John Adams: “The commerce of the United States is essential, if not to their existence, at least to their comfort, their growth…”

An efficient preparation for war can alone insure peace.

The consequences arising from the continual accumulation of public debts in other countries ought to admonish us to be careful to prevent their growth in our own.

The national defense must be provided for as well as the support of Government; but both should be accomplished as much as possible by immediate taxes, and as little as possible by loans.

In short, commerce has made this country what it is, and it can not be destroyed or neglected without involving the people in poverty and distress.