New-York daily tribune., 1844-09-27
VOL. Nv. NO. siS

ne aftlcits OF Confederation, the scheme, pro-
visions and limitations OF our Constitution, all show
this intent
The uioth article of the Confederation, con:errng
on Congress the great powers OF War and treaty,
expressly provides g that no treaty o! commerce
shall be made restraining the States ouiv ffom
imposing import duties, bu; from py0at5i<i..r The
expectation or importation Of any y. cr- O; goods
/ OF commodities whg;soty YER" " hsre.ore W.. ,uis
power OF prohibition reserved hy the states, II mol
Tor tsYo purposes-one retaliation The othr. protec-
tion
Thus it appears that the States reserved, no, q
mere power OF incidental protection By discrmine-
Iing duijes but power Uf absolute proniuitlon-
hat prohibition extending not only 10 imports, but
10 cxpor..
Tire conflicting exercise of his power by tie re-
specive States induced The efcr rronsirr il first
10 the Old Congress and ultimately 10 The National
Legislature. What is the power OF the latter in
mis- relation power 10 ey and collect duties
Imports, the States being restrained from inter
ieriDg with this, only useful und beneficial " hen
general. power, unless with " the consen, OF Goa
| giess."
But it must b. recosc,ed there s no restraint on
the power OF prohibiting exports or imports by Con
gtess, rther Tor the purpose Of retl!Itio or proiec
tou. Ii may proi5it imports Icr Protection nisy
no, discriminate in duties imports for ProeC-
ton alsoi
Their j. another conclusion to te drawn from
! H. Sc provisions of the Constitution Of sone mo-
Protective du,ies. il is we'll known that a chief on
! )ectIon to the adoption ci the Constitution by the
! planning states, was jealousy OF the contro! OF
he navigation OF the counuy, menacing undue
| burlhens on Southern proGCc,s This jealousy
yielded necessity, but II insisted on the exclusion
! of duiies on exports - u Southern Security.
! Though the value OF duties on exports, as sources
of revenue, was ielt-ihough they were urged in the
| Convention means oi protecting manufacture
though the importance OF this power by preferential
duties Gs oil beneficial treaties 10 protect ex
ports from excessive duties, such tobacco must
lave been ielt-tne exclusion OF power 10 lay du
ties on exports insisted upon and was yielded.
| Why, when the planting States were thus insisting,
! when The imposition OF duties on imports az mean
pt ptencouragng manufactures was presented distinct
" TO the Convention, why cid they not ask lImi a.
non OF duties 10 mere purposes OF Revenue No
such demsnd was made. May it not be inferred,
that this concession as 10 export dues, the greal
| concession, The oUiy one asked and ,iiut the
| power over imports as u mean OF protection, 'Sas
| uiy, freely gwen.
That ,nis was not inaGvcrtence, is pro"en by the
proceedings oi TIE Convention 10 another part Of
| the Legislative power OF the Government. When b
| restriction proposed that money bulls should
originate on. III the II Ju>e of Representatives, u
proyiso was suggested " for purposes of Revenue"
~ as conhue The onguating bills for raising reve-
uue 10 that House. / lie distinction "as there eX
| ,'r.ssy taken, aud avowed between money bill-,
when Revenue was the sole otJrct, and thos'
| unvipg o;her - Incidental effects. " hat means
| jhis 2hruSe, il not PrOrconl
y Nou ma, he rod ihaj The State Of New York
td0pled the Constitution Reluctantly; but What was
he cause o TINS Ieluc ance ?-her unw:llipsress 10
surrender 10 the General Government tins power o.
| Protection; the irst Governor OF the Stale urgin2.
