The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1845-11-28
History OF the Protective Policy,

There IS a truth which, in this age of
apId physical advancement, is seldom re-
erred to in political disputatlon, 10 wit, that
he same measures which have been found
~ actual experiment, during many years
1t past history, TO conduce 10 the general
Of The country, are those which
may be mos, relied upon 10 secure con.
tnuauce Of that prosperity. This, when
il first meets the eve, seems the trltest OF
all possible truisns, and VET ii one takes
u survey Of the course of Argument adop-
ted bv the free.,rade theorists Of the Uni
ted States in their controversy with the
advocates of the protective system, he will
perceive that with the former il is by no
means an admitted principle. They-lhe
tree-tradets or the revenue tariff men
seem rather 10 assume that If the protec
ton Of American manufactures, aud ma
tional industry generally, (Which they sci.
dom admit has been the policy Of the Co.
yernment since the day OF Is organization,
the fact itself is good leason for innoSa,
ting upon such policy. Allow me to ex.
anime briefly the progress of protective
legislation 10 the United States.
The first Congress under the Constitu,
ton assembled in the spring Of 1850. lis
first proceedings were directed to deyisIug
some temporary means for collecting re-
venue. Immediately after this subject
came up for federation, il was suggested
that II had an important conneXlon Will
the encouragement and protection Of the
manufactures Of the country, and by com
mon consent il seemed to be resolved (
postpone dchnltlye actlon upon any puTe5
/ revenue project, until bill could be PIE
pared which should provide for tie attain
ment Of both objects. The second &C
passed at this first session Of the first Con
gress was dated July 4, l7s9, and It's OBJ
jects we're declared By It's title 10 be, I,
provide a revenue for the support OF Gov
eminent, the payment Of the debts of tht
United States, and The encouragement d
domestic manufactures. Next to the man
ufactures the navigation ofthe country va!
he most carefully cherished object OF tht
care Of Government, and By the next &C
which was passed discriminating duty o
20 cents per ton vas laid upon foreign YES
sells trading 10 the United States, and they
we're absolutely prohibited from engagln!
in the coasting.rade al all. BY tue hrs
tariff act, also, there were imposed dlscr
raIna'ing duties upon The cargoes Of for
eign vessels, in order TO favor the employ.
meut Of American ships.
The rates Of duties thought sufficient
for the protection OF the then almost lnsig
nificaul manufactures Of the United State
were, il IS true, very low. There can b,
no doubt tina! they would have been yer,
greatly increased few years afterwards
/ but fur the remarkable position in which
the breaking out Of the general European
war in 1893 placed this country Fin
! commercial marine Of all the MINOR Pow
ers OF the civilized world were suddenI
destroyed BY the oyefshadowlng naya
strength Of England and France. We wer
made carriers and commission merchant
/ for The transaction Of the business Of one
I half Of the world with the other. EngIant
and France first destroyed the commerce
Of all other European nations, and ther
4 France herself va. utterly driven from th
/ ocean by a series Of the most terrible &c
( ieats al sea recorded IN history. What wa
the effect Of all these great events upon u
and out protective policy : II was 10 maxi
Us abandon manufacturing, and 10 yer,
considerable ex'enta agricultural production
for the pursuits OF navigation and commerce
/ The tariff Of 1859 vas not reduced, but /
was not materially increased for 20 years
Free-trade was then, under that very pc
culiar stale Of things, the national policy
perhaps Il was good policy. For all GU
small population had the fullest employ
ment IN the fields, or the counting. house
or on board ship. With no considerable
estabIi. hmen:s actually erected, with no
capital to devote 10 their construction, and
with no hands TO work them, II any haC
been IN existence, ne could not compett
with foreigners, nor they with Us: for ",
had nolhag 10 provoke competition. Be
sides, We found ready market and hgi
prices Cor all the productions Of the coun
try Of which there was any surplus. Com
n.erce is the most profitable Of all employ
mcnts, as well in the case Of nation a.
Of individuals, when It is not divided an,
be .llled by a too eager ryaIshp. From
an Insignificant power we were sudden
~ elevated 10 be the second Commercial
nation IN the world. The following table
will show the progress Of the carrying
trade and the advance Of the eutreporr
system Of the United States from 1898
the year Of lis commencement, until 1907,
when II ceased almost as abruptly as i,
had risen into importance. 1t is a state.
ment Of exports from the United States for
eighteen years, distinguishing the value Of
the foreign goods rc.eXporled from the ex.
ports Of domestic productions:
Articles Of 4. Artial's ofFoj