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Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

"Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 2"


Both governments have seen with concern, that their commercial
intercourse does not grow as rapidly as they would wish. The system
of the United States is, to use neither prohibitions nor premiums.
Commerce, there, regulates itself freely, and asks nothing better.
Where a government finds itself under the necessity of undertaking that
regulation, it would seem, that it should conduct it as an intelligent
merchant would; that is to say, invite customers to purchase, by
facilitating their means of payment, and by adapting goods to their
taste. If this idea be just, government here has two operations to
attend to, with respect to the commerce of the United States; 1. to
do away, or to moderate, as much as possible, the prohibitions
and monopolies of their materials for payment; 2. to encourage the
institution of the principal manufactures, which the necessities, or the
habits of their new customers call for. Under this latter head, a hint
shall be suggested, which must find its apology in the motive from which
it flows; that is, a desire of promoting mutual interests and close
friendship.


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