New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-17
POLITICAL ECONOMY.
BY HORACE GREELEY.
VIII.
AGRICULTURE AS AFFECTED BY PRoTEC.

Whoever s familiar with our countryS Economic
and Fiscal legislation must cOncede the following
positions: aso
/. That the great men VINO named, advocated, and
secured the adoption Of the Federal Constitution,
who ruled the country throughout the next genera
ton and thus laid the foundations of our National
policy were not manufacturers nor interested in any
form of handieraft, but for the most part
nected directly or indirectly, with the Farming or
Planting interest. which was then not merely the
dominant but the sole reliance of nnetenths Of our
People. ,l f...J
Q That these great men all but unanimously sug-
gested and commended the fostering OF Home Manu-
features by discriminating Protective Duties on
their Foreign rivals.
g. That they undoubtingly believed that, in so do
ing thew were subscribing the interest of American
Agriculture and aboring to secure to themselves and
their fellow farmers or planters not merely moro
assured and constant but more ample recompenso
for their labor by creating larger nearer steadier
and better markets for their products.
Generations swiftly succeed each other, and truths
which were familiar forty years ago. having been
overaid b the exciting topics and events Of the last
decade may be unknown to many now on the stage
of action For the benefit of these, proceed to
prove what is already well known to older readers.
Gen Washington an extensive and practical
farmer through life interested so far as can
II,
his first Annual Message (which he read in person
to Congress- says:
,Tbe safety aud interest Of the People require that
they should promote such Manufactures az tend TO
render them independent OF Ohers Tor essential parcu
larry for Military supplies"
Congress responded to this suggestion by ordering
That referred TO the Secretary OF the Treasury,
pahs donformably to the recommendation Of the Presi
dent in his speech both Houses OF Congress Tor the
encouragement aud promotion OF such manufactures as
will tend render the United states independent OF
other nations for essential particularly for Military sup
plies"
The Secretary thus appealed TO was ALEXANDER
HAMnTON-not O small man for those days-and
never so far as have heard, engaged in the
manufacture of either horn gunflints OF basswoOd
pumpkin-seeds He took time to consider the
matter. and at length responded in Report
which remains landmark in our history l viii
here quote from it just enough TO show the
grounds on which Col. Hamilton based his advocacy
of Protective policy, with his conception OF its
bearings on Agriculture and of its National i'm
portance. II any reader shall deem his view narrow
or partial mole-eyed or sordd, shall be sorry for
that reader, not for Alexander Hamilton, who, in
his Introductory paragraph, says:
"The embarrassments which have INSTRUCTED the pro-
gress external trade have led 70 serious reflections
commerce. The restrictive regulations which, in foreign
markets. abrdge the vent for the increasing surplus OF
our agricultural produce beget earnest desire
that extensive demand for that surplus may De
created at home and the complete success ~ Rsas h
branches spring with the promising symptoms which
n the is % to S Of
try formidable than they were apprehended to
sion full naturalization for any external diSadyan-
tages when are or may We @
and safety"
The House of Representatives. impelled by this
Report proceeded to create a Standing Committee of
Commerce and Manufactures, which it continued for
twenty years thereafter aud then divided, because
Of the great variety and Importance of the subjects
claiming its attention The fact that Manufactures
were deemed, under the sway of Washington and
Hamilton, deserving in connection with Com
merce, the regard of Standing Committee of Con-
gress, remains.
President Washington, in his second Annual AID.
Dress to Congress- thus tersely and forcbly afrms
his unchanging convictions
Congress have repeatedly and not without success,
@arres The Object Is Of 70" mre6 not TO
insure continuance Of their efforts in every which
Thomas Jefferson was, like Washington, farmer
or planter, and never personally connected with
Manufactures or interested therein. Yet in his
second Annual Messenger he deliberately sums up
the legitimate objects purposes of the Federal
Government, in these words:
"To cultivate and maintain commerce and nayt
cation In all their lawful enterprises 10 foster fish
cries nurseries OF navigation, and for the nurture Of
ance " preserve the h Of the paiop 10 S ae aTn
discharge fits debts and contracts expend the public
with the same care and economy would practice
with our own, and impose on our citizens no unnecessary
burden keep in all thngs within the pale
sttutiona powers and cherish the Federal Union as tha
only rock OF safety these felowctzens, the land
by which are 20 guide ourselves all
ceedngs. BY continuing TO make these the rule ofoup
action shall enear TO our conntrymen me true prince
Des Of their Constitution, and promote union Of sentl
ment aud of action equally suspicious to their happiness
and safety"
In a subsequent Messages in view of the rapid re-
duction and in anticipation of the early extinguish-
ment of the National Debt he inquiries with regard 10
the expected surplus of revenue .....
"TO what other objects shall these SURPRISES be appro
prated and the whole surplus Of pos after the entire
discharge OF the public debt aud during those intervals
when the purposes OF shall not call for themi Shall
suppress the impos and gre that advantage 10 foreign
orer domestic manufacturer
These fond anticpations were suddenly blasted by
the wrongs TO which our commerce WAS exposed by
the arbitrary British Orders in Council" declaring
the entire coast of France under blockade and every
vessel trading thereto lawful prize of war; with the
equally unjustifable and even less plausible
" DEGREES" dated at Berlin and Milan respectively
with which Napoleon retaliated Mr.. Jefferson felt
thereby to embargo our Own merchant
vessels forbidding them TO trade with either of the
belligerents until those atrocious Orders" and
" DEGREES should be rescinded. Our Revenue there
upon shrank from river to a rivulet and the pay
ment of our Debt was arrested but our still infant
Manufactures received powerful impetus. Mr..
in his last Annual Message refers TO the
changed condition as follows:
1.-THE suspension OF foreign commerce produced by the
injustice OF the begeren powers and the consequent
losses and sacrifices OF our cLens are subjects OF ust
forced has mpelled TO apply portion OF industry
rhe extent Of tins conversion is daily increasing and lit
e doubt remains that the establishments formed aud