Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-24

srsoasssemsnt and promotion cf such manai,e-
tutes a. will tend In render the Unned States in
dependent OF other nations lof essential, pailsuar
ly for Military, supplies"
This resolution Drew from the Secretary OF the
Treasury, that mastery report which was made 10
Congress, December S, i79i. In that report the
Secretary said; THAT the real interests OF Agticu-
ture precious and important as they truly ore, will
be advanced, rather than injured by the due en- 70
cement OF manufactures, may, is believed, bc
satisfactorily demonstrated. And II il also believed
that the expediency of such encouragement, in a
general view, may be shown.to be reeomIatnded by
the most eosent aud persuasive motives OF national
policy.
at is, evident that the exertions OF the husband.
man will be steady or nuc,uatng, IN proportion 10
the steadlnesso AUctuatlon of the market, which
he depends for the vent Of the surplus which may
be produced by his labcur; and that such surplus,
IN the ordinary course OF things, will be greater
less in the Same proportion. For the purpose oil
this vent, domestic market 10 greatly to be pre-
ieued to foreign because il is, in the nature
o things, far more To be relied upon. To promote
this market in the United States, there is other
expedient than 10 profnots uCaciuiinx establish.
minis. Manufacturers, who constitute the most
Numerous class, after the eul,vaors Of the land are
Tor tha, reason. the principal consumers Of the sur
plus Of their labour."
The Secretary advcr,s TO the constitutional arsu-
ment, and derives from the general welfare
clause, ample power to protect manufactures. He
says, IN conclusion Of his argument, alt is there
lore, OF necessity, let 10 the discretion Of the ma
uonal legislature, TO pronounce upon the objects
which eoncern the general welfare. And there
seems 10 be no room tor doubt, that whatever con-
Germs the general interests OF learning, OF agricul
tute, oil manufactures. and Of commerce. are within
the sphere OF tho national councils"
Such are the opinions and views OF the Secret,
~ OF tue Itcssury-a man OF undoubted talents,
snd one, WIN himself acted n conspicuous part in
the formation and adoption Of the CONSTITUTIONAL
man, whose pre-. eminent worth pointed HIM out to
General Washington, as the most suitable person
TO place at the head Of the Fiscal Department of
the Government.
We have now passed, in review, that part OF the
Constitution which has generally been supposed
TO support the doctrine Of Protective Tariff. We
have attempted to show, that the power TO regulate
commerce, necessarily included the power TO lay
discriminating and countetvailins duties and that
the express grant OF power to lay and collect duties
ana impoSis, unrestricted is, furnishes with
ample power 10 protect manufactures. Nay, as
me leter and spirit ofihe Constitution impose upon
congress the duty OF providing for the general wei
'are' mat body mus, he false to its trust, did il
not take the most effectual measures TO protec
reward.
This, we have attempted TO show, is the doctrine
o, INC constitution. We confess that are una
ole 10 read that instrument without coming TO this
CONCLUSION. And this construction OF that sacred
instrument is sustained by cotemporaneous con
sirueton, given by the very trainers OF the cons,i
luton. we nave referred 10 the dcbites-we have
seen the practical application OF the doctrines of the
constitution, carried out in n bill, which declares
that II is necessary that duties be laid for the en-
enlargement and protection Of manufactured
Now, 1t coiemPoraneous constfuction-tha, impor-
tant and Just rule of in,erpreia,ion-coud ever DC
eide ease-if those, who frame an instrument are
able TO explain its meaning, think that the con-
siuionality Of protective tariff is placed beyond
dispute. II the names of Washington and Madi.
son have any influence, they come IN here to sus-
tam the position we have taken. And this arsu-
ment Is strengthened by the fact that this cons,tuc.
ton OF the constitution has been acquiesced in from
that time to this, as will be shown in our next,
III.