The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-27

more favorable direction"
Speaking of the discriminating duties. pa
ges 1875 and 1884,, he says, "this, sir, Icon
slider a sacrifice OF interest to policy, the say
crifice is but small, but 1 should not contend
for it, if we did (not) stand in need of ma
rhine improvements: was it not for the ne
cessity we are under OF having some COM
mercial strength, / should be an advocate
for throwing wide open the doors of our
commerce to ali the world, and making nc
KIND Of discrimination in favor Of our ozvn
But we ave maritime dangers to
guard against, and we can be secured from
them TN no other nay, than by having a ma
vy and Seamen IF or ozvn, these can only
be obtained 5y giving ahreference."
Again, page 2l0.-"At present it ethe
transportation of our products) is almost ex-
c!usively in the hands of british merchants,
and as long as their vessels aresupon an G.
quality with ours, they will naturally be in
clined to give a preference to th-irown; but
4 hone soon TO see this matter 7ecfved, and
the citizens of one. state enabled to assist
those Of another, and receive Mutual bene-
fits. and advantages"
He aided in. the passage of the bill to en-
courage your fisheries. February 9, 1892.
On the 5dof January, 1874, he moved a
number of resolutions, among others, enc to
increase the duties on the manufactures and
to0N "a IN NNhoA ~ tA oooSNk wi VIII
merce-another to increase the duty on their
foreign tonnage; & the last was in these words,
" Resolved, That provision ought to be
made for %liquidating and ascertaining the
losses sustained by citizens of the u. States,
from the operation of particular regulations
OF any country contravening the law of ma
|tions, and that such losses be reimbursed in
the first instance out of the additional duties
on the manufacturers, productions and YES
sells of the nation establishing such unlaw-
full regulations" In his speech he remark
ed that, "the nation is bound by the most
sacred obligation, hc toHeeiuea, 10 Hrotect
the rights Of its citizens against the viola
tior Of then from any quarter; or if they
Cannot hrotect, they are bound TO defray the
damage.'-" We are bound to obtain reha-
ration for The injustice, or comhensate the
damage."
January 14.-Again he maintained, that
the necessity of attending to the commerce.
al interest was acknowledged as early as
our existence as a nation. and that our ere
listing estabiShment arose from eEherience,
and IL had been the firm beEefo the heobie,
that such regulations zuonid be made and
that "if we choose to adopt the principle of
excluding other nations from our foreign
trade, in order to increase our maritime
strength, the nation might secure the carri-
age of eur exports, leaving to other nations
the carriage of theirs"
Finally debating on Jays treaty, April g,
1896. he expressed himself as follows =
g" When government came into operation, it
is well known that the American tonnage
employedi in the British trade, bore the most
inconsiderable proportion to the British :on-
Inage-our laws have made several REGULATE
ems in favor of cur own shipping. among which
was the important encouragement, resulting
from the difference of ten per cent. in the
duties paid by the American and foreign
vessels. Under this encouragement, the A
merican tonnage has encreased to a very
respectable proportion to the British tonnage.
If a nation choose, they may prohibit all
trade between a colony and a foreign country,
as they may between any other part or their
dolninions and a foreign country. But if they
permit such trade At all, it must be free to
vessels on both sides, as well in the case of
the colonies, as OF amy other parts of their
dominiOnS.
Soon after, this he retired from Congress,
and had no further opportunity to express
his opinions Gil this inter esting subject until
he became Secretary OF State. In which
character he has proved himself deeply skill
led in its principle, and firm i'll the deter
mlnation to support its rights. While he is
charge wild, seeking its ruin, it will not be
forgotten, that he alone of all it's advocates,
alter Il NEST iaboriouS research, has submit
ted to his country and the world, its vindi-
ca,ion, a lucid developemcnt of its rights,
and a conclusive refutation of the claims of
the belligerents.
| miglt here close the vindication of the
administration, and the republican party ;
but the times are critical, and it is a duty to
re glove every plausible pre,ext of the oppo-
sition TO place the efforts Of the republicans
on that high ground NJ which they are enti-
tied, and which they are certain to occupy,
when the passions OF the moment have sub
sided.
l have admitted that the commercial in
terests are entitled to protection, and | so
further and say, it is a sacred duty to yield
them every reasonable support.
The questions then are, lst. What isa
reasonable support! I'd. Has it been TX
tended to thetnt This admission precludes
the idea of their being entitled to pre- emf
nent consideration. They constitute about
one Sixth part of our free population, inclu-
ding the various classes of citizens who are
necessarily attached to, and dependant on
theIu for their sustenaBce. They add much
to our wealth, industry, energy and infor-
nation ; but they do not increase our vIr-
tue, or our Justly of sentiment, and they are
Injurious to the increase of our natural po-
pulation.
1t is impossible to prescribe any precise
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