harris burg convention 1827

8/3/2019 Harris Burg Convention 1827

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Robbers and Incendiaries:

Protectionism Organizes at the Harrisburg Convention of 1827

W.KeslerJackson

(W.KeslerJacksonisaPh.D.candidateinHistory

andaMaxwellFellowatSyracuseUniversity)



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On13November,1860,thefieryRobertToombs,eminentSenatorfromGeorgia,

thunderouslycondemnedtheMorrillbill—legislationthatwouldsignificantlyincrease

importtariffrates.Toombsrailedagainstthetariffasthemost“atrocious”suchbill

“thateverwasenacted,”andlambasteditastheresultofa“coalition”ofprotectionists

andabolitionists:“therobberandtheincendiarystruckhands,andunitedinjointraid

againsttheSouth,”hedeclared.1Beforeclosinghisremarks,heaskedhisstate

legislators,“Shallwesurrenderthejewelsbecausetheirrobbersandincendiarieshave

brokenthecasket?Isthisthewaytopreserveliberty?Iwouldaslifesurrenderitback

totheBritishcrown…”2ForToombs,then,thesectionalismbetweenNorthandSouth—

whichwoulderuptlessthanfivemonthslaterinthenation’sbloodiestarmedconflictto

date—wasn’tjustaboutslavery;itwasaboutNorthernprotectionism,too.Andthe

HarrisburgConventionof1827,afull34yearsbeforeConfederateartillerywouldtake

aimatFortSumter,markedthefirsttimeinUnitedStateshistorythataunited,

protectionistfront,formedalongsectionallines,presenteditselfinanorganized

manneronanationallevel—theNortharrayedagainsttheSouthinapitchedbattle

overtariffsandeconomicphilosophyingeneral.Organized, national lobbyingfor

federalmoneyhadbeenbornand,togetherwiththeSouthernfearofNorthern

abolitionism,wouldeventuallysparkwar—anditallstartedinthemodest

Pennsylvaniacapitalwithaneventscarcelyrememberedtoday.

Bythetimetheconventionconvenedin1827,legislatedprotectionisminthe

UnitedStates,likethecountryitself,wasstillrelativelyyoung,thoughtheideahadbeen

bouncedaround(toardentoppositionfromrepresentativesofbothNorthernand

Southernstates)evenduringtheConstitutionalConvention.AdamSmith’s AnInquiry

intotheNatureandCausesoftheWealthofNationshadbeenpublishedin1776,arguing

that“Greatnationsareneverimpoverishedbyprivate(but)bypublicprodigalityand

misconduct.”3Inotherwords,Smithasserted,governmentinterventioninthe



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marketplace—asinthecaseofaprotectivetariff,whichwould,amongotherthings,

artificiallyraisethepriceofcertainproducts—isgenerallydetrimentaltothehealthof

theeconomyinwhichthatgovernmentoperates.Thesubsequentdebatebetween

thinkerslikeAdamSmithontheonehandandFriedrichListontheotherarguably

foundnomoreheatedabattlefieldthantheonerevolvingaroundprotectivetariffsin

19th‐centuryAmerica.NowherewastheNorthernprotectionistagendamoresuccinctly

delineatedthaninHarrisburg.

TheprotectionistfracasintheUnitedStatesmayhavebegunwhenAlexander

Hamiltonpropoundedhisdoctrineofimpliedpowers,whichincludedtheideathatthe

federalgovernmentshouldenactatarifffortheexpresspurposeofsubsidizing

Americanmanufacturers.4ButHamilton’stariffcameupagainstfierceopposition,and

notjustfromtheJeffersonians.Thetariffinandofitselfwasn’ttheissue—indeed,up

untiltheCivilWar,tariffswerethefederalgovernment’schiefsourceofrevenue. 5But

Hamilton’stariffwouldn’thavebeeninstitutedtogarnerrevenueforthegovernment;it

wouldhavebeenputinplacesolely to“protect”certainindustries,anewideaaltogether.

Democratic‐RepublicansarguedthattheHamiltoniansweremerelycombining

“economicinterventionismwiththeirquestforconsolidatedormonopolistic

governmentalpower.”6In1791HamiltondeliveredhisReportonManufacturesto

Congress,callingfor“pecuniarybounties”formanufacturers(“apracticeknowntoday

as‘corporatewelfare,’”noteseconomistandHamiltonscholarThomasDiLorenzo)and

citingtheGeneralWelfareClausetojustifyhisposition. 7Intheend,Hamilton’stariff

wasdefeated,viewedasextremeevenbysomefellowFederalists. 8

TheWarof1812changedprevailingattitudestowardstariffs.Bereftoftrans‐

Atlantictrade,Americans(almostexclusivelyNortherners)hadestablishedtheirown

manufacturingcenterstoproduceneededarms,tools,andthelike.Afterhostilities

wereendedandtraderesumed,Americanmanufacturersweresuddenlyfindingithard

tocompetewithpricesoverseas—andSoutherners,onwhomtheNorthern



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manufacturersdependedtopurchasetheirwares,beganrelyingheavilyontheseless‐

