Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-05

| your memornlisis find no clause i'll the Constt
lion authorizing Congress to assume The debts OF TIE
States! As the guardians then OF the rights ana inter
rsts of their constituents, sennels placed by them
oyer the ministers Of the Federal Government 10 shied
| from their entertainments, or at least TO souho tht
alarm when it is threatened with nvasion lhey can
never reconcile it to their conscences, silently 10 &C
aniesce in a measure, which violates mat narrowed
maxim. nxim on the truth and sacredness oil winch
the Federal Government de pended for its adoption IN
this Common wealth When find the same Leg'sla
ture resolving the 2st of the same month"; that so
much of The aci entitled act making provision Tor Tie
debt of the IT, S. the payment oil the state
debts is repmgnant TO the Constitution OF the u D,
goes to the exercise of power not granted 10 Inc
i General Government When see the same a lia
milton alarmed by the passage oil these resolutions en-
closing them in letter 10 Mr. Jay and declaring tis
is the first symptom OF spirit, which must eler De
killed. or will kill the Constitution OF the Y. slales,
asking that they s'may consider what ought TO be
DONE asking fought not the collective weight OF ,he
different parts of the Government to be employed III
exploding the principles they contain: And when we
see in the language of Mr. Jefferson he aposlates who
have gone TO these hereses men who were oamp'
sons in the field, and Solomons in the Council, but
who have had their heads shorn by the harlot England
We indeed forced TO enquire whether II be proper
submit to these burdens TO sustain such men ana
such measures.
Seeing do, that "lhe public necessities Tor re-
venue may be created by such measures 10 any ex-
tent, and that "ncidenta protection may be thus
afforded TO any amount that the most visionary mgnt
recommend, all surprised, that our fei-
low. citizens with their views should be willing not 10
discuss the question sofa power in Congress 10 protect
and regulate private industry; because, they can at
any time obtain all they ask by empying the Treasury
TO produce the necessity.
We cannot attempt IN the limits OF single ADDRESS
argue all the topics, which this fruitful subject readily
suggests We mns content ourselves with stating SIM
[ ply our views and our principles "Whether lfcedon
OF exchanges commercial restrictions will most ad'
vance the prosperity of nations whether erroneous
policy by one nation requires an erroneous policy ny
another; whether economy avarce suggests the idea
Of transferring capital from many occupations to one;
Their justice decides, that portion OF the labor OF
the poor on cht be appropriated by laws to the OF
the rich; whether the limited powers over persons and
property delegated the Federal Government embrace
the internal power of regulating the interests OF manu-
features and agricutursis; and whether such con-
struction Of the Federal Constitution would not in
cudc control over all occupations and subver oil the
restrictions designed 10 establish division of powers
between the Federal and State Governments are
questions too extensive for mature consideration here
We must content ourselves with asserting beetth
true economy consists in permitting the free employ.
Of capital in such occupations as individuals, and
ed by their intelligence, industry aud enterprise,
viii find most productive false economy, in legislative
coercons OF capital to other and channels un,red
without skill or knowledge, and without considering
the intimate relations between supp and demand.
/ We must belief, that the mercantile, naval
and cultural occupations are all discouraged by
srcions upon commerce, and must dwndIe or flourish
IN conlunclion--1hat unrestricted and free CON-
rerce enables each nation TO produce those commodi-
ties for the production OF winch it ls peculiarly
adapted by and adventurous circumstances, and
to exchange them for those conyenences and necessa
ries which they cannot produce cheaply at home
That If cannot obtain entire free trade the same
argument which proves it advantageous, makes 1t desi
rable to secure all the freedom obtaln-lhat
nothing be purchased but "t the produce oil labor,
|
of forcing manufactures INTO existence,
we can only do by The exertlon OF industry IN
some other equally useful occupations in the Ian
guage Of the lamented Lowndes, ''wllatever may be
the of foreign fabrics which are spread over
our country if be the industry of Europe which pro-
duces i, is the industry of America which acquires
them; domestic industry being in reality equally set at
work, whether you import The article from abroad or
have il made at home.
We believe that improper interference by Govern.
ment in forcing manufactures, before they are produced
by natural ard private interests, must result IN
dlverting labor and capital from advantageous to
dsadvaniageons employments The true principle
OF commerce is to buy cheap and sell dear; and
when this broad principle violated, the dictates
of Nature are presumptuously counteracted by the
rash hand of legislation, and the energies OF man so
far from being developed, vainly supposed, by
the operations OF Government, are always trammeed
and frequently repessed In the language of Edmund
Pendelon we believe that claws which Interfere III the
private employment Of citizens and encourage one KIND
at the expense of others by premiums bounes or pro-
hib;ions lmpolltic as unjust; they violate pr
ya,e rights ceGed 10 society, and feer occupations
as we'll as barter the produce Of labor, both of which
succeed best when left free TO the will and contracts of
those concerned" We believe, these regulations are
calculated unsee the business OF the country, pro-
dnce oyer.production in one trade and deficient sup
plies in another; disturb the regular and harmonlzng
operation of demand upon supply and produce uncer-
arnty and consequent rapid fluctuations IN price every
where.
/ We believe that free commerce producesa mutual
dpps ndence among nations, (Which constitutes IN truth
the only independence Of nations which is either prac
cable desirable calculated 10 preserve peace and
harmony among them, and that nothing will bind them
so firmly concord free interchange OF every spe
cies OF products, causing each individual through the
ramications of society 10 iee that his interest requires
that the public peace should be preserved. "The sys
TEN of sefdependence in nation to the exclusion or
dimnution Of intercourse with other nations, Chi
nese policy, which the present state OF enlightenment
must condemn object TO be followed ts its own
sake Ii ia to commerce, that the whole CIVILIZED
world owes its present state OF advancement and
a higher interest than that of mere pecuniory views
The moral interest Of the world demands, that
instead Of seeking to wrap themselves up within
! themselves, different communities should seek for
intercourse with each other, by every means within
their power. If an extension OF the circle oil our
sympaies, of the sphere Of observations, an
acquaintance with and improvement IN The arts and
SCIENCES that adorn, eubesb and elevate mankind,
and opportunities for the exerton oour energies, IN the
widest field of action, be desirable then are we called
upon by every duty and every tie to ourselves and to
our fellow beings 10 throw down all barriers TO freedom
of intercourse whenever is practicable to do so; and
never can we defend policy which has no other re-
commendaton than that OF cutting us off as commu-
nifty from all necessity for intercourse with the rest OF
the wo-lu."
We believe, that the cry Of the manufacturers for
protection is one that cease; the more they
are protected the their wants increase, and tins
must be the inevitable result for TO encourage themyou
drive away foreign competition, and by so doing new
capital is enticed into the business at home, and tins
necessarily produces domestic competition, generated
not unlrequenty by foreign capital, and when this IN
cr.ases 10 the extent winch originally caused the de-
mand for proecon, The unskul and the Negligent
begin to fail double set become clamorous for further
protection and new demands must be yielded TO- OF
u Tie and 10 all the branch.