496 [Assembly 



foreign industry, lighter at first, hut heavier and heavier afterwards, 

 as other channels of supply open: " Such duties (he continues) hav- 

 ing the effect of indirect encouragement of domestic manufactures, 

 may induce the manufacturer to come himself into these states, where 

 cheaper subsistence, equal laws, and vent for his wares, free of duty, 

 may insure him the highest profits from his industry." These are 

 true grounds for encouraging and protecting domestic manufactures. 



Mr. Madison, in accordance w'ith this recommendation, entertain- 

 ing the same views upon this subject with his friend, Mr. Jefferson, 

 introduced into the House of Representatives a resolution, *' that the 

 interest of the United States would be promoted by farther restric- 

 tions and higher duties, in certain cases, on the manufactures and 

 navigation of foreign nations employed in the commerce of the 

 United States, than those now imposed." He thought as Mr. Jeffer- 

 son did, that such duties and restrictions would bring foreign laborers 

 to our country, and he preferred, as stated in his resolution, that three 

 hundred thousand souls, who lived by our custom, should be Ameri- 

 can citizens, rather than British subjects. 



Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison hr.d not discovered that duties must 

 be laid with a view to revenue alone. 



While our laborers engaged in manufactures have to contend with 

 the pauper labor of Europe, they must receive the protection of our 

 government, or abandon their business. Our manufacturing laborers 

 alone, have to contend with this difficulty. Our other branches of 

 industry do not suffer by it. Our shipping and navigating industry 

 suffers but little from foreign competition, and our agricultural indus- 

 try still less, except in the article of sugar, which is as much the 

 product of manufacture as of agriculture. 



For more than thirty years a constant struggle has been maintain- 

 ed between American capital and free labor, and foreign capital and 

 pauper labor, for the supply of our own market with manufactures 

 for domestic consumption. Yet we import from foreign countries, 

 chiefly from Great Britain, manufactures to an immense amount, of 

 kinds that might be produced in the United States, to the entire 

 wants of the country, and in the highest perfection, as the exhibition 

 at this fair affords the most satisfactory proof. 



I will detain you for a few moments in detailing a few of the 

 articles thus imported. 



