Page:Memoir upon the negotiations between Spain and the United States of America which led to the treaty of 1819.djvu/87

77 of very little consideration with the Anglo-American commercial speculator: he knows no other law than his own interest; he feels no other impulse than that of avarice, and respects nothing but money. Such is the distinguishing characteristick of the Anglo-American merchants, and such in general is the character of the greater part of traders, of whatever nation they may be.

Whilst those who possess capital, will not employ the smallest part of it in the promotion of the agriculture, manufactories, and industry of the country, and whilst along with their speculations there still prevails a destructive luxury, that swallows up more than all the branches of agricultueagriculture [sic] and national industry produce, commerce must always be illusory or precarious. It will become still more so, if foreign nations would facilitate and effectually protect the progress of agriculture, manufactories, and industry, in all their provinces and dominions, as well external as internal, by removing the trammels that now oppress and obstruct it, and by adopting such wise and prudent ordinances and tariffs for its regulation, as would obtain for it, if not the preponderance over that of other nations, at least an