Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-08-30
2SseDestoeaO 1WDen.
TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 80. 1895.


OBJECT by The imposition of heavy pohbory duties
on foreign articles that may-comc in competition with
our domestic manufactures the protection of domestic
industry Us advocates absurdly contend that by os-
'erins aud encouraging the manufacturing interest
which can only be done by depressing commerce and
agriculture the prosperity of the United States will be
promoted and lis wealth rapidly increased In their
estimation the manufacturing class constitutes the
'hofe nation; and they IDLY imagine that to compel the
community 10 pay for It's support or 100 per cent
more FOR the produce of its labour than it would cost
were our ports open and trade flce that they arc
enrching the country <flow the great body of the
eople can be benefited, by paying twice much for
the commodities which they purchase llcy arc in
ttrins'caly worth, is terry, which although may be
easily solved by the school 10 Which Hamilton belongs
can never be unraveed by ordinary understanding
and is nexpicable by the plain and Obvious principles
of common sense. I'VE have endcavoed to prove that
tins system 1oundetIin fraud and rapacity and yio-
ales the most sacred principles of natural JUSTICE In
support of our first position, stated that the friends
OF the restrictive policy had laboured dcudc the
people into The belief that prohibory duties would by
preventing the introduction OF foreign manufactures
Immediately cause diversion fcapita proftably
invested, TO the establishment of manufactures which,
as they pretend, would cali forth powers of productive
industry now dormant and inactiye and would open
source Of eShaustible treasure. They did not reec
that the capital OF . count = no matter how advanta
geousy soeyer 1t may be-ernploycd can only maintain
certain number of individuals and that 10 take funds
udiciousiy invested in either agriculture commerce
and apply them to manufactures, would indeed be
DIVERSION" but never could be considered in
crease of wealth. Ii would, in opinion. be diff
fcut matter TO show that the funds employed in manu-
featuring industry would either produce higher profits
maintain greater quantity of labour than if per-
United in the hands of the agrculturis and
merchant. ffhe gentlemen 70. get that national wealth
nothing more than the aggregate wealth. of the nd
viduaIs who compose the nation and that every man
not only feels the anxious desire 10 advance his
own welfare, but is the bast Judge of the means be
used TO improve and prosper his condition. As his
interest is directly concerned; he alone is to be be-
neiued by the employment either OF his capital of
his mental aud bodily powers, he will invariably select
tIat department of lahour industry in which there
is the greatest probability of success.
BY adopting the basis Of its policy, the i'm of
Adam Smith, that every is the most proper guar
dian of his own interest, the American nation has
increased in wealth and population with rapijity
unprecedented in the annals Of the world The
rictive system, therefore conceived, founded
fraud and rapacHy, TO Gratlly tlclr own
selfish views the manufacturing class and its partisans
seek, by tempting augures of fuureriches and gran
deur and prosperity, induce the nation depart from
the policy has hitherto pursued with such astonishing
success.
The prolbitory system violates hc principles of JUS
tice which every Government should hold sacred, be-
cause by the imposition Of heavy duties, it closes
markets to foreign competitions and the domestic
de E
ports had been free lie could have Sfded to sell the
produce of his industry, equivalent to the whole
amount of the duty which the merchant mechanic and
agrcuurst are forced to pas This cannot, in prin-
aple be distinguished from the evyug ola tax on those
e.sses the proceeds Of which are bestowed or tic ma
nufacturcr, and can be viewed by every man whose
sense Of right and wrong not entirely perverted in
>-llo other light than act Of legal roILcry.
TiaYing briefly reviewed the remarks Which made
III our last number, proceed the consideIa
OF the moral ap@ political evi!s which IBIS sSh6itory
system engchders in every country tIaAt9so uhfottu
ifatc TO adopt it. y
IL ae first place them holIs out powerful AMI ircss.
iibc inducements to many citizens jeipand the
nue. So powerful and irresistible is tic sway of that
principle fhunan nature the desire of accommodating
wealth and enjoying those conforte and convenic noes,
and that consideration in society which wealth seldom
fails 10 procure, that punishment however cruel and
severe will eyerdeter them from engaging in smuggling
And this horrid and nefarious practice WI never be
suppressed, loHg the duties high, TO
de it ccrtain that if individual escape detection he
must realise fortune. To iuilct the most terrible
punishments on those who caught, may alarm the
;imd and cowady, but has effect on the daring and
resolute, No criminal code is more barbarogs and
ooodCIrsty than that of Great Britain, and yet SNUG
Cling has aIway been extensively Pracsed in the whole
United Kingdom: will the evil ever be removed till
hat Government abolishes the restrictions that now
letter and shacle its intercourse with other nations
at least reduce The duty loW entirely to take away
lie temptation to infringe the laws. Bands oil
smugglcrs destitute Of principle and regardless of the
opinion Of society, bold and determined, but wicked