expensiveimports.Theinterestssurroundingthemanufacturers(distributors,

transporters,owners,employees,suppliers,etc.)beganorganizingandlobbyingin

Washingtonforsubsidiestosavetheirflounderingindustries—andthusbegan

protectionismonamajorscaleintheUnitedStates.Thetariffof1816wastheresultof

thispolitical‐industrialalliance,andinthewordsofhistorianH.W.Brands,“itwasthe

firstexplicitlyprotectivetariffinAmericanhistory.” 9Nolongerwasthetariffsimplya

sourceofrevenueforthefederalgovernment;ithadbecomeameansoffinancially

benefittingselectprivatecitizensoraparticulargeographicalregion.Government

moneywasupforgrabs—interestedpartiesneededonlytoapplypressurein

Washington.

ThiswastheeraofHenryClay’sgrandiose“AmericanSystem,”ofwhicha

protectionisttariffwasthelifeblood.Putsimply,theAmericanSystemcalledforatariff

toprotecthomeindustries,settingthestageforincreasedprosperity.Furthermore,

revenuefromthetariffwouldbeusedtotackleinternalimprovementslikeroadsand

canals,whichinturnwouldsparkanincreaseincommerce—withfoodstuffsandraw

materialsstreamingnorthandmanufacturesfloodingsouth. 10“ThetrueAmerican

policyisthis:first,protectandcherishyournationalindustrybyawisesystemof

finance,”CongressmanandardentAmericanSystemsupporterAndrewStewart

(nicknamed“TariffAndy”11)toldtheHouseinaspeechaboutthistime.“Second,adopta

systemofnationalimprovements.” 12Intheory,atleast,itseemedlikeawin‐winplan,

butSouthernersfearedNortherntrickery.Moreover,theveryconstitutionalityofthe

internalimprovementsconceptwasstillinquestion;atleastthreepreviouspresidents

(Jefferson,Madison,Monroe)hadinsistedthat,sincenoexpressrighttofunnelfederal

fundstosuchprojectswasfoundintheConstitution,anamendmentmustbeadded

beforecarryingthemout.Southerners,notablyJohnC.Calhoun(thoughonlyafter

goingthroughapro‐protectionistphaseofhisown),seizedthisstrictconstitutionalist



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logictobuoyuptheirarguments,evenasmanyNorthernerslabeledsuchdetractorsof

thetariffas“quibblers”and“hair‐splitters.”Meanwhile,manyintheyounger,Western

statesassertedthatfederalsubsidiesgarneredviaatariffwerenecessaryiftheywere

tokeepupwiththemoreestablishedeast. 13

TheTariffof1824followed.Advocatesforthetariffarguedthatwithoutit,

Americawouldbeleftdefenselessandunabletoproducemuch‐neededarmsduring

conflict(recollectionoftheWarof1812stillsmolderedinAmericans’collective

memory).AndrewJackson,notanardentprotectionist,nonethelessarticulatedtariff

advocates’secondmajorcontention,that“wehavebeentoolongsubjecttothepolicyof

theBritishmerchants.Itistimeweshouldbecomealittlemore Americanized ."14To

Jackson,then,thetariffwasnotaboutbenefittingindustryforprofits’sake—itwastobe

consideredonlywithintheframeworkofAmericanindependenceanddefense.One

northernnewspaperlamented,“WhilethefriendsoftheAmericanSystemsupporttheir

viewsandmeasureswithvolumesoffacts,andthemostunanswerablereasoning,they

aremetinreplywithnothingbutdeclamation,clamour[sic]andinvective.” 15Onthe

otherhand,manySoutherners—almostunanimouslyopposedtoprotectionist

legislation—viewedtheseimportdutiesaslopsidedaffairs,solelybenefittingNorthern

manufacturerswhileraisingcostsdramaticallyforSouthernagrarians.Inotherwords,

theyargued,thebulkoffederalgovernmentexpenseswasbeingpaidforbytheSouth—

evenasthebulkofgovernmentexpenditureswastakingplaceintheNorth.As

economistThomasDiLorenzocorrectlypointsout,“Asearlyas1823southernerslike

SenatorJohnTaylorsuspectedthatnorthernpoliticianswereconspiringtousethe

powersofthecentralgovernmenttotaxoneportionofthecountry—theSouth—forthe

benefitoftheirownregion.”16

Naturally,then,thegeneralfeelingintheSouthtowardstheHarrisburg

Conventionof1827borderedonhostile.“Anintelligentpeoplecannotlongbeduped

bysuchmanagementandfinesse,”oneSouthernnewspaperdeclared,addingthat“in



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themeantime,theCitizensofCharlestonaredeterminednottobeshornquietly,likeso

