Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-09-08
For the Enquirer.
uIsToRy INDICATED.

/ no longer c0nlcnu lot pcimdueHl SJ''eAi -
have raised the banner OF repeal. They not only
endeavor 10 fix The protective policy upon Inc
country BY legislative action, blu, Home Leagues,
10 break down foreign imporlations are beginning
TO aurac, attention. To make Ibis idea paaable,
/ and to make the public believe that our revolu-
,ionary ancestors advocated The Wing policy with
regard 10 duties the articles OF an association en-
tered into in The year ITO by some Of the great
men Of that day, have been published, first by The
National Inlellisencer and since by prints of les
ser note.
The Editors of the National Intelligencer say,
examining the articles OF The original Associa-
ton, our readers will find that they form not only
Tariff, but strictly woaibitips one" The Edi-
Tor Of the Richmond Wing, in publishing the
same document, speaks Of the persons who sign
ed il as follows:
"Those sagacious patriots saw, even al that
early day. The necessity OF protecting, by such
means as they were enabled 10 employ, such
branches of manufacture as the people were
competent 10 engage in, as an essential element
of COLONIAL freedom"
I One would be led TO think, from the above re-
marks, that The articles Of association entered
into, in ITO by the leading men ofthat day, con-
tanned some expression which sustans this inter
preta,ion; or, that the circumstances under which
they were framed, and the end they had in view,
warranted the assertion, that the SiSners wished
| 10 build up manufactures in America by prohi.
| billion and protection. Yet these articles Of the
original association do not contain even the most
/ remote auson to The subject OF protection; nor
do they contain one scin,ia OF evidence that its
| trainers ever anticipated the erection OF single
manufacturing establishment on the continent
| On the contrary, that association was formed with
the avowed intention OF removing the duties
which were already imposed on commerce, and
/ expired by lis own terms whenever that object
wa. accomplished The Parliament Of Great
Britain had claimed the right 10 impose duties on
the commerce OF the colonies, and the colonisrs,
regarding the impost as tax on consumption
| conteDded that il was fundamental principle Of
he British Constitution, that there could be nc
| taxation without representation, and, consequent
". Parliament could have no right 10 tax them,
| since they were not represented in that body
Parliament, proceeded TO lay duties on tea, paper,
glass and painters colors and The colonists agreed
among themselves TO avoid the lax, by refus-
ing 10 import: and this agreement was 10 expire
the very moment the duties were removed. This
is the statement Of their designs as they express
ed il in their articles OF agreement, and yet their
enieavor TO obtain Tree trade by denying The right
of Great Britain 10 lax Them is now referred 10 as
authority TO show that they desired 10 build up ma
nufacluies by imposing prohibitive Tariff. The
policy OF Parliament, and not oil the colonies, was
The policy of the Wings; for Parliament wished
to levy duties which would of course encourage
domestic manufactures Washington, Jefferson,
Henry, Lee, Cary and all the great men OF that
day, like The free trade men al The present day,
con!ended that duties were taxes on consumption,
and asked all their energies 10 have them re-
moved; and they succeeded, although they went
through long and arduous war, and through
times that tried mem. souls, before their purpose
was accomplished. They were not The men 10
believe that high duties make low prices, but
with one voice said that they were fares which
I they would not paw. They did not pirate about a
nHome Market" bur said that imposls were not
sufferable; that they were levied by body in
which they were moi represented; tina, they would
endeayor 10 avoid the oppression by refusing 10
import; and, when the worst came TO The worst,
they threw the lea to the fishes Of Boston Har-
Dor. declared themselves free sovereign and indie
pendent, and maintained that declaration al the
point of the bayonet.
The dificultie, with Great Britain commenced
before The imposition OF taxes on imports. Far
lament passed the Stamp Acl, 10 go into opera
ion on The first Of November, lIb5. When Inc
new. of il, passage reached Virginia, the As
semby was in session. That body, on The 29th
OF MAY, adopted Patrick Henry's celebrated re-
solutions. by which il was declared that The peo-
ple OF Virginia were entitled 10 the same privi-
eees and immunilies with The people OF Great
Britain; that The inhabitants of The colony have
enjoyed The right Of being governed by their own
Assembly in the article oi taxes and internal po-
| lice; and "hat the General Assembly, together
win his Maj"e,v. ar bic Snhs'i,a'o, have ;" Nor
representative capacity the only exclusive rISht
and power TO lay taxes and impositions upon The
| inhabitants OF this colony" The Legislatures
of several other colonies followed the lead OF
Virginia; a general Congress, assembled in New
York in October, made a similar declaration !;
and The Stamp Act was finally repealed. Alter
| wards, member OF Lord Chalham's ministry
| thought that he undiscovered method Of getting
money from the coonsts without giving them dis
satisfaction; and Parliament levied duty on tea,
| glass, paper, and painters colors. This was met
| by the same objections which had been urged
against the Stamp Act. Massachusetts addressed
circular letters 10 the other colonies, and they &C.
nerally approved the measures Of opposition
which had been taken, and readily united in
them. Virginia also transmitted to her sister CO.
ones a statement OF her proceedings In The
letter addressed TO Massachusetts, the House OF
| Burgesses say, 1--WE cheeffully acquiesce in The
authority Of Parliament 10 make laws for pre-
serving a necessary dependence, and for reeula-
Ting the trade OF The colonies, and that mo power
on earth has q right to impose taxes on The peo-
pie, without their given by their represen-
atves in Parliament" In May, 1863. the same
| body passed resolutions asserting the exclusive
right OF that Assembly TO impose taxes on The in
habilanls "wthin his msjesty's dominion OF Vr-
OH 10 md hat all
commission OF offences within the colony, were
entitled 10 trial before the tribunals OF the coun-
Try. When intelligence OF these proceedings
reached Lord Bolelourt, then The Governor OF
Virginia, he dissolved the Assembly. The
members then convened in private house, and
having chosen their speaker, moderator, pro-
ceeded to form Non-importing Association,
which was signed by every person present; and
which, being recommended by them 10 the peo-
Pile, was subscribed almost universally through
out the province. This course was generally
adopted in the other colonies. Ailerward, the
Earl Of HsboToush wrote 10 the various Cover
nors, informing them that an application would
be made 10 Parliament TO repeal the duties, eI-
cept that on lea. This step, it was thought by The
ministry would produce quiet on this side Of The
Allan &C. But The House OF BurgeSses OF Virgi-
MIA wa. still unsalisfed, and lis members formed
an association, in which they were Joined by Sc
veral respectable merchants OF The country, then
in Williamsburg, by which they renewed their
non.imporing agreement
This is the account which history gives Of this
transaction. The Parliament had claimed the
right TO frame Tariff and levy duties on certain
imports of the colonies. The colonists denied
the power of that body 10 take such step, and
determined TO avoid the payment OF the unlaw-
fu duties, by entering into an agreement
moi TO import certain specified articles UNTIL
THE TARIFF WAS REMOVED. But this is not all.
The original articles except the twelfth, expi-
red by their own Limitation, as soon as the duties
on tea, paper, glass and painters colors were re.
moved The twelfth was to be forever IN force,
"until the contrary be declared by general meet
ing Of the members of The Association" That ar
icle is in these words
"We will not al any time hereafter, directly or
indirectly, import or cause TO be imported or pur
chase from any person who shall import, any
merchandise or manufactures exported from Great
Britain, rhich are or shall hereafter be- taxed by