Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-27
LETTERS OF MIR. MADISON.
LETTER IT.
MosrrEILIER, Oct. so, 1928.

DEAR SIR: III my ictttT OF oepttniOcF ION
stated briefly, the grounds on which rested
nv opinion, that power 10 impose duties and
restrictions on imports, with view TO encour-
aye dome sic productions, was consIitu,ionally
lodged in Congress. In the observations ;hen
made was involved The opinion also that the
power was properly there lodged. As this last
opinion necessarily implies that there are cases
in which the power may be usefully exercised
by Congress, the only body within our political
system capable Of exercising II with effect, you
may tLink il incumbent on me % point on. ca
ses of that description.
l will premise that concur in the opinion,
laat, as a general rule, individuals ougnr TO be
deemed the best Judges OF the besI application
of their industry and resources.
am ready to acmit also, there is no coun
,rv in which the application may, with more
safety be left to the Intelligence and enterprise
OF individuals. than the Uni,ed Sta'es.
Finally, l shall not deny, that, in all doubtful
cases, i, becomes every Government to learn
rather 70 a confidence in the judsemen, Of mai
yduas, than to in,erpositions controlling the
free ex rcise oft.
With all these concessions, think Il Can be
sati torially shown, that there are exceptions
To the general rule, now expressed by the phrase
"f.et US alouc," forming cases which cali for
in,erposi,ious of the competent authority, and
which are not incoGsislen, with the generality
OF lLe rule.
/. The Theory of"I.et us alone" supposes
that al Dau1ns concur III perfect freedom OF
comipercisl Intercourse. Were this the case,
they would, in commrrc!al view, be but one
nation, as much as the several districts COM
posing particular nation, * the theory would
be as applicable 10 the former as 10 the latter.
But this golden age OF free trade has no, yet
TN = e..
da so, until reci?rocity, at least, be ensured
10 it. Take. for proof, :he familiar case Of
the navigation, adhering TO the rule of never
intcrpHsing a coun'ersailing protection Of It's
vessels, admits foreign vessels into its Ports
fee OF duty, whilst It's own vessels are Sirc,
TO duty In foreign ports, the ruinous effect is
so obvious, that the warmest advocate Tor the
theory in question must shrink from ,n,rer-
sal application Of IT.
A nation leavingiIs foreign trade, in all cases
10 regulate itself, might so u fad !: regulated.
BY other nations, into a subseryirncy 10 a for
eiga in,srrs. lu the interval between the
peace of 1888 snd the esl abiishment Of the pre-
sent ConslItu, ion Of the Unied States, he
want of general authority 10 regulate IT ale IS
known To have had this consequence Aud
have not the professions aud policy la,ierly ex.
bihted by Great Britain given warning Of a
like re ait FROM rrnuncia ion of all counter
vailing regulations on the part Of the Uni d
) atesl Were she permitted ky comforting On
certain portons Of her dom ain the name of Co.
ionies, to open from these trade for herself, to
foreign Countries, and 10 ex lode, al The same
time, d reciprocal irade 10 such Colonies, BY
foreiga countries, the use to be made of the
mo .opolv need not be traced. Its charac ter
viii be placed in Just relief, by suppo.ing hat
one of the Coloaial Islands, Instead of is pre-
srnt dis, ance, happened To be in The vicinity Of
G. eat Britain; or that one of the Islands in that
vicinity should receive the name and be regard
ed in tie light Of Colony, with the peculiar
privileges claimed for Colonies. l. It not man>
lies, that, in this Case, the favored Is aud might
br made the sole medium OF the commercial in-
tercourse with foreign nations, and the parent
country thence enjog every essential advantage,
n, To the terms OF IL, which would flow from an
unrecipr ccsl trade from her other ports, with
o, heI nations?
Fortunately, the British claims, however spe.
ciously colored OF adroi,ly managed, were re-
pt led al the CONNIE ncement oil our CONNER
cial career as Independent, People, and a,
successive epochs under the existing Consli>
tuition, both ia legislative discussions AMI in d-
ploma,ic negotiations. The claims were re- |
pelled on the solid ground that the Colonial
trade, as a righ,,ol monopoly, was limited TO |
the intercourse Cetwecn the parent Country and |
It's colonies, and between colony and anoth-
er; the whole being, strictly, IN the nature OF
coAsiing trade from one 10 another port of the
same action; trade with viii no other alton
has right to interfere. l, follows, Of nee essi,y,
tina, the paren, country whenever II opens CO
lonial port for direcl trad to foreign coun-
try 20 iSe same reciprocity, in every respect, as
in its intercourse with any other ports Of the
nation.
This is common sense and common right
Ii is still more, If more could be required. II
is in conformity wi.h the established usage OF
all cations, other han Grea' Brirain, which
have colonies Some vi those nations are
known TO adhere To the monop 10Y Of their CO..
lonlal trade, with All toe rigor and constancy
" hich circumstances permit. But II is also