Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-04-18
THE "RAIR PROPOSITION.'-No. s.
SOME PRELIMINARY HISTORICAL FACTS IN
REGARD TO THE TARIEE

regulate Trade, and to give efficient Protection
TO Home interests and Home industry, was de.
iect IN the articles of confederation, which led as
much IA any other cause, to the calling of the
Convention, and the adoption OF the Federal Con-
stitution.
.sfior to The adoption Of the present Constitu.
ton, The several States had unlimited authority
over the subject of Trade, both Foreign and No.
mestic, ano ilu'es upon imports were resorted to,
not only tot 'he purposes Of Revenue, but also to
encourage domestic industry.
Attempts Were also made TO counteract the eff
iects uf the restrictive and monopolizinp policy
Oh FoTeigE nations, by system of counteracting
duties. SIS f.
The titiisul,ies arising from the want of con.
eei' ana uniformity In the measures of the differ
en' states are shown by Mr.. Madison in his letter
10 Joseph q. Cabell, Esq. He saws " of the iu,
practcanilty OF separate regulations of trade, and
inc resulting necessity of general regulations no
State was more sensible than Virginia. She was
accordingly among the most earnest for granting
10 congress power adequate to the object. On
more occasions than one, in the proceedings of
her Legislative councils, II reciied that the
relative situation OF the States had been found on
Tidl TO require uniformity in their commercial re-
SuiatIons, as the only efiectual policy for obtain
ing, In the ports of Foreign nations. stipulation
OF privileges, reciprocal to those enioyed by the
sunJecS OIL such nations'In the ports of the Uni
ted States; for preventing animositcs, which
cannot fail TO arise among the several States from
the Interference of partial and separate reuuIa-
lions and Tor deriving from commerce such aids
to the public revenue as il ought to contribute ="
During the delays and discouragemenis expe-
renced In the various attempts to invest Congress
win The necessary powers, the State of VIRGINIA
made various trials Of what could be done bv her
individual laws. She ventured on duties and i'm
posts as source OF revenue: resolutions were
passed at one time to encourage and protect her
own navigation and slip building; in conse-
qoence Of complaints and petitions from Norfolk,
Alexandria, and other places, against the mono-
polizIng navigation laws of Great Britain, par,i-
cuariy IN the trade between the United States
anu The British West Indies, she deiberated with
purpose, controlled only by the inrflicency of
separate measures, or the experiment of forcing
reciprocity by prohibiiOry regulations cf hrro,pn."
lSeo Journal OF House of Delegates 1885
The elect Of her separate attempts to raise
revenue by duties on imports, soon appeared in
representations from her merchants, tina: the cou,-
merce OF The State banisheG by them into
other channels, especially TO Maryland, where
imports were less burdened than in Virginia. -
SEE Journal p. 7S6.
"Such a tendency of rec ulations ,yas indeed
100 manifest to escape anticipation. Among the
projects, prompted by the want of federal autho-
nly over commerce, was that of a concert first
proposed ON the part Of Maryland. for a unforni-
" oil regulations between The two States and
commissioners Were appointed for that purpose
renee OF Pennsylvania WAS as necessary to Mary-
'ahu' as oil Maryland to Virginia, and the con-
chfrrnce OF Penns ivania was acco:dinoiy jpvi.ch
But Pennsy ivania could no more concur wi,boui
New ork, than Maryland without PENNSYLVANIA.
nor New ork without the concurrence of Bos
ton, &c. These projects were suspended for tho
moment, by that of the Convention at AnnapoIis.
In 1886, and forever, by the Convention at PhiIa.
deiPhih, III 1887, and The constitution was the
fruit OF it,"
The Convention at Annapolis was called ex-
clnsively for The purpose of deyising some RENE
dy for these difficulties. IL was first recommend.
Ell ny resolution OF the Legislature of VIRGINIA.
passed January 2lst, 1886, which is in these
words:
-" Resolved, That Edmund Randolph, James
Madison, j., W alter Jones, ST. George Tucker
and Meriwether Smith, Esqnires be appointed
commissioners, who, or any three OF whom, shall
meet such Commissioners as NAV he an,oint.d
IN tbe olher States OF the Union, al a lime and
Place 10 be agreed on, 10 take into consideration
The trade OF The United States; TO examine the
relative situation and trade of said States; 10 con.
siuer HOW lar uniform system in their CONNER
cial regulations may be necessary to their COM
mon interest and their permanent harmony; and
10 report to the several States such an act rela-
I'VE 10 his great object, as, when unanimously
ratified by Them, will enable The United States in
ongreSs, eiiectualy to provide for the same -
madison Papers, p. G95
New Jersey, and New York, responded to the
call thus made, and appointed Commissioners to
attend the Convention, authorizing them, in near
~ the same terms, tn take into consideration the
trade and commerce of the United States, and to
consider how far an uniform system in their COM
merciai intercourse and regulations might be ne
cessary to their common interest and permanent
harmony ~ Madison Papers, COS
commissioners were also appointed by New
hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and
North Carolina, but none of them attended the
Convention. Nc Commissioners were appointed
by Maryland, Connecticut, South Carolina or
Georgia.
The Convention reporlf d to their constituents.
That the express terms OF the powers to your
commissioners, surprising a deputaton from all
Tie States, and having for object the trade and
commerce OF the United States, your Commits
siohefs d'd not conceive it advisable to proceed
on the business of their mission under The cir.
cuihsiahces OF so partial and defective repre-
seniation." f
Deepiy impressed, however, with the maoni.
iude ana importance of the object confided TO
'hen on this occasion, your Commissioners can.
not ioiDear 10 indulge an expression of their ear
nest ana unanimous wish, that speedy measures
may DC taken 10 elect a general meeting of the
otdtes 10 future Convention, for the same and
such other purposes, as the situation of pubIic az
fairs may be found 10 REQUIRE"
in the course Of their re-
hec.ons on The subject, they have been induced
70 'n'nh 'aas the power of regulating trade is of
such comprehensive extent, and will enter so far
mo 'ne general system of the Federal Govern
ment' mat TO give it efficacy, and 10 obvae oues-
IONS ana doubts concerning its precise nature and
''i"l'S' may require correspondent adjustment OF
1 ,, parts OF the Federal SYSTEM" (Jadison
faPers, Loo) The Legislature Of Virginia was
Tue hrSt mat acted upon this recommendation and
ny d" d,'os' UNANIMOUS vote appointed delega-
tion' WIN General Washington at It's head. to at.
'en no. 'he proposed Conventions Mad. pap 1O3 y
lhus originated the Convention 10 which we
owe our present Constitution