Early restrictive commercial policy of Great Britain.
Petitions to the first Con
gress for relief. First tariff act. Historical remarks.
In order to a proper understanding of the tariff question, it is necessary to recur to the early restrictive policy of Great Britain. The protective policy of this country had its origin in the early attempts of that Power to monopolize the trade of her American colonies.
While the Dutch were getting possession of a large part of the carrying trade of the world, and pursuing a profitable commerce with some of the British colonial possessions, the memorable Navigation Act was passed by the Commons in 1651, under the protectorate of Oliver Cromwell. By this act it was ordained, that no merchandise should be imported into his Majesty's plantations, or exported from them, but in vessels built in England or its plantations; and that no sugar, tobacco, ginger, cotton, indigo, or other articles enumerated, should be exported from the colonies to any other country than such as belonged to the crown of Great Britain. Soon after the restoration of Charles II, this law was reenacted, (1663,) with additional restrictions. Not satisfied with the monopoly of the export trade of the colonies, Parliament, determined to effect a similar restriction of the import trade, enacted, that no commodity of the growth or manufacture of Europe, shall be imported into any of the King's plantations in Asia, Africa, or America, but what shall have been shipped in England, Wales, or the town of Berwick, and in English built shipping, whereof the master and three