Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-09

political opinions otthe great Alexander Hamilton;
but Our respect for his many virtues and services and
admiration of his surprising intellect, dispose us
cleertully to contribute so small favor as niche in
our columns, to attempt to do justice to his me-
nlory.
Foa RICHMOND Wa1c.
It must be ofregret to every sincere adni.
of the genius and political integrity OF Alexander
Hamilton TO see attempts mad, TO convict hir, NJ IN
consistency the question Of the policy OF protecpy
domestic manufactures. If there has ever been in
the U. States politician, whose opinions aud princi-
pies were the result of a firm and enlightened iuGts-
ment, and exempted from the undue influence of urs
OF pUttes and Of other circumstances which ,.saI-
y throwa deeper shade upon, draw into holder r-
lief as the occasion requires the tenets of the vaca
tlng slaves ofpCpuarty, that and that politician
was Alexander Hamilton fesrlcssiy defy his pcli-
tlcal adVcrsaries to point single INSTANCE in the
whole history of his life, (the greater part of which
was passed IN the active duties hrh political trts)
Of deviation from the principles OF government
and OF policy. which he had once deliberately nvowed
The instance 10 which allusion is here made is the
qrotHilon from the Fedcraist, very recently made in
the Enquirer. 1t true Mr.. Hamilton is not there
expressly charged with inconsistency but If that ouo-
tatlon be viewed IN the UNJUST LIGHT in which the t,;-
tor would have The public TO view t. the effect will
inevitably be to prove Inconsistency and > cross
one upon the ii.ustrous character from .losa writings
mat quctaton was taken. The doctrines OF Aicyon-
der HamIltoHs report the subject o. manufactures,
admits OF no dispute. In i there is no katherine, h
the subject. II is clear, decided and uncQuivocal-
Has the author elsewhere cont radf,ted the blc r
ments and The enlightened opinions which are there
III unioided. with the most surprising cloqucnce and
force? Yes says the quotation III the Enq.iirer it
matters not tha the FcGeruist was written six wears
before the report manufactures il matters not liz,
the Fcdera!js only clauces at the subject ON mann
features Incidentally and without the SLIGHTEST rrf,r
encG to the subject OF encouraging intunt rlln;;,c-
lures, and without the slightest reference 10 the ,s
non how far it may be necessary to conteryail the
commercial restrictions OF other nations by similar re-
StrlctoH5 on part, for the sake Of presery;u.,
Just footing ot equality in trade and iorenn inter-
course: these considerations Of no moment since
MI Hamilton uas said in Tie thirty fourth number of
thc fedcrdst that ''ail Crtiecs are pcrniccrs IN wa.
rlouS ways. EXorbijant duties imported articles
serve 10 bege general irt OF smucoiinr which Is
always peiudlcial TO The fair trader and eventually 10
the revenue itself They tend TO render olher cia,-
ses OF the c0nlmuny tributary, in improper ierree
10 the manufacturing classes, TO whom they nivc a
premature monopoly OF the market They sometimes
force industry out OF It's natural channels into
others, III which it flows with less ADVANTAGE Vie
tory IN argument casts pcndour on the understand
ing, which achieves it, when by dint of reason
ana the power III illustration But how ridiculous 20
lie stratag m Is detected and the devser oft exposed
ANA what Is tie tribute due 10 the understandings
whose predcar1cnt IS that last described?
IN order 10 arrive at the real meaning OF Mr. ITar,
ton IN the passage quoted above. a. wei as IN the ola-
passages quoted from, tie Fe6eraIist +, the Enqu-
rer let It's en7re nat is the subject Of discussion n
iations are taken. BY reiercnce 10 hem we shall
ind that Mr.. Hamilton is nvcstiratirr the propyiv
or the ertet Of the power Of taxation conferred Nv
the constitution on he government of the u Sttt,S
In the particular numbers from which the quotations
are drawn he is mainly ifnot entirely taken % in com
Dating tie idea which had been much urged anainst
the new constitution, that the power direct taxation
gwen was unnecessary that The exclusive RIGHT 90
lay duse5 on imports sufficient resource for eve
y eXEence OF the general government & that by YES
ing II likewise with concurrent power of direct tax
ioh' me means OF revenue lettto the ere too
lar Is WC'l Unnecessarily narrowed. "a, ~epro
bate and - coniolEd this i'm 5elact notion ne ac-
IuaI ana contingent wants OF government . ne u
Mon Nj Hamilton proceeds to snow very sfacto-
Fly ihat Inc cNgencIes Of such covernm, ~ do not
III The nature OF hngs admit Of any precise c. of;cr
and that therefore it would be the haiobt oil folk, -
put any limitation on its means OF revenue that wa
snort 81 ohe UTMOST RESOURCES Of the Country in The
paf,iciiar passages which have been laboriarAlv bus
aNk"ardy and rudJIy howed from lie sold fabric o..
ms argument TO sheW MS hostility to proie no -
/ venture to a1Irm that Mr.. Hamilton never t,rea;ni
thst any suc Inference could be tortured out of them
y ny dij nc never aPprehcn6 surnise such an ia
ference: For this excellent reason: that lie was not
as ne supposed in he rmoest degree tcUcliDo t,,
question vi the policy Of the means Of encouf3ain
ooine-uc ihaHaiactures: but question wholly. YES
totoy and essentially distinct. Il is true h. m nio1-
ed I!c eject WINCH the confinement Of the general
government to duties imports, for it's revenue
"ouIn nave u particular COnunctUrCs the mannfac
turcFs and the other classes Of the community that
enc. HS penetrating mind took Just and '!neXcPp-
ioaahle view, and ne expressed himself with clear
ness that lad never till lately supposed poss IDLE %
nISuadsrstand The argument OF Mr. Hamilton Is
not so July developed ii might have been had the
a1'hor confined himself to this single topic. But he
had before him subject whose comprch. nsjvens IS
equaied It's Importance, and .rpossble for m
10 expand every argument into its fullest Developments
Inc idea OF Dir. Hamilton ia the quoted passages Is
however obyioEsy this: II the general government
is confined to duties or imports Tor lis revenue WIFI
under probable coriuncturcs OF war and an embal-
lassnen Of The finances De forced to carry duties on
imports 10 an crt,eo1c height. and this extremity Of
imports IN which all the economical interests OF the
community VIII and under such circumstances must
be Gisfcgordad. will b. pcrhcious in various WAYS,
WI 9aget general spirit ofsmugeing, will be pre-
J"Hicia 10 tie TAR trader, and crenr!y to the reve-