The recorder, or, Lady's and gentleman's miscellany. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1801-1802, 1802-05-05
OBSERVATIONS
ON THE

Respectfully fubmitted TO the confederation OF she
General Aaembly ofVirginia.
lCantisnea fran laf.
larures therefore may impofe, a tax on
thofe perions only, who import Or retail
certain articles, the home manufacture
OF which it may be thought cxpedient
to encourage. Importers of hats or
Iadlery, and retailers Of thoie articles,
may be taxed 70 heavily fora iiccnie TO
fell them, thar the importation might
flop: and thus, indirectly the fate Le-
gi1atures, might affunne a controul over
our COMMERCE, which by the letter OF
The Contribution is expressly delegated
TO the Federal government alone.
Bur there is another paint of view in
which This fubje6t may be contemplated
The intereits ofVirginia are alhoft en-
tirely agricultural. We have no manu-
features and bur few ihips. But in the
eaftefn itares, the labor Of comfortable
portion of the people, is employed in
manufactures. 1t is therefore obviouGy
more important to the New England
Etates, than 10 Virginia, 20 citabiiGf a
principle, WHICH will enable them With
out the aid of Congre1ss to encourage
their own manufactures: The preicnr
condition of Eufope, exhaulted by
long war, and burthencd with the enor-
NOUS taxes, which shat ~af has produc-
ed, and the preient pro(pe6es of Amc-
RIGA, under an administration, Whole on
~ objects arc peace ard ECONOMY, iuS-
Iify belief that III a few years our popu-
Iarion will receive 3 very comfortable
accel1ion, particularly by the migration
Of tradefmen and mcCanics
II we may Judge from the courie
ofpait events, this acceGlon viii take
place principally in the northern and
eaftern flares. The principle therefore
which authorizes rhe fate Legislatures
70 aGiIme indirectly a right TO encou-
rage home manufactures, will 5econe
every year, more Important co thefc
1iares. The example OF Virginia, will
then be followed, and pteeifejy 10 pro
portion 20 che influence ofthat example,
will be the nischiefs fultaiTled by the
Smpo(t revenue of the Federal govern
znent. Thofe who look forward 20
cordial and peFmanen, union Of the
ftates, (which rtlay God Prelerve } will
below on this fubIeGt their ferrous at
sention.
The foregoing arguments derive
great force from circumstance which
mutt be contemplated by the Legina-
ture Of Virginia, with peculiar pleaiule.
The difference between this Gate, and
she administration of the general 90
vernnent, IS happily al an end. <'The
danger Of encroachment on the fovc-
yeignty OF the ftatess &c is over" The
PRECEDENT Of the United States, has
pledged himfelf 10 his country, TO f,lp-
pors che fate governments IN all their
righrs. f While this wife and liberal
maxim hall be obferycd by thofe who
adn1inifter The affairs of the Union, is il
not unqueltionably the policy as acli as
the duty of The fate Legislatures, to
avoid every n1eafure which may be con
ftrued into anencroac1nen the rights
Of the general government, and thus in
eerrupt thar harmony, 70 aupicious, 10
the happiness of the people?
There - alto confederation peculiar
10 this fare, calculated TO thew che cor
re6tnefs Of the preceding remark. Ii
is declared by the Contribution that no
f}are 01all ilnpola duty or experts,
except what may be aIJGlafey Heee6ajy
for executing its inspection laws. -Fhcfr
are very imperious words, Of which the
import canDot be we'll milcopceiyed;
and if the claufe containing them, ihould