The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-08
THE CONSTITUTION AND PROTECTION.

THE CONSTITUTION AND PROTECTION.
The Sentinel attempts to defend Mr..
Cleveland's ignorant assumption that
the Constitution of the United States
was framed in the interest of free trade,
and that the early administrations of
the government were conducted on that
line. The Sentiners Endorsement of Mr..
Cleveland's bumptious ignorance does
not change its character any more than
its approval of his attacks on the
American people proves their incapacity
for self-gOvernment. We repeat that
one of the main objects of the trainers of
the Constitution, and one of the strong
est arguments in favor of its adoption,
was to secure policy of national pro-
lection and development. The fathers
all favored a protective tariff, and all the
early history of the government was
identified with the protection of Amer
lean industry.
The entire period of the Confederation
was continual struggle on the part of
Congress to obtain control over the COM
merce of the country, with view to i'm
posing customs duties. This effort was
resisted by most of the States. The con-
test lasted from 1916 till 1889. After the
close of the war the diplomacy of Eng
land came in TO aid the States in refus-
ing and resisting the right of Congress
to impose customs duties. In the franz
ing of the Constitution this right was
expressly granted, and the people imme-
diately began to petition Congress to ex-
ercise it. Among the earliest petitions
presented to Congress in 1889, immedi-
ately after the adoption of the COnsti-
tuition, was one from the tradesmen and
mechanics of Baltimore, which said:
THE happy period having now arrived
when the United States are placed in a new
situation, when the adoption of the general
government gives one sovereign legislature
the sole and exclusive power of laying du-
ties upon imports, your petitioners rejoice
at the prospect this affords them, that
America, freed from the commercial shack
les which have so long bound her, will see
and pursue her true interest, becoming in
dependent In fact as well as In name; and
they confidently hope that the encourage
ment and protection of American manu-
features will claim the earliest attention of
Congress; as it is a universally acknowl-
edged truth that the United States contain
within their limits resources amply sdffi-
| cient 30 enable them to become a great man.
ufacturing country, and only want the pa
tnotism and support OF wise, energetic
government"
The petition concluded by asking Con-
gress to impose on all foreign articles
which can be made in America such du-
| ties as will give a just and decided pref
erence to their labOrers, and thereby
| discountenance the trade which tends so
materially to injure them and impover-
| ish their country. Another petition from
| the mechanics and manufacturers of
| New York, presented at the first session
| of Congress, said:
''Your petitioners have long looked for
| ward with anxiety for the establishment of
government which would have power to
extend protecting hand to the interests OF
| commerce and the arts. Such a government
| is now established. On the PRONUNCIATION
| of the Constitution just now commencing
| its operations, your petitioners discovered
| in its principles the remedy which they had
| so long and so earnestly desired. To your
honorable body the mechanics and manu-
| facturers of New York look with conf
| dence, convinced that as the United States
of America has furnished you with the
means. so your knowledge of our common
wants has given you the spirit to unbind
our letters, and rescure our country from
disgrace and ruin"
A petition from the tradesmen and
manufacturers of Boston, presented to
| the same Congress, said:
"Your petitioners need not inform Con-
| gress that ON the revival of Ourmechanical
| arts and manufactures depend the wealth
| and prosperity of the Northern States; nor
| can we fOrbear mentioning to your HonOrs
| that the citizens of these States conceive
| the object of their independence but half
obtained till those national purposes are
| established on a permanent and extensive
| basis by the legislative acts of the federal
| government"
These expressions from manufacturers
| and business men show the sentiment Of
New York and the construction of the
| Constitution at that time. The people
who adopted the Constitution expect
| ed it to furnish protection for American
| industry. In pursuance of the same idea
| societies we're formed in various parts
of the country, whose members pledged
| themselves to use only goods of Ameri-
can manufacture, and, by every means
in their power, to discourage the impOr-
tation of foreign goods. The trainers of
| the Constitution and the fathers of the
government had the same view as to the
power and duty of Congress. One of
the first acts passed by that body, emit
tied can act for laying duty on goods,
wares and merchandise imported into
the United States" had this preamble:
'Whereas, 1t is necessary for the support
| of the government, the discharge of the
| debts of the United States and the encour-
agement and protection of manufactures,
| that duties be laid on goods, wares and
merchandise imported" etc.
Thus we have, in the first tariff act,
passed July A, 1889, a distinct recognition
of the principle of protection. James
Madison is the reputed author of this
preamble. Whether that be so or not,
| he supported and voted for the bill,
some provisions of which were avowed-
| ly protective, and in the debate upon it
he repeatedly Endorsed the principle.
Washington approved the bill. Herepeat-
edly urged on Congress the duty of en-
couraging American industry, and in
his last annual message he said:
Congress has repeatedly, and not with
| out success, directed attention to the en-
cOuragement of manufactures. The object
4 is of too much consequence not to insure q