Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-01-21

Ike
fcee calculated 20 be prcducedb by the adop-
ton Of. the refolution, was coneluhye a
CAN'T if. AT time when the domeitlc
manufacture OF arms required & demanded
the foiiering hand cf government, It was
propofed, contrary to every Princilie OF
juaiee, and fubverfve Of every fuggeitlon
Of policy, TO remove 40 exiting duty on
imported arms, and thereby efestualiy to
proerarc the domcllic manufacture of them.
The duty had been impofed long hnec,
and effects eminently beneficial had ielult-
ed from II. The manufacture OF arms
| among ourielves had been chetiihcd & ex-
| tended.
Our dependence for this important arii-
Gle no longer reiied upon foreign iut'Ply.
Mary Respectable manufactures had been
efablilhed, and our citizers been enabled
to enter into competition with importers
Of arms. This efea had been produced
during the late European war, when the
price of arms, from the great demand
was high. Now, when that price was
reduced, and when the domeRic manufac-
turer could icarcely compete with the '-u
ropean price fuperaddcd to the duty, II
is propolsd ltill further TO aggrayate his
htuation, and to withdraw his only Pro-
tetiion; that protection which had allur-
ed him into the manufacture, and the un.
iua removal Of which might ilue IN his
ruin and the defruttion Of the whole do
.neRic manufacture. Il was profold 10
fufpend tie exattiop of the duty tor two
years. This would effettually proerate
the domefic fabric Of arms, ard after THAI
period we might in vain iesk the MANI
fatturer efe.llere than in the records OF
the bankrupt law. Thus atfhe very me-
ment which our domeaic manufacture OF
arms required the moa protection, 1t was
attempted 10 remove all protection Whale
yer. Who, it was aiked, would under
iuch harlh ciicnmitances, ever hereafter
undertake this vital fabric! But it was
allcdged that an allowance Of the lalpor-
,afion Of arms, duty free, wosld be attend.
ed with a great plefent beneft. Even
allowing this might be the cafe, which
however was Objectionable, was il the Pc
Icy Of our government to facrihse
great ultimate advantage 10 the temporary
good /!
Every nation ought to have thoie re-
fources On which her eXifence depended
9ithio herEelf. OF this nature was the
manufacture of arms. Regard ought not
excluGvely to BE paid to the prefent peri
Oh. Periods Of equal-of greater danger
might hereafter arrive, when it would
not be in our power to import arms /; and
when confcquen'iy our reliance mutt be
on ourcelvcs. Was it therefore, polite
now 10 take fep that would cruih
our in.an, manufactures So The fabrlca-
ton of arms 100 was not TO b. learned
il day. Was it then wife to give up all
toe experience we had gained :
II was further commended that the ab,
topasion Of the duty at this late day
would operate injuriouAy, if not unjultly,
% thofe flares who, under greater cifficul-
ties than at prelent cxieed. had made
patriotic puectafs OF arms. Many OF
thcfe purchsfes had been at prices three
fold the exiting price. Would nos the
removal OF the duty, therefore, operate as
an indirect tax upon the citizens of thofc
Rates who had manfeite.i the greateit ex-
srtions 10 obtain arms, whIleit operated
as a bounty upon thofe who had difplay-
ed the leaf. Thefe exertions had been
mott yigorouay made in the eaftefn itates.
Would il be Eaid that they were richer or
mare able to defray the expenfe, than
the Southern fates? The fact was thar
the respectable fate of South Carolina,
and the other Southern ftates, were full
ly able TO pay the duty, and if they en-
tertaincd a jealous difpohtion TO arm
their militia, the duty would be no 90,