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injustice; established that of Maryland; the Quakers; that of
Pennsylvania。 The Portuguese Jews; persecuted by the Inquisition;
stripped of their fortunes; and banished to Brazil; introduced by
their example some sort of order and industry among the
transported felons and strumpets by whom that colony was
originally peopled; and taught them the culture of the
sugar…cane。 Upon all these different occasions it was not the
wisdom and policy; but the disorder and injustice of the European
governments which peopled and cultivated America。
In effectuating some of the most important of these
establishments; the different governments of Europe had as little
merit as in projecting them。 The conquest of Mexico was the
project; not of the council of Spain; but of a governor of Cuba;
and it was effectuated by the spirit of the bold adventurer to
whom it was entrusted; in spite of everything which that
governor; who soon repented of having trusted such a person;
could do to thwart it。 The conquerors of Chili and Peru; and of
almost all the other Spanish settlements upon the continent of
America; carried out with them no other public encouragement; but
a general permission to make settlements and conquests in the
name of the king of Spain。 Those adventures were all at the
private risk and expense of the adventurers。 The government of
Spain contributed scarce anything to any of them。 That of England
contributed as little towards effectuating the establishment of
some of its most important colonies in North America。
When those establishments were effectuated; and had become
so considerable as to attract the attention of the mother
country; the first regulations which she made with regard to them
had always in view to secure to herself the monopoly of their
commerce; to confine their market; and to enlarge her own at
their expense; and; consequently; rather to damp and discourage
than to quicken and forward the course of their prosperity。 In
the different ways in which this monopoly has been exercised
consists one of the most essential differences in the policy of
the different European nations with regard to their colonies。 The
best of them all; that of England; is only somewhat less
illiberal and oppressive than that of any of the rest。
In what way; therefore; has the policy of Europe contributed
either to the first establishment; or to the present grandeur of
the colonies of America? In one way; and in one way only; it has
contributed a good deal。 Magna virum Mater! It bred and formed
the men who were capable of achieving such great actions; and of
laying the foundation of so great an empire; and there is no
other quarter of the world of which the policy is capable of
forming; or has ever actually and in fact formed such men。 The
colonies owe to the policy of Europe the education and great
views of their active and enterprising founders; and some of the
greatest and most important of them; so far as concerns their
internal government; owe to it scarce anything else。
PART 3
Of the Advantages which Europe has derived
from the Discovery of America;
and from that of a Passage to the East Indies
by the Cape of Good Hope
SUCH are the advantages which the colonies of America have
derived from the policy of Europe。
What are those which Europe has derived from the discovery
and colonization of America?
Those advantages may be divided; first; into the general
advantages which Europe; considered as one great country; has
derived from those great events; and; secondly; into the
particular advantages which each colonizing country has derived
from the colonies which particularly belong to it; in consequence
of the authority or dominion which it exercises over them。
The general advantages which Europe; considered as one great
country; has derived from the discovery and colonisation of
America; consist; first; in the increase of its enjoyments; and;
secondly; in the augmentation of its industry。
The surplus produce of America; imported into Europe;
furnishes the inhabitants of this great continent with a variety
of commodities which they could not otherwise have possessed;
some for conveniency and use; some for pleasure; and some for
ornament; and thereby contributes to increase their enjoyments。
The discovery and colonization of America; it will readily
be allowed; have contributed to augment the industry; first; of
all the countries which trade to it directly; such as Spain;
Portugal; France; and England; and; secondly; of all those which;
without trading to it directly; send; through the medium of other
countries; goods to it of their own produce; such as Austrian
Flanders; and some provinces of Germany; which; through the
medium of the countries before mentioned; send to it a
considerable quantity of linen and other goods。 All such
countries have evidently gained a more extensive market for their
surplus produce; and must consequently have been encouraged to
increase its quantity。
But that those great events should likewise have contributed
to encourage the industry of countries; such as Hungary and
Poland; which may never; perhaps; have sent a single commodity of
their own produce to America; is not; perhaps; altogether so
evident。 That those events have done so; however; cannot be
doubted。 Some part of the produce of America is consumed in
Hungary and Poland; and there is some demand there for the sugar;
chocolate; and tobacco of that new quarter of the world。 But
those commodities must be purchased with something which is
either the produce of the industry of Hungary and Poland; or with
something which had been purchased with some part of that
produce。 Those commodities of America are new values; new
equivalents; introduced into Hungary and Poland to be exchanged
there for the surplus produce of those countries。 By being
carried thither they create a new and more extensive market for
that surplus produce。 They raise its value; and thereby
contribute to encourage its increase。 Though no part of it may
ever be carried to America; it may be carried to other countries
which purchase it with a part of their share of the surplus
produce of America; and it may find a market by means of the
circulation of that trade which was originally put into motion by
the surplus produce of America。
Those great events may even have contributed to increase the
enjoyments; and to augment the industry of countries which not
only never sent any commodities to America; but never received
any from it。 Even such countries may have received a greater
abundance of other commodities from countries of which the
surplus produce had been augmented by means of the American
trade。 This greater abundance; as it must necessarily have
increased their enjoyments; so it must likewise have augmented
their industry。 A greater number of new equivalents of some kind
or other must have been presented to them to be ex