the union of the wisdom, the physical power and resourr 

 ces of the country. Gentlemen, our lot is cast at a peri- 

 od when events demand all the labor and sacrifices neces- 

 sary to extricate our country from perplexing embarrass- 

 ments. The crisis is imperative. It will admit of no de- 

 lay. The return of better seasons and plentiful crops 

 throughout Europe, supersedes all demanfl for the prodr 

 ucts of this country. Resuming their former policy of 

 excluding foreign products, we may expect to see foreigi> 

 commerce more than ever embarrassed. The vast accu- 

 mulation of provisions in the United States, will produce 

 a depression. The manufactures of Europe will be in- 

 creased and cheapened. Our country, just rising from 

 recent troubles, is exposed to new perils. Our manufac- 

 tures, pressed by recent derangement, and inauspicious 

 prospects, f without stifficient protection J afford nothing 

 to console the heart, or invigorate our hopes. The policy , 

 hitherto^ of leaving every pwsuit to provide for its own 

 security and prosperity^ has laid our country open to the 

 widest and piost destructive projects of European specula-, 

 tions. The solid wealth of the country, and the sinews 

 ot efficient operations, are rapidly passing from us. Our 

 navigation is circumscribed — its lucrative prospects annir 

 hilated. Year after year the history of our commercial 

 relations demonstrate that we import a greater value than 

 we export- — that our country is becoming a debtor to oth- 

 er countries. Such a course of events must increase the 

 general suffering. It threatens the loss of liberty — it in- 

 duces degrading habits, and prepares us to look with in^ 

 difference on the high destiny assigned by Providence to 

 this quarter of the globe. Is it not time, then, to awak- 

 en to these dangers ? Knowing ihem a^ we do, the rem- 

 edy is not difficult. On ourselves it depends, whether \\ e 

 occupy the station assigned by nature. Shall we become 

 sattcllites to diiitant orbs ? or shall wc become the centre 



