The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-05-18
Was Andrew Jackson q Free Trader OF
Pr0tecti0nist?

A FREQ trader is one who believes In the
rigorous application under all circumstances,
and at all times. Of the principle Of free trade
with foreign nations; q protectiOnist Is one
who believes that at times import duties may
be. or should be, modified for the purpose OF
protecting and promoting the growth OF par
hcular branches Of domestic production.
Our attention Is called to this subject by
some remarks in that highly cultured jour-
nal, the Boston Etenin0 Transcript. which.
with great elegance Of rhetoric. dedcsA "a
the Idea that ANDREW JACKSON Was a pro-
secslonist ss ~ Democratic iackass skin"
In his nrst inaugural address, delivered on
March 4, 1929, Gen. JACKSON used the follow
Ing language:
with regard TO proper selection Of the subjects Of
tAHOst with view 10 revenue. II would seem to me
that the spirit Of equity, caution, sud compromise In
which the Constitution was formed requires that the
Great interests Of Agriculture. commerce. and manu-.
features should be equally favored; and that perhsp
The only exception to this rule should CONSIST In the
peculiar OF product Of either them
thsa may be essential to our national independence
In his first annual message. sent to Con-
Gress ON Dec. Q, 1929, President JACKSON
thus expressed himself:
he general rule to b applied In graduating the du
tss upon articles Of foreign growth manufacture 10
thss which win plAes own In fair composition with
Asss Of other eesntrss and the Inducements to ID.
vance step beyond this point controlling In
rsgard to those Articles which primary necessity
u tune Of WEI"
In hts second annual message. OF Dec. Z.
tSa0, In the course OF . lengthened discussion
Of the then existing tartn. which had been
objected to as unconstitutional because 1t
Vas protective, Gen. JACKSON stated the
principle Of the subject a. follows:
"whs the chief object Of duties should be revenue
they may be adtssted - TO encourage manufacturer
70 this adjustment however 10 the duty Of the Gov
to b GUIDED ~ the general good Offsets Of
asioasi impsstsnss ssous oasht to ~ prossotsd Of
thsss the productions Of SOIL our Mines sad
wsskshops essential to the national dsssnce oceupy the
Arss rank. WAsAsvss ssAsr species Of dssstis iaAus
~, hAviAg the impsstsncs b vhtoh have referred
may b sxSsstsd sfs1 tsusSssasy proSsstioa 70 copss
with foreign labor equal tsrms merit the sttsn
tl0a In subordinate 6sSYss."
Next, In his third annual message, Of Dee
& 1881. We ind tho sane idea:
"a s,odiac ssioA Of the sari6 which shall produce
rsAaetoa Of revenue to the wants Of the Govern
suf ana an sdiustnsnt Of the duties Imports with
view ogual jsses N relation to AL national In
sssss,s the seuutsrseon a foreign policy for
- u sy b. injurioss those intersss deemed to b
one Of the principal objects which dsmAnt the consd
GRAFTON Of the present Congress"
Recurring to the subject tn his fourth mos.
sage. Of Dec. 4, 1857, and considering 1t with
reference to the discomfort and nullihcatiou
manifestations Of South Carolina, Gen. JACK
Son lays down the rulo which he supposes
will regularly be applied In the distant fu
ture to tho development OF protection. "The
policy Of protection" no says, "mAy be ulti
n,atoly limited to those articles Of domestic