COMMERCE. 259 



our seamen. The citizens of Maine, of New York, of Georgia, 

 of Ohio, and of the great valley of the Mississippi, are as deeply 

 interested in the existence of our gallant navy, and the extension 

 of our commerce, as they are interested in the perpetuity of our 

 institutions and the liberty of our country. Indeed, liberty and 

 commerce have been twin-sisters in all past ages, and countries, 

 and times ; they have stood side by side moved hand in hand. 

 Wherever the soil has been congenial to one, there has flourished 

 the other also : in a word, they have lived, they have flourished, 

 or they have died together. 



" Commerce has constantly increased with the knowledge of 

 man ; yet it has been undergoing perpetual revolutions. These 

 changes and revolutions have often mocked the vigilance of the 

 wary, and the calculations of the sagacious ; but there is now a 

 fundamental principle on which commerce is based, which will 

 lead the intelligent merchant and the wise government to foresee 

 and prepare for most of these changes ; and that principle consists 

 in an intimate knowledge of all seas, climates, islands, continents, 

 of every river and mountain, and every plain of the globe, and all 

 their productions, and of the nature, habits, and character of all 

 races of men; and this information should be corrected and revised 

 with every season. ' 



" The commercial nations of the world have done much, and 

 much remains to be accomplished. We stand a solitary instance 

 among those who are considered commercial, as never having put 

 forth a particle of strength, or expended a dollar of our money, to 

 add to the accumulated stock of commercial and geographical 

 knowledge, except in partially exploring our own territory. 



" When our naval commanders and hardy tars have achieved a 

 victory on the deep, they have to seek our harbours, and conduct 

 their prizes into port, by tables and charts furnished, perhaps, by 

 the very people whom they have vanquished. 



"Is it honourable to the United States to use for ever the 



