Tariff History of the United States

FROM THE EARLIEST TO THE PRESENT TIME.

PART I.-1783 TO 1789.

WITH A PRELIMINARY VIEW.

Disastrous outcome of the only trial of nearly absolute Free Trade between
the United States and foreign countries.-Nature and extent of
the Protecting Power, with proofs that the Power, as
conferred in the Constitution, was alien to

every purpose of raising a revenue.

EACH PART COMPLETE IN ITSELF.

It as Fings

BY DAVID H. MASON.

Late Tariff Editor of the Chicago INTER OCEAN.
Author of "HOW WESTERN FARMERS ARE BENEFITED BY PROTECTION,"
“TREATY TARIFFS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL," Etc.

"PROVE ALL THINGS; HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD."-I Thess., ch. v., 21.

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR.

CHICAGO:

460 WEST RANDOLPH STREET.

1884. .

ΤΟ

C. G. HUSSEY, ESQ.,

of Pittsburgh,

One of the most unselfish and devoted friends of

Tariff-Protection,

This work is inscribed as a formal expression of the Author's respect, ·

admiration and regard.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PREFACE.-9-10.

-

INTRODUCTORY. Propositions to be proved. Prosperity

always coincident with reign of protective principles; hard times

always coincident with reign of free-trade principles.-11.

CHAPTER I.

PRELIMINARY VIEW.-Great Britain's tyrannical policy toward

American colonies.-Henry C. Carey's condensed statement of

oppressive restrictions.—Thomas Jefferson's scathing arraignment

of those measures.-Policy denounced by Adam Smith.-Colonial

resistance to slavish dependence on mother country.-Efforts of

Continental Congress to encourage home production.—Industrial

freedom an object no less than political liberty.-11-17.

CHAPTER II.

UNDER THE CONFEDERATION.-Trade and industry of the

States.-Free-trade provision in Constitution of Confederation.-

Mathew Carey witnesses that ports were open, with scarcely any

duties. Other testimony to same effect.-Free ports in New Jer-

sey.-State jealousy and retaliation.-Inundation of foreign mer-

chandise and its disastrous consequences.-All classes involved in

calamity. Corroboratory views of Chief-Justice Marshall and

Daniel Webster.-British merchants monopolize trade of import-

ing cities.-Dutch Minister's dispatch to his government on this

subject.—Intelligence thereon from New York City.-18-26.

CHAPTER III.

UNDER THE CONFEDERATION-Continued.-Bankruptcy, ruin,

distress, and apprehension.--Sample pamphlet of those times; its

contents: False notions about value of foreign trade; influx of

manufactures from Europe and Asia; in debt to other nations;

exhaustive drain of specie; impoverished people; willful neglect

of home resources; domestic manufactures clear gain to com-

munity; prosperity to be restored by restricting imports and

encouraging native production.-27-32.

CHAPTER IV.

UNDER THE CONFEDERATION-Continued.-Wild mania for
speculation. Spread and increase of pecuniary entanglement.-
Attributed to heavy excess of imports over exports.-People