Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-08-05
RxcAM UMD, AUGUST 8.
THE TARIFF.

III Common Sense pier.
The Public are much NOR. in want of facts ,ba
OF principles ON this oous and oppressive measure
They have been so long assured l. tI,at the TarG
makes every article cheaper at home than vvp
can geti abroadand 2. that we are able TO compete
with the European manufacturers in foreign mar
kets that assertion has at last passed for
and The propositions are admitted without dispuie
IL is time, however, TO bring these questions to the
bar OF the public, and 10 test their correctness fair
~, and fully. We accordingly applied to one of our
most intelligent merchants for the facts of tho
case-and he has been kind enough IN fi,rnisb ne
with strong Common Sense View of the presen,
Tariff. Few things are more wauting-and fev
expositions will be found more condensed and va
liable than the one which we now submit 10 our
Readers. We undertake to recommend il to their
most serious consideration.
On general principles we think the areu,nent /.
against the Tariff. And frs: as 10 the D0ioer nj
Congress- whence do they derive the power 10
lay any other Duties than such as are necessarv
10 raise revenues, There is no clause in the
Constitution, which authorses them TO raise the
duty up TO the point of prohibitions or even short
Of 1t, for the purpose Of encouraging manufactures
The history oil the proceedings OF tn. Federal Com
yention shows, that clause was reported hv tbe
Committee TO encourage ,nanufGctures-but ON
referring the clause to their consideration they
reported il with the word " manufactured entire
y struck out-& in the following shape-iD which
II now stands 90 To promote the progress Of science
and s. the useful acts, by securing for ID,ifed
times 10 authors and inventors the ercusipe ri chi
to their respective writings and discoveres''-
showing what power Congress possesses Gs ,ceI
as the limitations in the mode of exercising tha,
power.-But, n OF onI " does not the power of uro.
tecting manufactures belong 10 the u. States but
It seems peculiarly 10 belong to the States az the
history Of the following clause exhibits g Nc
state SHALL WITHOUT consent Of the Congress Law
any imposs or duties on imposts or exports, except
what may be absolutely necessary Tor executing IL,
inspection laws & the nett produce Of all duties and
inposts, laid by any state on imports or exports
u. States and all such laws shall be subject 10 TIE
revision and controu of the Congress" Here also
the power, and tie two limitations on the mode o
exercising t,are laid dewn A nd of course IL wassa
chusets wishes 10 encourage her own manufacture.
by imposts, she may fairly do il within the bosom
oil her own state alter asking the consent Of Con
gress, without laying any taSupon Inc citizens Of
other states for her own benefit.
But passing over The Constitutional question
would It be expedient for Congress to have O,
70 exercise such power as the present Tariff in.
volves' IL would not seem very equitable 10 e1
ercise 90 great a. power in so extensive a cotn.
try as that Of the 4. S., where the pursuits Of IN
various sections are dif5erer:, and where one
part may he ripe for manufactures, and the Other
not. Protection to one is. therefore, oppression f.
another. Instead Of letting the agricultural III.
tricts buy az cheap aud sell as dear as they can
the present Tariff would compel us either 10 raise
our own stuhs or buy them from our neighbours AZ
higher rate than we may get them from abroad
But VIC take even broader ground lhsn this