Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-19

est extension OF ~. We havc no wish IL
be understood, as aiming AT the aboli,ior
OF all taxes whatever Hpon foreign com.
modiiies. To certain extent We believ,
such taxes as eligible perhaps, as an,
others but W. TAX Tins occasion To say
tha' many OF them have appeared Ia rs
already too high and that the nearer we
can possibly approach Ia free trade wIiL
all the wOrlj, amt equal taxation amona
ourselves, the better. Every departure
from these great principles Is calculated
10 work injustice by drawing money une-
qmally from the members OF The cummu
miy because n mast neces -arIly press
CHIEFLY on the consumers. Who are prin-
| cpailS agriculfuralists and by diminish
ing consumption from Tepd.ripg II more
costly, musi check IN propOriionate de
/ gree the national industry among thai
class where II Is most productive. II all
! classes are IN reality, no, in profession
alone, equally entitled TO the protection
at government there Is surly IA cores
pondIng obligation on all, TO contribute
equally towards The support thereof. Nor
does n appear TO us, that the circum-
stance OF ether naiinns adopting this per
niclous principle of checking, or alto
gether prohibiting by excessive duties,
the introduction of our commodities, can
furnish any valid reason forus to retail
ate III the same way. under the delusive
notion, that il is a conuiervailng policy.
Studiously 10 avoid receiving a benefit,
from belief that we shall thereby injure
those who attempt 10 inJure us, is mode
OF condensation which inevitably infiic,s
as much mischief upon ourselves, as il
can possibly occasion To others. II may
truly be called, ito borrow the language
OF Mir. Jefferson" the improbable con
lest of trying which can do each other
'he most harm" Does not the true
couniervalling policy, rather consist in
doing very thing we can 10 render all
articles of home consumption derived
from other countries, as cheap as posi-
bic because the more you increase con
sump'ion, the greater activity you give
10 the productive industry OF the nation,
! by which alone, The articles to be con
sumed, Gan he purchased The conduct
OF other Mt ons, II is true, may impede
this Industry, if they chuse TO injure
| themselves in order TO achieve so hope
| iul project /: but il depends IN great
| measure upon ourselves, whose staple
| products are articles of the first NECESSITY.
how far these impedIments shall extend
1t the circumstance of excluding our
productions from foreign markets, is The
cause which creates this cheek; the effect
must certainly be much the sd NE, whetb
Fer the exclusion be the work Of our own
hands. or that of foreign nations alone
and such exclusion is as readily accom-
piished by refusing TO lake foreign COM
lmodities, as by directly prohibiting ours
from going abroad simply because il is
impossible TO sell, unless we will buy.
But TO aid other nations in injnrlng our
selves, IL species of reveng which we
confidently trust the lawgivers OF the land
will ever be too wise 10 pursue.
In submitting those views to your hon.
orable body, your memorIalisls do not
pretend To suggest any thing new. They
| have merely endeavored TO condense and
! EXHIBIT the chief principles, arguments,
| and Illustrations applicable to their pre-
sent purpose, of severa! of the ablest po-
iticai economists that the world has ever
seen, who have enforced their iavOriie
! system with all The power Of which poll
teal reasoning seems 10 us by any posi-
bility susceptible. Still less do your
memoriallsts pretend to present their
opinions, by way of information, in regard
To matters upon which, they doubt not
| your competency wisely tn decide. But,
they have thought II just to themselves,
as well as to all those who depend upon
them, not to remain silent on The present
OCCASION, lest that silence should be con
slrueG into an acquiescence IN doctrines,
moi less IN curious 10 their best interests,
than 10 those Of the United States.
The m ST unrestricted freedom Of ex-
poitalon and importation shonlt be the
aim OF all tie nations of The earth and
tie nearer any one nation can apProxim-
ate 10 that stale of things, however other
nations may labor TO prevent il, the
sooner will she acquire all the power and
prosperity which she Is capable ofaitain
ing. All the difference will be, that she
Will not attain them quite as soon, "a 1t
the principle OF unresiraned national in
| feTcouTse were universal. We hold IT
TO be maxim demonstrably true, Z" that
government should IN no case interfere 10
adjust the losses and gains OF its citizens
or subjects but continually aim to re
move every obstacle which NAV stand III
the way of the accumulation of wealth,
and the development of the powers aud
| resources of talent aud indUstTy-uOi
certainly TO pamper and enrich one class
OF producers al tie expense OF The com
munity." We consider il a truth equally
lrreiragable. that, "to prohibit grea
people from making all they can of every
part OF their own produce, or from en-
ploying their stock and industry in III,
way they may judge most advantageous
TO themselves, is manifest violation o
the most sacred rights Of mankind"
How far these principles, as well as tn,
others which we have previously stated
apply TO the projects Of our manu'aciur
ers, we now submit it TO your honorabl,
body 10 decide.
JAMES Nj. GARNETT,
Vice President
Teste-JoHN ADAMS, Sec'y.