Fisk, on the
subject of drawbacks. This most heterogeneous principle was transplanted
into ours from the British system, by a man whose mind was really
powerful, but chained by native partialities to every thing English; who
had formed exaggerated ideas of the superior perfection of the English
constitution, the superior wisdom of their government, and sincerely
believed it for the good of this country to make them their model in
every thing; without considering that what might be wise and good for a
nation essentially commercial, and entangled in complicated intercourse
with numerous and powerful neighbors, might not be so for one
essentially agricultural, and insulated by nature from the abusive
governments of the old world.
The exercise, by our own citizens, of so much commerce as may suffice
to exchange our superfluities for our wants, may be advantageous for the
whole. But it does not follow, that, with a territory so boundless, it
is the interest of the whole to become a mere city of London, to carry
on the business of one half the world at the expense of eternal war with
the other half. The agricultural capacities of our country constitute
its distinguishing feature; and the adapting our policy and pursuits to
that, is more likely to make us a numerous and happy people, than the
mimicry of an Amsterdam, a Hamburgh, or a city of London. Every society
has a right to fix the fundamental principles of its association, and
to say to all individuals, that, if they contemplate pursuits beyond
the limits of these principles, and involving dangers which the society
chooses to avoid, they must go somewhere else for their exercise; that
we want no citizens, and still less ephemeral and pseudo-citizens, on
such terms.
Pages:
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481