,ot that thc evil MAS in the Government irstl bur
that 1.-The prUfuse Of foreign lnxurles was ihe
source of mast OF The existing dicullies, and re-
.ulnnen.iiug The dlminuIiun OF tneIr consumption
| - hy rh. % The
| lwn PRODUCTIONS" ID The then HeSd OF the Demo
| cratc party Ia tue United Sa'es-George Clinton
thought the exercise vi this power OF protection OF
such value Sale, us 10 he unwilling 10 confer
It ct, the General Government, 10 make iie iiunsier
Of :. an OF -ciion ihe adoption OF the COnstitu-
| tion Is II Democratic BOW, when the value OF lhe
Protective stem Is more hsn eTer manifest, to de-
ny lhis power TO the Constitution, and as Is pro
hbed to the States, thus wholly 70 oeny II tu the
people ls il wise, Just, safe, 10 enliust The
| administration oil the Government 10 thosc VINO de-
nv the existence and would defeat the exertloD ol
| this poverl " hat al that Jay OF jealous vigilance
ovei the Constitution would have been thought OF
aim wne made belief in Free Trade" The test OF
| Democracy.
Which otthe States have always been the most zeal
GUS advocates OF Proection7 Are they not those
most Democratic in ,hsr Institutions, in The feelings
opinions, habits OF their people, where the snrage Is
moat widely dIfiused. the tenure OF oice most &C.
| pendent and briei-those States where The iaborng
Dopuaton has alwaNs exercised The most direct and
powerful influence, where property most equally
| divided and most frequently changes owners is
not this the natural eject Ci 4 natural cause tue
tendency Of iie constant exercise OF duly protected
| labor TO equalize the condition OF men
Despite of all objections the Constitution was u
dnpteC by the people OF New York. IhlS most Iile
porlant act was great triumph OF general over local
| Influences. Of union over dlsunion. That II war u
triumph also Of the principle OF Protection IS seen IN
the motive urged by Jealous champion ei 'ie Con
! -tution in his commentary on II addressed TO the
Peope of this State: " Let Americans disdnln 10 be
the instruments OF European greatness Let the
Thirteen States, bound together III STRICT ana In
! dlssouhle union, concur in erecting one great AMER
lCAN SYSTEM, superior TO The control OF Trans AT
amric force or influence, and able TO dictate the con
| 1ecrion between The old and the new world. iheI
| Union is completed. The fair table land IN our pro-
| sIess Low opens before lis the region oi warmer
| sun aud more Indulge skies. We are Nation
| and " Ina, from this vantage ground DO we behold
The fret Congress uGCer that Constitution is as
! seuiblrG-th- eyes oi the whole people are upon
| tle.n--thefe Is solemn pause. Aud what 90 we
| behold Before Washington was lnaUerraied. be-
lore auy Executive was, the Representative are seen
consulting the means OF encouraging aud protect
| lne American L.bur; an object which no consider
u,ious oil policy, no motives OF convenience no de-
mands OF an empty treasury, were permitted even IL
postpone In their discussions, the question Ui tht
Constitutional power oi projection Is not once RAISED
expectations OF the people, IN their first act OF egls
a,lon they did not say pass this law, We impose
duties, Tor the purpose OF revenue: they were
unwilling To leave this 10 implication; but they de-
Jared the title OF this law IT'S purposes, " 10 sup
port the Governmen tor the discharge OF the debts
OF the United States, and the encouragement anc
protection OF manufacturers, thus inscnblng on !ht
yer, front aud forehead OF our Legislation The srea
objects oil the Constitution in conernng the po"ei
TO lay and collect duties, Prominently anions
which was ;he protection of our mdustr,-anc
Washington signed that aIli Whatwas ihe Alnd O
protecuou IL conferred Discriminating dulles, de
~ ed, 10 operate IN some cases prohibiIory, II
Others gradually protective; some specIhc-olher'
rn ihe value-many low FIVE, ollirrs ~ has ~
6'ry per cent, specifically. In lhls law the Eastern
Midle and Souihern States, all coucurrrd, and ihl
brcatne ard continued the settled polic, al this
county, DiiieriuG as lis ear statesmen do diner
ON other Questions ia this they all agreed no
did the people The sense OF It's value gre"
with their growth, and We read IN me hepoit o.
Comnrt,ee ef Congress during he irsi tenn oi JET
rerson the regret ex xpressed mat the CONSTITUTIONS