Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-30
LETTERS OF MR.. MADISON.
LETTER II.
MONTPELIER, Or;ob.

WON ipisLiEE. OrtOOcT 0U, 1873.
DEAR Srn,--In my letter of September 18th, 7
stated, briefly, the grounds on which rested my
opinion, that power 10 impose duties and re-
strictions on imports, with view to encourage
domestic productions, was constitutcnaily lodg
cd in Congress. In the observations then made
was involved tho opinion also, that the power
was properly there lodged. As this last opinion
necessarily implies that there cases in which
the power may be usefuly exercised by Congress,
the only body within political system capa-
BILE of exercising il with effect, you may think il
incumbent on to point out cases Of that de-
scrption.
will premise that concur in the opiuion, that,
AZ a general rule, individuals ought 10 be deemed
the best judges of the best application OF their in
dustry and resources.
am ready 10 admit, also, that there is no coun.
try in which the application may, with more safe
~ be left the intelligence and enterprise of in
iiyiduals than the u. States
Finally, shall rot deny, that, in all doubtful
cases, it becomes every Government to lean rather
to confidence in the judgment of individuals,
than to interpretations controlling the free exer-
else Of il.
With all these concessions, think il can be
satisfactorily shown, that there are exceptions TO
the general rule, now expressed by the phrase
Let us Alone" forming cases which call for in
Propositions Of the competent authority, and
which are not inconsistent with the generality of
the rule.
L. The Theory Of "Let us alone,'' suppose.
that all nations concur in perfect freedom Of
commercial Intercourse. Were this the case they
would in commercial view, be but one nation
as much as the several districts composing a par.
tcular nation; and the theory would be as appii
cable 10 the former as to the latter. But this
golden age of free trade has not yet arrived-nor
is there single nation that has set the example.
RIO nation can, indeed, safely DO so, until reel.
procity, at least, he ensured 10 it, Take, for
proof the familiar case Of the navigation employ
ed in foreign commerce. If nation, adhering
70 the rule of nterposing countervsiling
protection Of its vessels admits foreign vessels into
its ports free of duty whilst its own vessels are
subject TO duty in foreign ports, the ruinous eff
feet is so obvious, that the warmcst advocate for
she theory in question must shrink from 1niver.
sal application of II.
A nation leaving its foreign trade, in all cases
TO regulate ITSELF might soon find it regulated by
other nations, into subseryiency TO a foreign in.
tetest In the interval between the peace of
I7s3 and the establishment Of the present Con
sutu,ion Of the United States the want OF ge-
neral authority to regulate trade is known 10 have
had this consequence. And have not the preten-
sons and policy lately exhibited by Great Britain
given warning Of like result from remuneration
q all countervailing regulations on the part Of the
INTEL Statesl Were she permitted, by confer
ring on certain portions Of her domain the name
Of Colonies, TO open from these trade for herself
70 flreicn countries, and to exclude, al the same
time, reciprocal trade to such Coibnies, by 70.
reign countries, the use to b made OF The fnonop
DIV need not he traced It's character will be pac-
ed in jrst relief by supposing that one Of The Co
ionial Islands instead Of IFS present distance, hap
pened TO be in the vicinity Of Great Britain; that
one Of the Isiands in that vicinity should receive
The name and he REG arded in the light Of Colony,
with tho peculiar privileges claimed for Colonies.
1t not manifest, that, in this case, the favored
Island might be made the sole medium Of the
commercial intercourse with foreign nations, and
The paren; country thence enjoy every essential
advantage, 40 TO The terms Of it, which would flow
from an aiarecipTocdl trade from her other ports
with other nations?
Fortunately, the British claims, however spe-
ciously coored NJ adroiGy managed, were repeil-
- s.ths eernmenoe -ncDf foIr commercial career