Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-12

In the present case. out with much more effect; |
because the real impartial history Of the practical
operations Of the government, will afford precc |
dents on the reverse side Of the question. The (,
writer thinks that there cannot be- stronger evil |
dence produced OF the want OF confidence in the
merits oil any argument, than relying upon prece-
cents, without the semblancc OF foundation Tor the
prccedenis relied on. Mr.. NJ. having withheld
his own reliances for his assertions it is presumed
that lie must have relied upon the preamble of the
hrSt act OF Congress, for laying duties, Sc. in
which, one object, amongst several others Of the
act is declared TO be TO protect manufactures; but
in the very next act, the preamble of the first
recited, and in the objects declared for the pas
sage OF the next act, laying duties, the protection
OF manufactures is omitted; aud the other object.
expressed, declared; showing that the omitted ex-
preston in the first act was inadvertently intro
duced therein, and improper; and the omitted OBJ
ject has never since been introduced in the many
acts upon the same subject, from that time to the
present In the mean time, the question to pro-
tect manufactures has been directly brought be-
fore Congress. and, it is believed, unanimously
disapproved.
An historical detail, however, Of the facts rela-
tive to the claim OF the general government to the
power OF protecting manufactures, will best enable
the reader to determine. If the practice Of that
government, previously to 1928, has ever given
any deliberate sanction whatever to the exercise
OF such power; or if, the contrary, it does
afford the best evidence, that whatever claim may
have been inadvertently made TO it, had been de-
Iiberately abandoned by the government. Tho
writer will now give this detail, taken from the
documents themselves.
The first Congress, under the present Constitu-
ton OF the United States, met at New York the
| 4th of March, 1889, and quorum was formed on
the LIST OF April following. On the llth of the
| same month, :" petition Of the tradesmen, man
ufacturers aud others, of the town of Baltimore"
was presented, praying an imposition of such
duties ON all foreign articles, which can be made
in America, as will give just and decided prefer
ence to the labors Of the petitioners" This petit
ton was Immediately ' referred to Committee
OF the whole House OH the state Of the Union.''-
On he 18th OF the same month, " petition Of the
mechanics and manufacturers of the City of New
York" was presented, praying for relief to them,
by an imposition of duties such articles, as can
be manufactured in the State of New York. This
petition was also Immediately " referred to a com
mittee OF the whole house."-On the 18th, the
COMMITTEES came to the following resolution ere.
solved, That it is the opinion Of this Committee
That The following duties ought TO be laid goods.
| wares, aud merchandise. imported into the u.
States, &c.-and q Select Committee was APP
pointed to bring in bill pursuant to this resolu-
ton. On the 9Th Of May, a bill was accordingly
brought in, which was received and read the FIRST
time Ii was read a second time the 9Th OF
| May. Ii was engrossed and read third time on
the 10th, when it passed the Hous- of Represen-
tatives; and it finally passed both Houses s. was
approved on the LIST of June, with the following
title and preamble An Act for laying duty on
goods, wares and merchandise, imported into the
United States. Sec LIST. Whereas il is necessary
for the support OF government, for the discharge
VI TIE ueOtS Oh United states, anu the
aSement and protection OF manufactures, that du-
ties be laid on goods, wares and merchandzes
imported" SC. ''Be il enacted &c. Ii will APP
pear from the subsequent part of the detail, that
this preamble affords the only evidence, that the
General Government ever claimed any right over
manufactures previously to lS23-and it appears in
the hody OF this BILL that the object of this pre-
anbie was limited to strict revenue principle
The highest ad valorem duty in the act was Is
per cent, and this was not intended solely an
encouragement to manufactures, but principally
as sumptuary law-it being confined to few
foreign luxuries Ten per cent adj valorem was
then deemed the utmost limit of the protection of
manufactures, being within the fair principle OF
revenue, and strictly within the Constitution:-the
protection OF manufactures being conse-
quential result, from the exercise of fair consti-
tutional power. Were there no grounds, howev-
err, Tor believing that the introduction of the terms
encouragement and protection of manufactures"
in this BILL was wholly inadvertent, it never could
be contended that their introduction here could
form safe precedent, or, indeed, precedent of
any sort, IT not having single essential property
| OF one. The members Of Congress were scarcely
warm in their seats, before they were called upon
to pass revenue bill, and this bill was pushed
through both houses, with all possible speed, in
all probability, without question 10 the right
OF the government to protect manufactures being
even made, much less considered d cussed.-
| That the introduction of these terms, however,
was entirely inadvertent, will appear certain, as
the writer thinks, from the subsequent facts Pre-
vously to the passage OF this bill there were two
other petitions for the encouragement of manu-.
features. the one from certain " di-tillers in and
near the City of PhiIadelpha;" and the other,
\ from e" the tradesmen and manufacturers Of the
town of Boston"-both of which were ordered
to lie the table,, where they have slept to this
day.-At the next session of Congress, held the
ith January, 1890, Gen. Washington, in his Mes
sage, delivered on the Sih Of the same month,
makes the following recommendations
| I" A free people ought not only TO be armed but
disciplined, to which end, uniform and we'll Iii
gested plan is requisite: And their safety and in
| ufactories as tend 10 render them independent OH
others for essential, particularly for military sup
plies"
Again. The advancement OF agriculture,
commerce and manufactures, by all proper means
will not, trust, need recommendation But
cannot forbear intimating TO you the expediency
| OF giving effectual encouragement well TO the
introduction Of and useful inventions from
| abroad, as to the exertions Of skill and genius in
producing them at home"
1t is here observable, that while General Wash.
ington, in the first of the above quotations. states
the utility OF giving encouragement TO certain
manufactures, he does not directly recommend
the exercise OF any power by Congress to effect
that object. If, however, be intended to make
such recommendation, as he probably did, he
never theiess, manitestly restricts the exercise of
The power to the promoting of such manufaco-
ries only, as are necessary for essential partc-
| uiarly for military purposes" Neither does he
point in this quo alton, 10 any means by which this
object is TO be effected.-In the second quotation
however, where he brouy brings to view the adj.
vancement not only of manufactures, but of ag-
ricuiture and commerce also, he distinctly limits
Congress TO the use of such only as are pro-
per; and The concluding sentence Of the paragraph
| manifestly points out these proper means, which
he states to be, tie giving effectusI encourage.
al