ave become only
consumers of the wheat of the farmers, who now have a market at home,
thus saving the duties and the cost of transportation. As there are now
fewer producers, the price of wheat would probably be not less than $1 a
bushel. Therefore a yard of domestic cloth would cost only _three_
bushels of wheat, instead of _five_ paid for the foreign cloth. And as
there would be a corresponding rise in the price of labor, more cloth at
$3 a yard could be bought for the avails of a day's labor than formerly.

Sec.13. The protection of domestic industry received the early attention of
congress. The second law passed by the first congress under the
constitution, authorized "duties to be laid on goods, wares, and
merchandises imported;" and among the objects of the law expressed in a
preamble one was "the encouragement and protection of domestic
manufactures." For a long time, however, little was done in the way of
protection. The principal nations of Europe, England included, became
involved in war. A large portion of their laboring population having
been called from agricultural pursuits into the armies, a foreign demand
was created for American produce; and we were enabled to supply
ourselves at less disadvantage with foreign manufactures.

Sec.14. But after peace had been restored in Europe, and people had
returned to their usual employments, the foreign demand for our
breadstuffs nearly ceased; and large quantities of foreign goods were
again imported, for which our people were unable to pay. Congress now
found it necessary to exercise, to a greater extent, its power to
regulate trade, by discouraging importations, and encouraging domestic
manufactures, and, in 1816, commenced an effective system of
protection. Laws have from time to time been passed to favor
manufactures from cotton, wool, iron, and other materials; and
manufacturing is now carried on extensively in this country. By thus
drawing a large portion of the people into manufacturing and mechanical
employments, a market has been created at home for more grain, meat, and
other agricultural products, than is required to supply all foreign
demand.

Sec.15. The laws relating to foreign commerce prescribe the manner of
collecting the revenue. There is in every port of entry a _collector_ of
_customs_, who superintends the collection of duties. When a vessel
arrives it is submitted, with the cargo and all papers and invoices, to
the inspection of the proper o