Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-08-18
PROTECTION--TtlE OLD REPUBLICAN,
DOCTRINE

In another column will be found the testimo-
ny of Mr.. Dillingham;, the candidate of the loco
foco party of the fourth district, that he has ut
terly abandoned the old republican doctrine,
which was acted upon by the government from
the first session of first Congress, down to 1913;
we mean the doctrine that duties on imports
may be, and should he, laid for the specific pur-
pose Of Protection, wherever required.
The very first act passed by the first Con-
gress, after adopting those measures which
were necessary TO put the Government in mo-
ton, distinctly avowed this doctrine. That act
was approved on the 4th of July, 17S0-the
right day for giving sanction to the policy which
was then considered essential to maintain our
Independence. We quote the preamble to that
act
"Whercas it is necessary for the support of govern
ment, for the discharge of the debts of the United
States, and The announcement and protection Of man
udcturCS. that duties be laid on goods, wares, and
merchandises, imported Section |. BE it enacted
dc.
WASHINGTON in his first and in his last mes
sage acknowledged the doctrine:
1.-THE Advancement of agriculture, commerce, and
manufactures, by all proper means will not trust,
need Recommendations but cannot forhcar intima-
ting to you the cxpeiency Of giving eticctua encour
agement well TO the introduction of and use
full inventions from abroad, to exertlons of skill and
i7s9 ' producing ' i" '''''' '''''s' y
Again in his eighth message we find the fol-
lowing:
Congress have repeatedly, and not without sue
cess, directed their attention to the encouragement of
manufactures The object is of too mnch conse.
quence not To insure continuance of their efforts in
! every way which shall appear eligible"
JEFFERSON fully adopted it and finally to the
extent Of absolute prohibHioa: in 1902, only
nine years after his famous Commercial Report
he held the following language in his annual
message to Congress-
"To cultivate peace and maintain commerce and
navigation in all Their lawful enterprises TO favor oul
fisheries as nurseries OF navigation and to protect thu
mdnQdct0rteS adapted to our circumstances.
By continuing to make these the rule of our ac-
tons, we shall endear 10 our counrymcn the true
principles Qt the constitution, and promote an union
of sennmentand ofacnon equally suspicious to then
happiness and safety" AT another time he wrote
/ When nation imposes high duties on our produc
tons or pro1jbits them aNogcihcr, it may be gr7p1
FIR rs 10 Do the same 5ytiers first burdenng or x
GLIDING those productions which they bring here II
competition with our own of the same kind"
MADISON, too. adopted it. In his first mes
sage, in May 1900, Mr.. Madison thus alludes t.
the protective policy:
"The revision Of our commercial laws proper t.
adapt them to the arrangement which has takel
place with Great Britain will doubtless engage tn
early attention OF Congress- It will be worthy at tn
Time OF their Just and provdent care TO make such far
ther alterations IN the laws viii more espcciaH
protect and foster the Sercrd branches of ldnufdc
5 tTe.' In his message of 1915, he says There
no SUBJECT winch can enter with greater force into tn
deliberations OF Congress than consideration of tn
means TO preSerre and protect our manufacture.
which have sprung into existence and attained an un
parallel maturity throughout the United states dur.n
the period of the European wars this source Of ma
tiondi independence and 1r6aH dnriousiy recon
mend heriore' 10 Tie prompt and constant guard
anship Of Congress-"