But, it may be urged, if the people of the 

 producing country are infants, as the law defines that 

 term, and incapable of performing this office for 

 themselves, will not the duty then devolve on the 

 party, next most immediately interested in its due 

 performance the consuming nation? I venture to 

 think not; but rather on the Government of the 

 producing Country, which in such circumstances 

 is, in loco par entis, and bound, always supposing it 

 to be manifestly for the good of the country to 

 discharge those obligations which her wards, by 

 reason of their tender years, are unable to discharge 

 for themselves. Hence, we have the term Paternal 

 Government, as signifying, I assume, a Government 

 suitable to a country the people of which are in a 

 state of infancy, and unfitted for the management of 

 their own affairs, or self-government. As long then, 

 as a country has a Government, in no case can it 

 be fairly said that the duty of developing the 

 natural resources of that country, devolves on the 

 people of another country. Nor, would it be wise in 

 any Government to dispute this position, for that 

 Government that would shift this responsibility from 

 its own shoulders, and impose it on those of irre- 

 sponsible agents, would retain no higher place in the 

 affections of her children, than that of a step-mother, 

 and would hardly have the same just right to lay claim 

 to advantages derivable from their increased abilit/ 

 to bear taxation on attaining the age manhood. 



