1396. COMMERCE, Debt and.—
No
earthly consideration could induce my consent
to contract such a debt as England has
by her wars for commerce, to reduce our citizens
by taxes to such wretchedness, as that
laboring sixteen of the twenty-four hours,
they are still unable to afford themselves
bread, or barely to earn as much oatmeal or
potatoes as will keep soul and body together.
And all this to feed the avidity of a few millionary
merchants, and to keep up one thousand
ships of war for the protection of their
commercial specula ions.—
To William H. Crawford. Washington ed. vii, 7.
Ford ed., x, 35.
(M.
1816)
