Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-06-21

Gle, as TO induce an American TO make some
that will prevent some from being imported,
and so lessen the amount of revenue receiy-
ed, then Congress must reduce the rate oil
duty SO as again to let all be imported, and
so destroy the American producer. We are
then distinctly TO understand, that this bill
is intended to destroy all protection or en-
couragement to our artisan, and notice is
given that II II does not effect this now. new
provisions shall hereafter be made that will
do it. If the duty of 80 per cent. now, or
20 per cent. next year, should keep out any
foreign wool or woolIens, then. by the doc
trine OF this report, it will be the dutv Of
Congress further 10 reduce the duty, until
the foreigner can bring in the whole, for
then most revenue could be received into
the Treasury. Adopt this doctrine, and
such must be its result as to every produce
ton of the artisan or manufacturer. unless
they will live as poor and work as cheap as
in Europe With the American manufac-
turer and artisan must go down all who RELY
on them for market, including all growers
Of wool
Is it true that such is the extent of the
power OF Congress, and that such are the
limitations OF its exercise! Ifso, wretched,
indeed, is the power of this nation to pro-
tect itself among the nations Of the EARTH
We must become an easy prey TO their Gu
pidity; a victim to all their regulations and
monopolies. But ! entirely deny that such
is the Limitation Of the power and duty of
Congress. The committee seems TO have
carefully excluded from consideration that,
by the constitution, Congress has power ito
regulate commerce with foreign nations, a.
Inong the States, and with the Indian
tribes"
While we were colonies of Great Britain,
our trade was regulated entirely by Parlia-
ment, or by the King and Council and
watchlu and restrictive was their regulation.
Every course was taken to secure an entire
dependence Of the colonies on England for
all articles Of manufacture, and TO prevent
their production here Such were their
regulations TO prevent the erection Of tilt
hammers, or Sitting mills, to forbid any
mechanic from having any larger number of
apprentices, to prohibit carrying articles of
mechanics work made here from one colo
ny to another for SALE Indeed, it was said
the Americans ought not to be permitted to
make hobnaii. At the same time the trade
was confined, with a few exceptions, to d.
rect trade with England. This was one of
the principal causes of the Revolution, and
this condition Of dependence was what deep
ly aggravated the difficulties and sufferings
OF the struggle tor independence. Hence
it was inserted in the Declaration of indie
pendeuce, as one of the causes of complaint
against Great Britain For cutting off our
trade with all quarters Of the world"
After the close of the Revolution, each
State made its own tariff Of duties and regu-
lations of trade, and this produced incxtr-
cable confusion. 1t was the attempt TO pro-
duce some uniformity on this subject, which
produced the meeting at Annapolis, which
resulted in the subsequent meeting at Phla-
delphia that formed the Constitution. 1t is
indeed true, that the want of power in Con-
gress, under the articles of confederation. to
lay and coilect taxes by its own power, was
matter deeply calling for correction, and
that was corrected in the Constitution, BY
that grant ofpower ito lay and collect tar
eS, duties" &c. But the want of power
in Congress to make all necessary laws to
regulate our trade, so as to be uniform for
all the States, was quite as much realized-
This was corrected by granting TO Congress,
III tHC Oohothu'iOut TIC DUNcI W TeUuldIe
commerce with foreign nations, and among
the States, and with the Indian tribes"
Trade may, in great measure, be regu-
lated by the form in which tariff of duties
is formed, and in this way the two powers
may be exercised in the same act but it is
not true that such is the only power which
Congress has over the subject, or that such
is its only mode Of exercising that power
Congress has power over the subject oil COM
merce, aud this it may do in any form, in
its own discretion. 1t has done this by
granting bOuntieS to fisheries. Was that
raising revenue' Congress has always, by
law, excluded foreigners from participating
in the carrying trade from one port to an
other in this country. This has always been
exclusively preserved to our own ships, and
J foreign competition has been prOhibited-
Was this laying duty for revenue? So
too, / insist, the power of Congress to regu-
late commerce extends to the subject matter
} of commerce, as much as the mode of con-
Quoting it. If Congress has the power 10
prohibit any article from importation, it may
discourage it or prohibit it by heavy bur-
den Of duty, as well as by express direction.
Congress has the same power over the regu-
lation offoreign commerce as il has over that
} with the Indian tribes; and in that they
have, at times, prohibited the sale of distill-
ed spirits.
We have a good illustration of the po,oer
of Congress over the subject MATTER oil
! trade or commerce in relation to slaves
Immediately following the enumeration oil
T the powers of Congress, in the 9Th Sec, Isl
art. of the Constitution, in the LIST clause oil
the 9th Sec, it is provided, that " the migra-
t ton or importation Of such persons as any
; Of the States now existing shall think nrop.