Daily National Intelligencer

NEW YORK, AUG. 5.

American Society for the encouragement of Domestic Manufactures.

It will be recollected, that on the 13th of June last, the American Society for the encouragement of Domestic Manufactures, in this city, unanimously elected John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, members thereof, and directed their secretary to apprize them of the circumstance by letter. The following is a copy of the secretary's letter, and the answers thereto:

NEW YORK, JUNE 14, 1817.

Sir—The American Society for the encouragement of Domestic Manufactures, instituted in this city, sensible of the zeal you have uniformly displayed in the promotion of every object connected with the welfare and independence of our country, had the honor to elect you a member at their last meeting, convened on the 13th inst. for the purpose of initiating into the society James Monroe, President of the United States.

It would afford me the highest gratification to announce to the Society your assent to become one of its members.

I have the honor to be, sir, with respect and consideration, your obedient servant,

D. LYNCH, Jun.

QUINCY, JUNE 23, 1817.

Sir—I have received the letter you did me the honor of writing to me on the 14th of this month, announcing to me my election, by the American Society for the encouraging Domestic Manufactures, in stituted in New York, as a member; an honor made more illustrious by the presence of the President of the United States.

Be pleased, sir, to present my respects to the society, and my thanks for the honor they have done me; and to assure them, if the best wishes of a man at eighty one years of age can promote the wise purposes of their institution, I shall be a useful member. For, according to my superficial view of political economy in civilized society, next to agriculture, which is the first and most splendid, manufactures are the second, and navigation the third. With agriculture, manufactures and navigation, all the commerce which can be necessary or useful to the happiness of a nation will be secured.

Accept my thanks for the civility with which you have communicated the vote of the society to their and your friend,

JOHN ADAMS.

D. Lynch, Jun. Esq. Secretary of the American Society for the encouragement of Domestic Manufactures.

Sir—I am thankful for the honor done me by an association with the American Society for the encouragement of Domestic Manufactures, instituted in New York. The history of the last twenty years has been a sufficient lesson for us all to depend for necessaries on ourselves alone; and I hope that twenty years more will place the American hemisphere under a system of its own, essentially peaceable and industrious, and not needing to extract its comforts out of the eternal fires raging in the old world. The efforts of the members of your institution being necessarily engaged in their respective vicinages, I consider myself, by their choice, as but a link of union between the promoters there and here of the same patriotic objects.

Praying you to present to the society my just acknowledgments for this mark of attention, I tender to yourself the assurance of my great respect and consideration.

TH: JEFFERSON.

Mr. Lynch.

MONTPELIER, JUNE 27, 1817.

Sir—I have received your letter of the 18th instant, informing me that the American Society for the encouragement of Domestic Manufactures, have been pleased to elect me one of its members.

Although I approve the policy of leaving to the sagacity of individuals, and to the impulse of private interest, the application of industry and capital, I am equally persuaded that in this, as in other cases, there are exceptions to the general rule, which do not impair the principle of it. Among these exceptions is the policy of encouraging domestic manufactures, within certain limits, and in reference to certain articles.

Without entering into a detailed view of the subject, it may be remarked, that every prudent nation will wish to be independent of other nations, for the necessary articles of food, of raiment, and of defence; and particular considerations, applicable to the United States, seem to strengthen the motives to this independence.

Besides the articles falling under the above description, there may be others, for manufacturing which natural advantages exist, which require temporary interpositions for bringing them into regular and successful activity.

Where the fund of industry is acquired from abroad, and not withdrawn nor withheld from other domestic employments, the case speaks for itself.

I will only add, that among the articles of consumption and use, the preference in many cases is decided merely by fashion or habit. As far as equality, and still more, where a real superiority is found in the articles manufactured at home, all must be sensible, that it is politic and patriotic to encourage a preference of them, as affording a more certain source of supply for every class, and a more certain market for the surplus products of the agricultural class.

With these sentiments, I beg you to make my acknowledgments for this mark of distinction conferred on me; and which I accept from respect for the society and for its objects, rather than from any hope of being useful as a member. To yourself, I tender my friendly respects.

JAMES MADISON.