Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-05-30
For the Enqnirer.
MIR. JEFFERSON AND THE TARIFF.

vi
Messrs Editors: The readers of the Enquirer
will. doubtless, think, after the utter demolition
YOU have visited upon the Wings, that it is
work of supererogation TO draw further upon
the "truth Of history to sustain your position
and that of the party on the points in conrover.
sy. It's, however, so frequently attempted by
the Federalists to palm off their imposlures upon
the great fathers Of Democracy, and to acquire
spurious credit for their odous policy, By
showing that it has, at some time, received the
support Of few prominent men Of our party,
that nothing which can contribute to expose
their deception, or to foil their cunning attempts
ought to be considered uncalled for. The Tariff
i, one OF the prominent features of their oft re-
pudiated and miserable System which they
have industriously labored 10 mystly in order
10 confound and mislead the judgment Of The
people, and, in support OF which, they have
often forged The great name of Jefferson. do
not myself entertain much respect for tina.
class OF politicians who can perceive no other
merit (as reason for supporting them) in set
of measures, than that they were introduced or
advocated by this or that eminent statesman.
But the opinions Of such wise and experienced
man as Thomas Jefferson are entitled 10 great
weight, and it therefore becomes important TO
ascertain the real "truth Of history respecting
them, especially when they are perverted By
our Wing friends, to serve an end he never
countenanced. True il is, that parties were not
for some time after the adoption of the new
Constitution, as distinctly defined and separated
on the question Of the Tariff as on some others;
but as far as my acquaintance with Mr. .hGer.
sons opinions, derived from his own writings
goes, he was always consistent on this point, and
certainly has left us the most convincing and
unquestionabe proof Of his dsapprobalion Of
the doctrine Of protection, commended for BY
modern Whiggcry. | shall quote from num-
Der of his letters, to prove-first that he was
free trade man-and, secondly, that he was de-
cidedly and emphatically opposed to the Wing
doctrine of protection.
In July, 1855 Mr.. Jefferson wrote letter 10
French or Dutch gentleman on The subject OF the
financial condition OF the States, in which he as
sens that Virginia had paid more revenue in The
previous year than all the oiher States together,
and he ascribes her ability 10 do SO 10 the tact,
shat SIC is (was) at liberty 10 avail herself OF
for thcm" In letter Of the same month and
year, 10 Mr.. Adams, he says, 81 tank all the
worid ,ooutd gain By setting commerce al perfect IL
bnty,' And in August: 1900, in Letter 10 Gil
deon Granger, he uses this language, "Let our
affairs be disentansei from those OF all other ma
tiuns except as 10 commerce, Hiich tie merchants
wumanGsc tic bettr Tic m0rc Mey are let 10 nlo-
mage for themselves" These expressions il is true,
are very geneIal-ard, al the lime they were VI.
tered, there can hardly be said 10 have been Ia
riff question 10 which they had reerence-but
they show conclusivey, thar, a! that early day,
Mr.. Jefferson was thoroughly imbued with The
spirit ol free trade. So utterly al variance are
they, though, Qet The Federaliss make as lille Of
H., fhntr o,Ik ara t,tnYt hatr nj
their author can induce them 10 make,) with the |
restrictions and prohibitions OF the odous Wing
falsely named Amcrican-sYs'em, that we
should be justified in interring Mr.. Jeflerson's
opposition 10 It's principles, even il he had LETT US
no positive proof OF The fact. Fortunately for tie
country, and Tor The truth OF history" he has ei
US, under his own sign manual The ndispuIable
evidence Of his adherence OF Wing protection
Here it is: Under The power to regulate COM
merce they assume indefinitely that also over
agriculture and manufactures, aud call IL resuia
ton T. take hs earnings OF oc OF tirSe branches n
infustfU and that, hon The ms, depressed, aud PIT
them INTO ne pockets Of The other, hc most flourish
ing 0f aH'
TINS language is used in his letter 10 Cover
nor Giles in December, 1926, after Inc prclecilves,
who first came, hat in hand 10 ask temporary
bounty OF the llberaIity of Congress, had la!ened
and gown so strong upon that bounty, that they
were bold enough 10 deyelope their real policy.
and had begun 10 demand, that what was granted
as favor should be conceded as right, and thai
a measure acknowledged 10 be unjust, or al least
unequal in lis operation, and designed TO be OF
duration, should be established as
permanent system He perceived also that this
attempt was made under colour OIL carrying out
certain implied powers conveyed in the Consitn-
ton, and which none but Federal construction
ist would or could ever have discovered. Thus,
in this single sentence, does Mr. Jefferson repudi.
ale and condemn Two Wing riuciples-lheir pro-
lection and their latiludinous mode of constituting
the Constitution; and yet they have the audacity
10 call upon his name 10 bolster up their despica-
BILE. measures, and TO call their ineXcusable crros
or intentional missaemenls, vindication of the
"truth OF history" Others can, hope will. COL
tablsh The points set forth in this paper; but The
facts already adduccd are amply sufficient TO
show that Thomas Jefferson neither was the ia
ther nor ever b came the sponsor Of the misnamed
Protective policy. And il he Wing writer's will
read history with as earnest desire 10 learn "the
truth" Of il as he shows 10 palm of rank Federal
heresies upon The great Apostle OF Democracy,
he will find that his parry has really out heroied
Herod in carrying The protective policy TO point
far beyond that contemplated by The early friends
of projection. In consequence Of this, many who
no were not hostile 10 The principle OF protection,
repudaed its Wing embodiment; and the Tariff
has now become, in great measure, simple
proposition OF high or low taxes. The Wings go
for the first, and the Democrats for The latter.
ROANE.