Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-08-18
For the Spirit Of the Age.
COMMERCE.

The age in which we live is a fast one
an age Of light, knowledge
aud improvement. Every day IS revealing
the past aud disclosing the future. Per- |
haps there is no age from the creation
down to the present, that is characterized
by so many improvements-physical, men
tad and moral No century Of mans ear
Iier history has marked such onward pro- !
gress, in science and literature, as even the
last half century. What remarkable
contrast between the age Of the sages OF
Greece-the golden epoch in Roman his
tory and our own. Instead Of lying DOR
mani for many years, the thoughts of our
young men are snatched from their brains,
committed to the electric wire, carried
thousands of miles, submitted to the press,
returned and laid on our tables, before the
material on which they are printed is dry.
Instead Of the little ship lying anchored
near the shore, waiting for its pilot star to
peep from behind the clouded heavens,
that it may safely steer its course, the
proud Leviathan, laden with earth's richest
bounties, is riding the naughty waves, bid
ding defiance to the threatening storm.
Whence all this improvement? Whence
this great change respecting the arts, sci
ences and literature? Whence this pow
erful incentive to navigation? It's through
the medium of Commerce. This word, in
its common acceptation, means the ex-
changing of one commodity for another
either artificial or any natural produc-
ton Of the earth. Anything, it matters
not what, from the changing of the small
est article to the greatest, may be classec
in a commercial line. The cultivator 0
! the soil would exchange some of its pro
ducts for lamb from the flock of his neigh
1 Dor, and both would be pleased to give
part Of their property to the merchant Q
mechanic for an equivalent. Thus ther
is a reciprocity kept up between man whicl
/ is indspensably necessary for convenience
The practice of exchanging one commc
dity for another, is doubtless coeval wit
] the first assembling of men together, an
4 still continues to exist and increase. Bt
? sides the conyeniences and benefits arisin
! from bartering, it appears natural for ma
= W pdllIClpalC CICIGli. " y oCC iillo dAoPN
o sition fully exhibited in the school-boy e,
J. changing his penny for some foolish toy
T. in the uncivilized man of the forest givin
,e his hunting spear or blanket for jewelry.
le - can AscageeE find history of an
Is nation but that we'sec its pages filed mo
IL or less with its commercial transaction
Indeed nation which has never carrie
on on commercial trade, has never been at
ks to produce an interesting history. 1t "
ID, commerce that produced warlike G;
of thage, a voluptuous Corinth, a brillis
Athens anRsah unrivalled Rome. 1t v
la commefccs eHsE skirted the coast of I
vas Mediterranean with its unparalleled veal
lea Its beneficial results, so lavishly poui
vas upon us, are to be seen and felt in or
tel. many WAYS. Its obvious thatthe scher
,ol- of commercial intercours@have been
18th signed by Providence, for the unive
he benefit of mankind 1t is hardly poss
,ad. for the rudest savage 10 live separate
xay apart from the assistance Of his fellow-n
,ing this principle is inconsistent with hul
nature ard contrary to divine record.
reh, It's influences have beea greatly
81 in difFusing knowledge and Christia
IS in throughout the land. BY its appeal to
the selfshness of man it insinuates a NJ
,ung prompting spirit, and is the best Of all
runners TO the efforts Of the schoolm