Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-05-20
Manufacturers
Versus
The Administration.

The democratic administration at the
last session, contrary to all former usGges
in the United States, in their acisdom,
thought proper to recommend taxes on
many kinds of domestic manufactured
articles, to raise revenue tFerefrom, to
support hundreds of idle officers, pro-
mote executive patronage. and pay ma
tional debt Of 100000 incurred to
obtain ':F'rpc Trade e Sailors flights"
The manufacturers Of America. viii re-
collect and bearin mind, that they were
told BY tie Editors Of democratic papers,
among tie many blessings which the war
would produce for US, after securing
:: Free yrade and 'Suiiors' Rights" the
certain promotion of our manufactures
here would be effected. That we were
not an independent nation until we, in
err manufactures, could live without the
manufactures of Great Britain. That
waist we depended on Great Bri-
tain fnr single article Of her make, and
necessary for oar use, we were not indie
pendent of her. That, in short, to be-
come an independent natien was to be-
come manufacturing nation. And that
could never be effected, until war cut of
our trade with England, and forced our
citizens to turn their capitals into all
kinds Of manufactures here. This false
mode of reasoning and popular rant was
calculated more to mislead YOU ard gain
your assent to the war, than it was intend
ed IN the end, for your protection and be-
nest. TO those among the mechanics,
who did not reason on deep state policy,
It was well calculated to deceive--while
those on the otaer hand who did think for
themselves, sawin it nothisg more taan a
scheme to ensure e.recatice support. Ma
nv of you mechanics, who now see and
fee, the national taxes, on your industry.
and who have been called to the Office TO
obtain your permits to follow your law
full trades, for the support of yourselves
and families, have honestly heretofore 81
ven your support % those very men who
now Cypress You by taaing your wares.
TIE mere laying a tax on your trade:
is not the greatest ell these tyrannical
laws bring upon you. They are an evil
which your love of county, would induce
YOU to bear without murmurs, were not
their collection attended with the most
tyranaic degradation. You are not tax
ed Ike your fellow citizens, who are ge-
neraily more wealthy than the mechanics:
because tisey pay fixed sum for their Ii
cense, and are done with it-but you,
whom the war was to aid and establish
in your res ective callings-you who hi
thaito appeared to be the s:!ols of the ad-
ninistration, must keep taco sets Of Books
swear to the correctness OF your ac-
counts quarterly-and like suspicious
cheats give security for your perform
ance DID ever the despoiic govern
ment of Great Britain, demand those acts
to be performed by her manufacturers &
mechanics Did ever tie despotic 60
yernments of France, OF Russia or swed-
on, require those Things from their trades
men No Not eien under tie lmpe-
rial despotism of Napoleon, when in the
full tide of his burning and sinking system,
were these shameful acts required OF his
humbie mechanics i-Dut fellow sufferers
these acts are not ali the laws require
you to perform. These acts are mere
partial evils upon you, when compared
to those, some of you have to submit 10,
under the laws>o1 last session, recommends
ed By an EnZlistman! You are Obliged
to suffer yoar account Books to De inspect
ed by the officers of government, or any
spy or pimp, whom they may employ q
lntrap and inform of yoa! Here mec!ia-