The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-10-30
Communications.
The Tariff Question in Former
Times.

|
Civil History of the United States. ~ an old
and reliable work; also the History and
Topography of the United States,s' by
J John Howard Hinton, A. NJ. assisted by
Samuel l.. Knapp. In Offering these vol
umes to the public these historians had
but one object in view. and that was to
publish Il truthful statement of affairs as
they existed. AS they had no friends to
favor, or enemies to punish. all party feel
lngs were eschewed, and each endeavored
to give true and reliable history Of the
American governments its progress in
commerce, agriculture, manufactures,
and advancement in arts and science
1t is reasonable to suppose that manly
and patriotic historian would not only
labor to be truthful in presenting the con-
dltion OF politics and civil affairs of a
nation, and in giving advice to his own
countrymen, but would also advocate meas
ules best adapted to their welfare that If
a free trade policy was more desirable than
a protective policy, no effort would be
spared on the part of such a writer to adj
yocate and advise the free trade system to
its fullest extent. But directly to- the
contrary has been the advice of all the
prominent writers of American history.
They all repndiated that maxim of politi-
cal economy advanced by the Eds,sbur1
I
/ iored to make bob-n0l!' and also the
sentiment of Joshua Gee, author of 1.-THE
Trade and Navigation Of Great Britain -
that manufactures Sn Anaericd should be
prohibited ~ and furthermore, warned
their countrymen against the policy pro-
claimed by an eminent British statesman
| in the House of Parliment--'.Tha the
| fundamental maxim Of the commercial
policy of Great Britain, had been not only
to promote her own prosperity, but to de-
press that of her commercial rivals and
| competitors. .
In defence of tariff that would give
fair protection to a nations manufacture
ing interests, these authors give the opin-
ions of the ablest writers on political econ
| omy i'll England and France, also the
opinions of the greatest and best Ameri-
can statesmen; namely, Washington,
Hamilton. Henry Lee. Dulany--that dis
tinguished Maryland lawyer--Wm. Henry
Drayton, chief justice of South Carolina,
and Mr.. Loundes, who, in his re-
report of March 18th, 1915, strong
ly recommended Tariff for Pro.
lection, and ably yindicated its expedi-
ency. 1t is an historical fact that the
first avOWedly protective tariff ever pro-
posed to this nation had ats origin in South
Carolina, and at that time such tariff re-
ceived the support Of the Hon. John c..
Calhoun.
Mr.. Dulany, of Maryland, commenting
on the large balances always due to Eng
fish manufactures, pointed out as rem
edy for the evil, domestic industry, thereby
rendering the American people less depen-
dent on Great Britain for articles of ne
cesslty or luxury. Said this patriotic
citizen: Let the manufacture of Amer
lea be the symbol of dignity, the badge of
vi rtI ON uyin h ha fott a,.
of Distress"
Said Henry Lee, noble son Of Virginia,
at the conclusion of his grafton on the
death of Washington, delivered at the re-
quest of Congress First in war, first in
peace, and first in the hearts of his coun-
trymen. Methinks / see his august i'm
age, and hear falling from his venerable
lips-"Reverence religion, diffuse knowl-
edge throughout the land patronize the
arts and sciences control party spirit, the
bane Of free governments cultivate peace
with all nations; shut up every avenue of
foreign influence, rely on yourselves |. be
Americos IN thought, acord and deed
How different were the sentiments of
Henry Lee, VIM. H. Drayton, and Dulany,
to the bitter opposition Of John Randolph,
of Roanoke, to a tariff that protects the
manufacture 1.-THE symbol of dignity,
the badge Of virtue;n an opposition SO
bitter as to cause him to use the extrava-
CANT expression that he would go mile
out Of his way to kick sheep ~ Here is
an extract from one of his letters giving a
mond- ana IF the want If energy m the
the Virgiflia planter. 1.-The oniy energy
disalava2i ats that time 1890 and sis,ce Rv
ths V;rcin;a dem ocracv. il the' enercv ta IL
onnosa ) fariff T;v;ng fba iaast nrctaeSiS;cr
Ia rA,neriTan i5dusrTv Virrii5ia states.
nansIii, i1as not only opposed All tsfiffs.
except IN one instance--.a tariff That would
protect :, that. insignifcant7 : Democratic
harh sumacwhnt have adhered III Ana free
If ian, entarnr1se aor;cmlti,re p sf'he Roanoke
s.sheen- kieIer - letter Furnishes thehest
aro,,y,,ent that can he offered III the foIIy
of RELYING on, agricnltnre alone TO maEe
State great. rich ana nrosnerons n
II 80 q lssRoAEoKE. july 10. 1852.
81 have oct into the habit of Consider.
inc myseH in j a fo,.r-fold state IstI a i
dead man. ID a. n living one: 8dl asa
resident ssis1 Of Roanoke: 4th. as residing on
the South coast or England, and try to
provide fer each contingency.
Although am but one hundred piles
from Richmond. II Is an affair Of ten days,
and wagon and I'VE or SIX h0res, 70 get
anything from thence and It IS such a poor
pidcca ltS Scio PIvkScT tiauc uciAS ~ w
bacco, that it is seldom that can procure
any but the ordinary. neccssaries OF life. |
Some few merchants import goods on
tlieir own account, but they are chiefly the
staple articles OF SALT iron, blankets, Ger-
man linens, all OF excellent quality, which
ace poor planters are compelled TO buy! In
every other point OF view, IT may be re-
garded as place OF deposit and ware
house, or lumber house OF New York.
1.-The new States are far better supplied
with means Of transportation. with mall
roads and post Offices than the old South;
ern States OF Virgini&t the Carolinasa and
Georgia. 1t is all ione to our planters
whether they get their newspapers ehls \
week or next; and living as they DO, apart
from each other, without concert or COM
bination, they have fallen a prey to the
superior activity and intelligence OF the
manufacturing population Of the North 4
and East. But in proportion g they are
slow to act, will be the energy OF ther re-
sistance to manufacturing cspidity and
oppression. Yours. j.. X. OF II.
N 1w0b,d no ;,nnoss;b,e for any man
excent John Randolph to nut to-
oether such a batch of Inconsistencies
Which this letter contains, BE described
Richmond as moor Mace and condemns