No. 151.] 267 



country. In such a peculiar state of any one branch of the Industry 

 of a nation, the comparative neglect of the others would scarcely be 

 felt or perceived. But it is only an extraordinary state of the whole 

 world that could produce so miraculous an effect upon any one 

 branch of the industry of any particular country. 



An entirely opposite state of things now prevails, and has, with 

 trifling exceptions, prevailed in all modern nations and times. The 

 mutual dependence and support of agriculture, commerce and manu- 

 factures, in the ordinary and permanent state of our country, in par- 

 ticular, are so universally recognized as to have passed into a max- 

 im; it is on that basis that the policy and legislation of our country 

 to promote the general welfare, must be founded. The national wealth 

 and prosperity must flow from the reciprocal action; the intimate de- 

 pendence and mutual demands of all the three branches of our na- 

 tional industry. To produce this practical unity — to establish be- 

 tween agriculture, manufactures and commerce, a permanent system 

 of mutual exchanges, has been the aim and labor of all great states- 

 men in modern times, who have aimed at making their country rich, 

 prosperous and powerful. They have cherished internal as well as 

 external commerce; not as a separate and isolated interest, but as 

 interwoven and incorporated with agricultural and manufacturing 

 industry. It is impossible that too much encouragement can be 

 given to either class of industry, unless accompanied with measures 

 tending to depress the others. To encourage one, is to encourage 

 all; so intimate is the relation between them — so perfect their unity 

 and identity of interest. 



Fully impressed with the truth of these general principles, it is 

 with the deepest concern and regret that we daily witness so many 

 attempts, in various quarters, to create and perpetuate a spirit un- 

 friendly to the growth and prosperity of our own manufactures. It 

 is as much to be wondered at, as to be deplored, that misguided 

 zeal should be so long able to withstand the lights of experience, as 

 well as the deductions of reason, on this subject. We are persuaded 

 that the idea which has obtained in some quarters, that the exten- 

 sion and prosperity of American manufactures are unfriendly to 

 American commerce, internal or external, is not of domestic origin. 

 The very first commercial regulations of our government under the 

 now constitution — the tariff established at the commencement of 

 Washington's administration; — that act proclaims, upon its face and 

 front, that the duties are established, as well for the encouragement of 

 our own manufactures, as for the collection of revenuq. 



