Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-01-15
430lttiraI 7atstorp.
THE TARIFF.
Mr.. JNadison's second letter TO Judge CabeR.
Monipe lier, Oct. 80, 1929

Montpehef, Oct 81, 1923
DEAR SIR: In my letter Of September
18th, | stated. briefly, the grounds on
which rested my opinion, that power
TO impose duties and restrictions on i'm
ports, with view to encourage domes.
tic productions, was consttutionally
lodged 10 congress. In the observations
then made was involved the opinion, al.
so, that the power was properly there
lodged. AS the last opinion necessari-
ly implies that there are cases in which
the power may De usefully exercised by
congress, the only body within our po-
litical sytem capable of exercising it
with effect, you may think it incumbent
on NE to point out the cases of that de
scription.
I will premise that | concur in the o.
pinion, that as general rule, individu-
ais ought TO be deemed the best judges
Of the best application of their industry
and resources.
am ready to admit, also, that there
IS no country in which the application
nay, with more safety, be left 10 the in
teiigence and enterprise Of individuals,
than the United States.
Finally, shall not deny, that in all
doubtful cases, it becomes every gov
eminent to lean rather to confidence in
the judgment of individuals, than to in
Propositions controlling the free exer.
else Of It.
With ell these concessions, l think it
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 interposi-
tons Of the competent authority, and
which are not inconsistent with the gene
rality Of the rule
I The theory of "Let es aFoneo sup
poses that all nations concur in a per-
feet freet ON Of commercial intercourse.
Were this the case, they would, in a
commercial view, be but one nation, as
much as the several districts composing
a particular nation; and the theory
would be as applicable to the former as
to the latter. Put this golden age Of
free trade has not yet arrived: nor is
there single nation that has set the
example. No nation can, indeed, safe
ly do so, until reciprocity, ut least. be
ensured to it. Take, for proof, the ia j..
miliar ease of the navigation employed
in a foreign commerce. ifa nation.
adhering to the rule Of never interpos,
ing countervai|ing protection of its
vessels, admits foreiea vessels into its
ports free Of duty, whilstita own vessels
are subject 70 F dHty in foreign ports,
the ruinous effectia SO obgiousfhat the
warmest advocate for the theory in
question must shrink from q -esaioersel
application of it
a nation having its fnreign trade, in
al cases, 10 regulate itself, might soon
ind it regulated by other nations, into a
subserviency 70 a foreign interest. In
the interval between Che peace of17G3
and the establishment Of the present
constitution Of the United &t2tes,sthe
want ofa general authority 60 regulate
trade is'knOwnto bsve had this conse-
eeuence. Aud haren not the pretensions
and policy iette'ly exhibited by Great
Britain giving warning~of ike result
from a remuneration of all countervaiI
ing regulation on the part Of the United
States. Were she permitted, by con.
ferring on certain portions Of her do.
main the name OF colonies 20 open from
these trade 10 herself, 10 foreign coun :
tries, and TO exclude, at the same time.
a reciprocal;rade to such colonies by
foreign countries. the use to be made
of the monopoly need not to be traced
It's character will be placed in Just re-
lief, by supposing that one of the islands
in thstvicinity -should,receive the name
and be regarded in the light Of colony,
with the peculiar privileges claimed for
colonies. is il not manifest. that ia this
case. thefavored island might be made
the sole medium OF the commercial in :
tercourse withforeign nations, and the
parent country thence enjoy every es.
sent.a! advantage, as to the terms of it.,
which would how from an unrseiprocay
trade from her other ports. with other
natisns?
Fortunately the British claims, how.
ever speciously colored or adroitly ma.
mayed, were repealed at the commence
ment ofour commercial career rs an
independent pc ople, and at the success
sive epochs under the existing consti;u-
+ion, both in legislative discussions and
in diplomatic negotiations. The claims
were 70 DeIled an the solid 0round tbat