The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-03-03

CoNSTTTUTIONALITY OF A PROTEC.
TIVE TARIFF.-No /.

NV T. IAklFF.-No. /.
As the revision nj the Tariff will proba-
bly, come bef0re Congress al lis present
session 1t becomes subject OF general IN
terest to the whole community. That
tariff, judlcially laid, would promote the
prosperity OF the whole country hardly ad
mhs OF doubt. But we are told by tue
opposets OF The protective system, that this
doctrine is unconstitutional. IL is rather
humlliatlng, confess, ,o be called upon al
this late day, to show that protecting our
own industry, and thereby increasing our
national prosperity, is consls,en, with the
great charter of our rights. For what
purpose did our fathers establish the Con.
stliuton under which We live? They tell
US, 10 the preamble OF that instrument, that
they ordained aud established II, "to pro
vide for the common defence and 10 pro.
mote the general welfare"
This, then, is the objec, Of the Constitu
ilon--the end which lis trainers tad III
view. The Government is not only author
ized, but required to provide for the com
mon deieuce-tor The defence of our soil
and lis products, of our citizens and their
industry. Government is bound by the
sacred iujunctions Of the Constitution itself,
10 promote the general welfare. 40 pro-
vide for the general welfare" is one of the
first enumerated powers which are express
~ given to Congress. The phrase, gener
al relfure, includes all the blessings of a
free people, and whatever tends to national
wealth and prosperity, is among these bles-
sings. But IN what does national wealth
consist? Principally in the productive la
Dor of lis citizens. When the Govern
neni, therefore, protects our labor, it
takes the most efiectual steps 10 promote
uur prosperity. Ii Industry is para
lyzed by foreign competition, the resources
and wealth of our country can never be
fully developed. Our prosperity IN peace,
and our success in war-our general vel
fare and common defence require that the
active energies Of cur. people should be
brought into exercise. And this can be
done 10 30 way SO etfeclually, as by project
lug our industry against the restrictive laws
and paper labor of Europe. Instead,
therefore, Of protective tariff being uncon.
siltuiional, It is one of the principal means
of securing the great end which our Con-
s,itution has 10 view.
in this light the subject was viewed by
he trainers of the Constitution themselves.
10 their first public act, after the adoption
of the Constitution, they recognize this
principle. General Washington, who pre-
sided over the Convention which framed
the Constitution, 10 his first Message TO
Congress, says: "The advancement OF ~.
rlcuIiure, commerce and manufactures, By
ali proper means, will not, ! trust, need
recommendation. This suggestion, from
Washington, was not lost upon that baud
Of patriots. Or, rather, MIR. Madison,
The writer of the Constitution, was in ad
vance Of ;he Presiden, 10 calling Up this
subject. Ga the Slh Of April, 1880, the
very day on which the oath Of Office was
and as the very frs, business after the ad.
minlsiration Of the oath TO suppor, the Con
slitullon, hr. Madison introduced the sub
lect Of protective TARIFF take The lib
erty, al thus early stage Of the business" said
Mr.. Madison, Ito introduce to the Com.
mI,;ee subject which appears TO me 10 be
Of the greatest magnitude a subject, sir,
that requires our first attention, aud our
united exertioas."
The subject beng thus introduced, Mr..
Fitzslmons Of Pennsy ivania, one Of the Del,
egates from that State, IN the Convention
which formed the Constitution, said, 81
earnestly wish for such syiem as will be
some way adequate to our present situation,
as II respects our agriculture, our manuiac.
'ures, and our commerce. have prepared
an additional number Of articles among
those are some calculated TO encourage the
productions Of our own country, and protect
our infant manufactures"
MIR. Tucker of S. c. sald-"l consider
the subject which engages our present de
hbera,lons, as Of very grea, Importance, as
Il relates TO our agriculture, manufactures
and commerce,
Mr.. Hartley Of Penn. said mo argu
ment can operate to discourage the com.
mlitee from taking such measures as will
tend to protect and promote our domestic
manufactures. Ii We consult the history
OF the ancient world, we shall see that they
have thought proper, for long limo past,
TO give encouragement to the establishment
OF manufactures, by laying such partial du
ties on importation Of foreign goods, as to
give the bone manufactures considerable
advantage in price when brought INTO mar
ket. From this view Of the subject think
it both polite AID just, that the fostering
hand Of the general government should ex
tend to all those manufactures, which will
tend to national utility. take it to be the
policy of every enlightened nation, to give
their manufactures that degree Of encour
agement, necessary 10 perfect them, with
gu, depressing the other parts Of the com
munity and under this encouragement, the
industry Of the manufacturer will be EN-
pioyed &c add TO the wealth of the nation"
Mr. Madison said, 81 presume tina,
however much we NAV be dlsposed 10 pro