most di'
y tant nations gathered within its walk
# from the most useful articles, becom
from habit necessary to life, 10 the to-
7 suitable 10 children. The ornaments
= + the parlor, and The utensils Of the kite
q en-; the Injuries Of the table, and Il
h perfumes Of the toilet are the results
/ International commerce. The frigid al
70 torried zones, the Arctic archangel al
|, n the jungles of India. are equally taxed
,e furnish US witll'the luxuries and necess
Of ries Of life. And in return for these, ,
Ie send abroad the productions Of our oy
!, land, which here becomes as necessa
i. to other lands as their products have b
come to us. Our harvests and our fru
are shared and enjoyed by the denlze
Of other climes. From every point
ht the compass, men NEE. in social COZ
To merce, and forgetting the petty bick'
~ ings and sectional contests, unite %
j. ecute thelwill Of that Providence VI
: holds the race Of man in his power, a