ches of the assemblies in the several
states, but choose to see them stand on an even floor with their brethren,
where the artifice of a small number cannot negative a vast majority of
the people.

This danger was foreseen by the Federal Convention, and they have wisely
avoided it by appealing directly to the people. The landholders and
farmers are more than any other men concerned in the present decision
whether the proposed alteration is best they are to determine; but that an
alteration is necessary an individual may assert. It may be assumed as a
fixed truth that the prosperity and riches of the farmer must depend on
the prosperity, and good national regulation of trade. Artful men may
insinuate the contrary--tell you let trade take care of itself, and excite
your jealousy against the merchant because his business leads him to wear
a gayer coat, than your economy directs. But let your own experience
refute such insinuations. Your property and riches depend on a ready
demand and generous price for the produce you can annually spare. When and
where do you find this? Is it not where trade flourishes, and when the
merchant can freely export the produce of the country to such parts of the
world as will bring the richest return? When the merchant doth not
purchase, your produce is low, finds a dull market--in vexation you call
the trader a jocky, and curse the men whom you ought to pity. A desire of
gain is common to mankind, and the general motive to business and
industry. You cannot expect many purchases when trade is restricted, and
your merchants are shut out from nine-tenths of the ports in the world.
While you depend on the mercy of foreign nations, you are the first
persons who will be humbled. Confined to a few foreign ports they must
sell low, or not at all; and can you expect they will greedily buy in at a
high price, the very articles which they must sell under every
restriction.

Every foreign prohibition on American trade is aimed in the most deadly
manner against the holders and tillers of the land, and they are the men
made poor. Your only remedy is such a national government as will make the
country respectable; such a supreme government as can boldly meet the
supremacy of proud and self-interested nations. The regulation of trade
ever was and ever will be a national matter. A single state in the
American union cannot direct much less control it. This must be a work of
the whole, and requires all the wisd