Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-04-25


the Wing has repeated its f~allacies SO olsen' ana
stuck 70 them so long, that it may have imposed
upon itsel!, as il has certainly misled others; ana
il is time TO correct them. Upen what then
does the Wing found lis boil decl ration, so ire
quent'y and solemnly IN de, without qua'lhca'
ton, tina. Alexai der Hemil on was "one oil Tue
earliest, as well as eblcst tpposents OF inc fio'
tec,ire policy" Why, it says, "we are '0sa -
BY MIR. Jefferson and this is al 1t seems -
know, or at least chooses TO disclose al out INC
matter. "1old so by Mr.. Jefferson" we ven
ture to say that Mr.. Jefferson never oiu !,
and never could have told any BODY any SUI.
thing. The Wing is utterly mistaken; aou, ~
deed. would seem to intend, Immediately a"e'
to qualify this broad assertion IN TINS p,ae -
:, odas !, another sentence, tive called the al
,en,;on Of The Enquirer, some days ago, ="
.:r.;so.,, fact, that Mr.. Jefferson ascribed lhe
~. o...ch in favor of "free trade" delivered
:. ,7aa nv Mr.. Smith Of South Carolina, OF
,.hose capaci;y MIR. ]. entertained but a poor
opinion, to the pen of Mr.. Hamilton &c :,
turns out then that Mr.. Jefferson mas no' sa'u
eraetly that General Hamilton was oPPoseu y
.,be Protective policy" much less that ne was
ono of its uearliest as well as ablest oPPonent>''
but the Wing has only inferred mat MI 'ene'
soo tho,rbt SO. because MI. Jefferson eonJeetured
,ba, General Hamilton wrote MIR. Smiths speech'
which the Wing represents as a Stree trade
speech. We believe the wing mis'aSes '"e
character Of the speech. The matter discussed
in il certainly had very little reference TO Tree
..oas o,d none at all to the Protective Iaril'
r.. wbig totally misunderstands, too, MIR. Jef
fsreon,s letter 10 Mr.. Madison, referred TO by IT,
in which this speech is ascribed TO Genera
uom;,,on. and from which the Wing before
ouo,ed. That letter does not contain The wcrds
free trade" or "protection,' and has no refer
ence at all 10 either. All this We will show
more fully, when we come to speak oil MT 'el'
fersoo's OPTIONS on this subject. The Only
ae.cin ;s. that MIR. Jefferson ascribed MIR. Smiths
sneecb to eneral Hamilton. All the resi- is
mere inference-unfounded and fallacious'-
yet from this mere inference, the Wing does
not hesitate 10 represent Mr. Jefferson as expires.
s;ng the belief, at least, that General Hamilton
was opposed 10 "the Protective policy" Sup
nose il were all true, Gas we by no means admit
and shall hereafter disprove,) what does ii
amount to- Why, only that Mr.. Jefferson
thought that General Hamilton's opinions
were opposed to a Protective Tariff
Would il not be better 10 let General Ha'
milton tell US wha. his own opinions were, rather
Than resor, 10 this tedious ,igmarole OF inference
and conjecture, only to fud out at last wha! Mr,
Jefferson is supposed 10 say he thought they were'
Or could not the editors 0! The Wing, in iheiI
candid and diligent search after "lhe truth" hnd
out any expressions Of Gen. Hamillon's opinions
on this subject, made and acknowledged by him
seli7 We can scarcely believe this. Yet, strange
10 say, while The Wing deals very freely with nj:
o~pinions, we do not recollect that il has ever quo
ted one word used by this great man 10 express
them. Surely, even the Wing, much as it seem:
inclined TO disparase him, would admit that The
bes, evidence of his own opinions was to be foune
in his own declarations. We proceed then L
show, 'from the RECORD" what Gen. Hamilton:
opinions really were on this subjecr, expressed
by himself, and that in a manner 50 full, delibe'
rate and authentic, that the Wing itself can nc
longer entertain a doubt about them.
On the 5,h day Of December, 1891, rather more
than Two years before Mr.. Smiths speech was
made, and about the same length ottime after the
htst Organization Of The Federal Government
Gen. Hamilton Communicated 10 The House o.
Representatives" his celebrated report on "manu-
fac,urcs." This report was made By him eff
r sssflS rs SSssssrss} 81, oiihe Treasury. in which ca
Congress his deliberate views in regard 10 the
Tariff. 1t will be found in Inc 5,h volume OF
"American State Papers" (tile "Finance, vol l,")
page l25, of The tOlio edition, published in 1892,
BY Lowlie g. Clarke, "under the authority OF
Congress" and occupies nearly twenty-five close.
ly printed folio pages. II relates almost exclu'
sively TO The subjec, of IA protective Tariff" and
is intended throughout 10 advocate "the protec-
tive policy" To do any thing like justice 10 the
zeal and ability il displays in recommending this
policy Tor the first time 10 Congress and 10 The
public, would require Us TO quote il a, large
which It's great length forbids. But, while we
commend the perusal Of The whole OF il TO the
Editors of,he Wing, whom we must, however IN
willingly, presume to be ignorant OF its exist
epce, VIC will endeavor, for the benefit Of our
readers who may not be able 10 procure il, 10 pre-
sent some meagre outline Of il.
II begins by stating tha, "the expediency OF en-.
coufaging manufactures in The United States
which was not long since deemed very question.
able, appears a. this time TO be pretty generally
admitted" and after show;~e h" dis enanee o.
on;n;on has h~-a Drought about oy events, il adds
u'h.,- sail are, nevertheless, respectable opin.
ions unlriendly 10 The encouragement, OF manu-
iac;ures," and proceeds to give a condensed state.
ment OF "lhe arguments by which these opinions
are defended" Amongst them are the following;
that "in every country agriculture is The most be.
neicial and productive object OF human indus.
lry," that ITO epdeavof by The extraordinary pa.
tronage OF Government 10 accelerate the growth
OF manufactures, is, in TACT, 10 endeavor by force
and art TO transfer the natural current of industry
HUN a tiOlC " q y ~ ASldl SHduuCt WlICU
must be unwise, as ri; can hardly ever be wise in
a government 10 attempt 10 give a direction 10 the
industry Of its citizens" that iii, contrary TO the
natural course OF things, an unreasonable and
premature spring can be given 10 certain fabrics
by heavy duties, prohibitions, b%ounties, or by
other forced expedieuls, this will only be to sac
rifce the interests Of The community 10 those OF
particular classes Besides the instruction OF
labor. a virtual monopoly will be given 10 The per-
sons employed on such fabrics, and an enhance
ment OF price, The inevitable consequence OF every
monopoly, must be betrayed al the expense Of the
other parts of the society. L, is far preferable, that
those persons should be engaged in The cultivation
Of the earth, and that W. should procure, in e1-
change for its productions, The commodities with
which foreigners are able 10 supply US in grea.
ter perfection, and upon better terms" Such ale
-. of ,ho ,ronroeptc with ub;cb acoor3;,r =.