Holly Springs gazette., 1844-05-25
FACTS FOR TIE PEOPLE.
From Tie Richmond Whig.
THE FAIR PROPOSITION'-No. 8
SOME PRELIMINARY Historical FACTS
~ REGARD TO THE TARIFF.

In pursuance OF cur Fair Proposition,
we Will now lay before our readers some
prominent facts in relation 10 the Tariff.
and from the IN tnGcavor 10 establish IN the
first place, that the want Of power in the old
Federal Congress to regulate Trade, and 10
give efficient Protection 70 Home Interests,
and Home Industry, was defect IN The ar
ticles of confederation, which led as much
as any other cause to the calling Of the Con
vtulion, and the adoption nfth~ E-4s-~i
CUns'rGuOn.
Prior to the adoption Of the present Con
stitulicn. the several States had unlimited
authority over the subject Of Trade, both
Foreign and Domestic. and Duties upon
imports were TCs0rtGd 10, not only for the
purroses Of Revenue, but also TO encoura ge
domestic industry.
Attempts were also made to counteract
tie efforts Of the restrictive and monopollz-
ing policy Of Foreign nations, by system
f communicating duties.
The difficulties arising from the want Of
concert and uniformity ~ the measures Of
he different states are shown bv MIR Aadl-
son IN his letter to Joseph G. Cabrll, Esq
lie says. 'ofthe impracticabIiny Of separate
regulations Of trade, aud the resulting ne
Jessity ot general regulators, no state was
more sensible than Virginia. She was &C
c0rdinglv among the most eUnest for grant
ug 10 Congress d power adequate 10 the o6
iect Ou more occasions than one, in the
proceedings Of her Legislative councils, It
was rtcited that the relative situation of the
States bad been found on triaL TO require
ugjf,miiy IL their commercial regulations.
4s the palg eGectual policy for Obtaining, in
he rorts Of Foreign nations a stipulation Of
privileges, reciprocal to these enjoyed by
rhc sul itc,s Of such nations in the ports #
me UuIted States for preventing animosi-
les. which cannot fail To arise among the
several Snt,s from the Interference Of par
:iaI and separate regulations; and for deriy-
i"S rom ''':.''l'l'I' S'o, ",.@ = S''e P'o''0
During The delays and dlscouragements
rSperItnced "a the va Ious attempts 10 invest
Congress WIKI the necessary powers, the
Sfatr % Virginia made various trials CT what
could be tCne by her individual laws. She
ven,urtd on duues nd ImPos's as source
Of revenue rrsoiutIons were passed az one
time 10 encourage aud protect her own navi-
cation and ship buildng; IN consequence OF
complaints and peaJons from Norfolk, Al
exaudria, and other places against the mo
nupolizing navigation laws OF Great BRIAN,
particularly in the trade between the UuI-
ed States and the British West ludies, she
ielbera'cd, with purpose controlled on Y
bv the iBefIicieucv Of separate measures or
The experiment &C 6yciag reciDrority b1
UgoLiBifory regulations Of her clrn'-rSee
Tonrnal of House of D-Ie oa,rs l7S5j
TIE effect Of her separate attempts to
raise revenue By duties on imports, soon ap-
pesred ~ represen tauous from her merch
ants. that the commerce Of the State was
banished bv them into other channels, espe-
cially to Maryland, where imports were less
burdened than IN Virginia. II See Journal
'oo
Such tendency Of separate regulation
was indeed too manifest To escape antcipa
ZION. Among the projects, prompted by the
wauto Of federal authority over commerce,
was that Of a concert, fist proposed on the
par. OF Maryland, for "A uniformity Of Tegu-
lations between the two States, and commits
sioners were appointed for that purpose. It
was soon perceived. however, that the con
currence OF Pennsy ylvania was as necessary
10 Maryland, as Of Maryland 10 Virginia,
and the concurrence OF Per nSs lvania was
accordingly invited. Bot PennSyl lvania