Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-05-13
FROM THE ENQUIRER.

ltOUS.
have heretofore taken the Liberty OF
saving ,ha, ,he pretexts Tor the Tariff bill
.puesr to me TO be Aimsy, visionary, un:.
tnun,Ied. and many OF them ridiculous. l
will now briefly examine one OF these pre-
texts, which seem 10 me TO be the basis OF
\ the rest-lndeed, all those which nave
rrancbed forth from the parent STOCK,
tb;pk ielo de Sc: | shall therefore leave
hem. a, this lime, To their own selt-des
,r,ction. or 10 The destruction oil the anita.
.,,onis, arguments OF O'heIs. The ultimate
Inject of the Tariff bill is Allowed TO be, 10
1.oder the United States independent OF
foreign nations q would be impossible 10
tell. how often this phrase has been usher
ed forth in the newspapers within the las,
three or Tour years, ana al lh's 'noMeh',
am as much a; d loss 10 comprehend 'Ae
precise meaning, Intended TO be conveyed
nv !, or The precise object in ended TO be
described by il, as IL had never seen II at
alt. According 10 my understanding, there
is as little definite meaning or oSleC, al,
tscbed 10 this phrase, as to any other, oi
the same number of words, IN the Eng'ish
language. must presume thai the pnFa-
seolonIst know the nselves what hey mean
by il: but as do not, beg leave to a'e
nv own difficulties m that respect; tne
more especiaiiyl as most poiemIc discus
sions are found 10 depend rather upon the
want OF afising some precise definite m IAN
ing 10 the terms used in such DISCUSSIONS,
than upon the results from the premises
after their precise meaning shall be ascer.
tanned aud agreed upon. The phrase 'in-
depeueen, 1t foreign nations, presume, is
intended To describe some state OF relation
between the United States and foreign ma
tions; but what that precise definite state
OF relation is, cannot comprehend from the
term itself. The term independence is
a word Of relation. Do the Tariff scbem-
eIs mean by the phrase independent OF
foreign nations, positive or relative nde-
incidence o. foreign nations? If they mean
a relative Independence, how near do they
mean to approach 10 positive independ>
euce? II they mean positive independ'
eDCe, | then pronounce, that II is neither
attalnable nor desirable. If they mean a
relative indepe ndence, then assert, that
the Uni,edSlates do al this time possess all
salutary relative independence OF foreign
nations. If they do not, the Tariff would
not have the least tendency 10 produce it,;
but might, and probably would, tend TO
lessen the existing independence.
N this world there is scarcely any thing
positive, is a world OF relations and
dependencies. This system of relation and
dependence is seen throughout all nature.
II Is seen, as well in regard 10 national as
individual relations and dependence. The
great principle OF creation is founded in the
sexual system, In the relations OF indivl-
dual life, the sexes are made dependant on
each other for mutual happiness. IN IN.
fancy, the child is made dependant upon
the parent; and IN old age the parent upon
the child There are also relative degrees
of dependence throughout all social and
domestic lite. The same principle oil rela-
ton aud dependence will be found thro'-
out all scenes of business. The consumer
depends upon the merchant to supply his
wants oil foreign goods; the merchant &C.
ponds upon the consumer, either Tor money
or other goods in exchange. This system
will be found 10 pervsde all eallings aud
conditions in individual life. To be posi-
lively independent in private life, what
would be necessary TOR an individual 10
do? He must be his own farmer 10 raise
his own grain; bis own miller 10 grind it,
his own cook 10 bake it. before be could
gel piece of bread in his mouth; he must
be his own graZier; his own butcher.
and his own cook, before he could get a
piece OF meat in his mouth; and before be
could get pair Of shoes on his feet, he
must add the occupations OF tanner and
shoemaker. Besides, he must make all
the tools and implements of all his varie-
gated occupations. Throughout his whole
long catalogue OF wants he must observe
tue same process, to supply each particu-
lar want. Upon Supplying himself, With his
own hands, with the whole OF bis wants,
he would then, and tot till then, be posi-
lively independent gentleman. But while
this process, il practicable, would render
him positively independent of all other
creatures. it would render him the most
positive dependant slave upon himself -
According TO the doctrine of positive inde-
pendence in private HE, gentleman with
his pockets astrut with cash, would be de-
pendantupon his tailor, bis shoemaker, sc.
&c. and the old notion OF gentleman Of
independent fortune must be abandoned
altogether. Heretofore it has been un-
derstood, that, when gentleman has mo-
ney enough to pay for all his wants, lie is
independent; not that he is positively so,
but relatively so. However wealthy man
may be, be is dependant upon bis tailor
for his coat, upon the shoemaker for his
shoes, and so on 10 the extent of all his
wants;bu the iurnisbers OF these wants are
dependant upon him for his money. This
mulualIty of dependence neutralizes its
effects, aud produces relative independ-
ence, which is all the independence that
is practicable, or desirable amongst man.
kind in private life. The same principles
will be found to extend, and apply in full
force, to the family OF nations. II has plea
sed the omnipO,ent Author of creation TO
form this world with different climates,
dlfereHt soils, dit. IenI productions, and