Gazette Of The United States

SKETCH OF THE POLITICAL STATE OF AMERICA.
[Continued from our last.]

In my last number I ventured a few general observations on the nature of some of the executive departments, and now proceed to suggest some further ideas on the subject of a secretary of domestic affairs and commissioner of trade, to be permanently established at the seat of government; whose duty it shall be to collect into one focus all possible information, from the various parts of the continent, which immediately or virtually respects agriculture, manufactures and commerce, those pillars of national prosperity—and towards this design he shall correspond with the custom-house officers in the different States, and from them obtain accurate details of the amount of our exports, and imports, and their specific qualities—the number of American vessels employed in our commerce, with the number of men navigating them their rates of tonnage, and the nature of the trade they carry on; also how many foreign vessels, and their channels of trade: And in estimating the value of our imports, not to include the charge of duties—they being paid by the internal consumer, ought not to stand as a debit against the nation—but the duties on manufactures exported may be included in the credit, being paid by the foreign consumer:—This officer will also pay a nice attention to the increase of the raw materials and progress of the manufactures of the country—ascertaining what each State annually produces and manufactures, and what proportion the raw materials of home growth bear to those imported—and be able, well to discern what species of manufactures can in our present state be with advantage promoted, and without injury to other interests of the community—for this end he will encourage the introduction of machines so beneficial in a country having but few hands—he will also notice the population of the United States, their annual consumption, and the ratio of supply and demand—he will devise means to improve our agriculture—and promote our navigation—form plans for sailing our vessels least expensively—thereby assisting our carrying trade—he will explore the various channels for the extension of our commerce, &c.—When we consider the many difficulties which have attended the construction of our revenue system, for want of proper information from the several States in the Union, on many subjects included in this plan—when we view the advantage that must result from having persons officially possessed of such an accurate knowledge in the general state of the community, as to be able on a proposition for levying any imposts or other taxes, to determine how particular interests will be effected thereby—when we contemplate the benefit of having a trial-balance of our national trade, for correcting present and avoiding future errors—when we reflect on the great spring which the encouragement of trade and commerce gives to agriculture and manufactures—when in general we know the need of guarding the various fluctuations of the different interests in a State—of ballancing them and directing them to one common centre the public good:—I think these united considerations will evince the propriety of such an establishment as above alluded to, from the tendency it will have to communicate general information, to diffuse national views, establish national sentiments, to promote national interests, and to produce that concentration, system, and harmony, which must form the basis of our country's future prosperity and happiness.

In respect to a land-office, I have my doubts of the principle which in a degree leads to the necessity of such an establishment, viewing any encouragement to emigrate in the present state of our population, as building up the interior part of this country at the expense of the atlantic settlements, as totally opposed to an early attempt for manufacturing, as producing an undue proportion of certain interests, and being at present of no essential advantage to the progress of agriculture; but it has been here objected, that the spirit of emigration cannot be well stopped, or greatly checked—this being granted, it will be doubtless most politic to methodize the settlement of this western country, and pursue every means to increase their future attachment and obedience to the present government.

AMERICANUS.