all the views which have been taken of the sub- 

 ject unconnected with the interest of the colo- 

 nists. 



In the Second place, supposing it to be made 

 out, that, on all and each of these general 

 grounds, the proposed suspension of the distil- 

 lery would be unadvisable, I shall next en- 

 quire, Whether the present distresses of the co- 

 lonists are a sufficient ground for granting them 

 relief, by the suspension of the distillery of 

 grain, either in the view of justice to the home 

 cultivator, or policy towards the public ? This 

 will form the subject of a third section. 



In all speculations regarding public measures, 

 the great object of inquiry is the interest of the 

 public. The interest of individuals, or classes 

 of individuals, must be considered only as su- 

 bordinate to this great interest. It is not to be 

 inferred from this, that I maintain that injus- 

 tice is to be committed towards smaller classes, 

 when the interest of the public requires it ; be- 

 cause I believe it to be a rule without one ex- 

 ception, that it never can be for the public ad- 

 vantage, to prefer one class before another in 

 the free direction of their industry. In the fol- 



*/ 



lowing observations, therefore, when I speak of 

 the interest of the home grower, or of the colo- 



