Quote by Daniel Webster
Credit is the vital air of the system of modern commerce. It has done more, a thousand times, to enrich nations, than all the mines of all the world. It has excited labor, stimulated manufactures, pushed commerce over every sea, and brought every nation, every kingdom, and every small tribe, among the races of men, to be known to all the rest. It has raised armies, equipped navies, and, triumphing over the gross power of mere numbers, it has established national superiority on the foundation of intelligence, wealth, and well-directed industry. Credit is to money what money is to articles of merchandise. As hard money represents property, so credit represents hard money; and it is capable of supplying the place of money so completely, that there are writers of distinction, especially of the Scotch school, who insist that no hard money is necessary for the interests of commerce. I am not of that opinion. I do not think any government can maintain an exclusive paper system, without running to excess, and thereby causing depreciation.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the importance of credit in modern commerce. It highlights how credit has had a greater impact on national wealth and progress than natural resources. Credit has stimulated labor, trade, and manufacturing, contributing to the development of nations and the interconnectivity of different societies. It has also played a pivotal role in financing military endeavors, enabling nations to establish superiority based on intelligence and well-directed industry. The quote acknowledges that credit is equivalent to money and can effectively replace physical currency. However, it also warns against overemphasis on a paper-based monetary system, suggesting that a balance between credit and hard money is necessary to avoid depreciation.
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