Kentucky Gazette And General Advertiser

FOR THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE

Reflections on
Political Economy,
and the
PROSPECT BEFORE US.

Addressed to the Citizens of the Western
Country.
No. IX.

Markets relative to the Farmer and
Merchant.

2d. Market relative to the Merchant.

IN the whole progress of these investigations,
it has been my uniform object to show the ne-
cessity of both the Farmer and Merchant,
throwing their respective relations into the
most natural channel of action. Without this,
nothing permanent or effective, can be done.
In the first place, I have shown, that the Mer-
chant has heretofore been engaged in sending
the circulating medium out of the country, ab-
solutely injurious to the farming class, and pro-
ductive of no beneficial effects, except to him-
self. In the second place I have shown, that
the Farmer was compelled, from these causes,
to export his own produce to a foreign market.
This policy was in every sense of the word,
unnatural—and the embarrassments it occasion-
ed to the state at large, exhibited the full force
of the maxim, "That communities like indi-
"viduals, are at last compelled to retrace back
"their steps to nature, to enjoy the true
"blessings of social existence.

What I mean by this observation is, that in
all their plans and pursuits, whether in morals.
legislation, or economy, they should regulate
all their ideas by what may be discovered to
be a law of nature; and that in proportion as
they deviate from its dictates, they recede
from the only infallible mean of producing a
happy social existence.

Hence arose an argument in my mind. that
the true market relative to the Farmer was,
that which was held out to him by the Merchant
in the country. Another argument occurred
that the true market relative to the Merchant.
was the foreign market, or the trading cities
and communities that belong to different na-
tions; or such as are connected with his own
country abroad. The first of these points has
been developed, upon grounds I trust, suscep
tible of approbation. The last article, remains
to be considered.

It is by the active but regular exportation of
the produce of the soil, that the state can pre-
serve a progressive ratio of wealth. This is
our natural capital; and the duty of rendering
that capital highly productive, will alone de.
volve on the Merchant. Hence the propriety
of directing his operations, as much as possible,
in its natural channel. The important cession
of Louisiana to the United States, has placed
the Mississippi in our hands, and will guarantee
the freedom of its waves. The extent and
fertility of the great region it waters, the
country having become truly American, pla
ced under equitable laws and proper commer-
cial regulations, we have every reason to be
lieve, will put two great advantages in our
power. They will invite Merchants of capi
talto our establishments on the Mississippi.—
They will produce an emigration very possibly
of the same class and description, to the higher
posts on the Ohio, and on other interior rivers.
Should these things take place, and we have
every reason from present appearances, that
they will; the old mode of Exporting Cash,
and of Importing our merchandise, by the rout
of Pittsburgh, will, and ought to cease. I know
of but two distinguished instances where there
is such an extent of land carriage, for impor
tation, as that which the western country suf
fers from the markets of Philadelphia and Bal
timore: The first is the trade which Russia
to the north of Europe, carries on by means of
caravans from the empire of China, and the
borders of Thibet, in the East. The other is
that which is carried on by the Eastern na-
tions from the Persian Gulph, and the borders
of the Red Sea, across the deserts to Africa,
and the Western parts of Asia. But in these
cases the physical situation of countries, gives
a just pretext of necessity, for this kind of
commerce. The thing does not so strongly
apply, in our own case. That portion of the
western country composed of the western
counties of Pennsylvania, on this side of the
mountains, must continue to import by the
old rout; because the navigation of the Mis-
sissippi and the Ohio, composes a distance too
great to procure their goods through those
channels, under the embarrassments of the ra
pid course of one of those rivers, and the
lengthy, though smoother current of the other.
But these difficulties vanish in proportion as
they are applied to the more southern states on
the western waters. The state of Ohio is, to
be sure, the most northwardly of these states.
Much of its territory,
leaft justify a partial importation of its mer-
chandize
however, would at
on
the
Mississippi
whilst the higher parts of the state, as well as
what new states may be formed in future upon
the lakes, would be compelled to import by a
land carriage, and by the rout of lake Erie.—
The Indiana territory, the states of Kentucky,
Tennessee, and the Mississippi territory, would
be computed into that quantity of western
country, that will find it to its interest to pur-
sue the rout of the Mississippi, in all its impor
tations.

Having suggested these preliminary remarks,
let us enter into a more minute detail, first of
the degrees of expence that would attend the
change—
Secondly, of the practicable modes of bring
ing it into effect—
Thirdly, of the united advantages of the
full operation of the plan proposed. It will
then be seen that the Mississippi is the only
natural channel by which our importations
should be made : and the markets on its wa
ters and beyond them, the true markets rela
tive to the merchant.

These points will be topics of future inve
stigation.

ARISTIDES.

The papers under the signature of " ARIS-
TIDES," will be discontinued for a time, to
admit Congressional Matter. As Soon, howe
ver, as the most important communications,
relative to that subject, are made, the publica-
tion will be resumed, and continued from time
to time, from the present period to the begin-
ning of next summer.

In the mean time, the author is induced to
believe, that his exertions have made some im-
pression on the public mind; as he is informed,
that some resolutions will be entered into, to
place our commercial and agricultural rela
tions upon a more economical standing than
they have heretofore assumed.

ARISTIDES.