The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-23

perience has taught me that naofujGc
f,tres are n0tO as necessary 10 our IN
dependence as 10 our comfort. "-Jef1er-
sons Letter to Benz. Austin, Esq, Bos-
ton, 1916.
Would gentlemen say that George
Washington and Thomas Jefferson had
united in recommending violation of
that sacred instrument which their own
hands had formed? And how was 1t
with President Madison-that pure unsul-
lied patriot and most sagaclous and lncor-
ruptibIe statesman-what did he think a
bout the matter? In no less than four ex-
ecutive communications, two of them an
nual messages and two of them special,
he had united his voice to recommend the
encouragement and protection by legisla-
ton of our domestic manufactures
"The revision of our commercial laws,
proper to adapt them to the arrangement
which has taken place with Great Britain,
will doubtless engage the early attention
of Congress. Ii will be worthy at the
same time of their just and provident
care, to make such further alterations in
the laws as viii more especially project
and foster tie scUcral branches of man
ufacture which have been recently insti-
tuted or extended by the laudable exer-
tions of our citizens. Madison Spe-
cial Message, May 23, 1909.
81 recommend also, as more effectual
safeguard, and as an encouragement to our
growing manufactures, that the addition
al duties on imports which are to expire
at the end of one year after peace with
Great Britain, be prolonged to the end of
two years after that event. ''-Madison's
Special Message, May 81. 1914.
''But there is no subject which con en-
ter with greater force and merit into the
deliberations of Congress, than conside-
ration of the means to preserve and pro-
mote the manufactures which have sprung
into existence, and attained unparalleled
maturity throughout the United States du-
ring the period Of the European wars
This source of national independence and
wealth | anxiously recommend to the
prompt and constant guardianship Of Con-
gress. = Madison's Special Message,
February 30, 1915.
In Madison's seventh message he still
more strongly recommends this policy.
Mr.. S. did not like to take up the time
of the committee by reading from these
documents 10 any extent: but gentlemen
would hardly maintain that James Madi-
son did not understand the Constitution at
least as well as Robert J. Walker. He
might himself be called the father Of the
Constitution, and yet he publicly and Of
ficially recommended on four different oc-
casions that very policy which the present
Secretary of the Treasury pronounced to
be in open conflict with the Constitution.
An Executive message was here re-
ceived from the President, through the
hands Of Mr.. Walker, his private Secre-
tary.
Mr.. S. next referred to the messages Of
President Monroe, who had over and over
again, in the strongest and most empha-
tic language, urged upon Congress the
propriety of protecting domestic manufac-
lures. He then came to the messages OF
General Jackson-a name which, he
should suppose, would still have some
small measure of authority; at least with
those who once professed themselves pre-
eminently his friends. Mr.. S. would
place in distinct and open contradiction
the opinions held by the present execu-
tive and his Secretary of the Treasury,
as contained in the message Of the one
and the report Of the other, and the opin-
ions of Andrew Jackson as contained in
his Executive messages to Congress. He
had already presented the doctrines of the
existing Administration, as they were en-
bodied in the report Of the Secretary of
the Treasury.
Mr.. Johnson, of Tennessee, here inter-
posed, and desired to present to Mr.. Stew
art this question: Whether, when the du-
ties levied were sufficient for the purposes
of revenue, Mr.. S. was in favor of adding
other duties for the purpose of protec-
ton!
Mr. Stewart was understood to say in
reply that he would attend to that ques-
ton directly, but did not wish to be inter
rupted. He would now proceed to read
a paragraph from the message of Presi-
dent Jackson, by way of refreshing gen.
tlemen's recollection as to what had been
the opinions on this subject avowed by
that distinguished man. Mr.. S. consid-
cred the passage he was about to quote as
containing one of the clearest and strong
est vindications of the constitutional pow
er to lay duties, for the purpose of pro-
lection, that had ever been put forth to the
world. Here it is:
"T'he power to impose duties upon i'm
ports originally belonged to the several
States. The right to adjust these duties,
with view TO the encouragement of do
mestic branches of industry, is SO COM
pletely identical with that power, that it
is difficult to suppose the existence of the