manysheep.”17Threeweeksaftertheconventionadjourned,Calhoun,inaletterto

VirginiaSenator(andsoon‐to‐be‐governor)LittletonWallerTazewell,wrotethat“the

Harrisburgconvention…isindeedaportentoussignofthetimes,andmustbefollowed

withthemostmarkedconsequences.Tothereflectingmind,itclearlyindicatesthe

weakpartofoursystem,andthecorruptiontowhichitmustlead,unlessspeedily

corrected.”18Inapreviouslettertwomonthsbefore,CalhounexpressedtoTazewell

thateventhough,inhisopinion,thepresidentialracebetweenJacksonandAdamswas

“farthemostimportant”thathadsofartakenplacesinceAmericanindependence,his

biggestconcernforthenationlaynotinthatcontestbuton“anotherpoint”entirely—

theprotectivetariff.19

Thelanguageemployedbypartisansinthenationaldebateoverprotectionism

wascouchedinsectionaldivisionanddireimport.“ThePennsylvaniameeting[the

HarrisburgConvention]cannotbuteventuateinanincreasedstrengthto[the

protectionists’]cause,”aNewJerseypaperdeclared.“Webelieveitisthecauseofthe

country…[and]itishopedthatshort‐sighted sectionaljealousy,willneverbeinterposed

totheinjuryofoursolidinterestsforthebenefitofforeignrivals.” 20Thislastsentiment

was,ofcourse,pureList—focusedonamarketplaceofcompetingnations,asopposed

toSmith’smarketplaceofindividuals.Amajorshiftintheperceptionoftheroleof

government(atleastintheUnitedStates)hadtakenplace,anditseemsthatthe

temptationtoraisetariffrateswassimplytoostrongnowthatthetariffwasn’tdesigned

strictlyforgarneringgovernmentrevenuebutalsoforsubsidizingcertainbusiness

interests(severalSouthernstatesmenhadwarnedforyearsagainstopeningthese

floodgates—“themanufacturers[will]comebackagainandagainwithincreased

demands”).21

Sureenough,the1828tariffsawthoseratesskyrockettopreviouslyunforeseen

heights.ThustheTariffof1828,vehementlyopposedbySouthernersandderidedas



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the“TariffofAbominations,”wastheprotectionists’greatestvictorytodate,despite

Jackson’smaneuverings.NeverbeforehadSouthernersbeentaxedsomuchforwhat

theyconsumed,evenastheprotectionisttarifffailedtoprotectvirtuallyeverything

theyproduced.22“Letthemhaveanunrestrictedexchangeofproductions,withthose

whoconsumetheirproducts,andtheyfearnocompetition,”wroteCalhouninaprivate

lettertoSamuelD.Ingham(AndrewJackson’snewTreasurySecretary)in1829,

referringtoSouthernagrarians.“Theyarenowcripplednotsomuchbythelowprices

oftheirproducts,asthehighproportionalpriceoftheirsupplies,occasionedbythe

restrictivesystem.”CalhounwouldgooninthelettertodescribetheTariffasleadingto

theSouthernagrarian’s“utterruin”andthe“consummation”oftheSoutherneconomy.

“Thusregarding[thetariff],”Calhounconcluded,“[theSouthernagrarian]willconsider

hisruin,astheworkoftheGovernment,forthebenefitofamorefavoredportionofhis

fellowcitizens.”23Theseedsofsectionalanimosity,withparticularmistrustdirected

towardwhatwasseenasanever‐encroachingfederalgovernmentinWashingtonD.C.,

werebeginningtotakeroot.

ThatthetariffwasthemostcontroversialpoliticalissueofitstimeintheUnited

Stateswasnotedbyatleastonehigh‐profileoutsideobserver.“Thequestionofatariff

hasmuchagitatedthemindsofAmericans,”wrotedeTocquevillejustafewyearsafter

theHarrisburgConvention.“Foralongtimethetariffwasthesolesourceofthepolitical

animositiesthatagitatedtheUnion,”hepenned,aperhapsrevealingstatementwhen

consideringthearmedconflictthatwouldfollowjustafewdecadeslateralong

preciselythesamelines.TheFrenchmannotedthatwhiletheNorth“attributeda

portionofitsprosperity”tothetariff,theSouthblamediton“nearlyallitssufferings.” 24

Talkofsecessionsoonbegantocropup,andthestateofSouthCarolinavotedtonullify

thetariff,refusingtocollectitatCharlestonharbor.PresidentJacksonevenconsidered

theuseofforcetopreservetheUnion,evenasSouthCaroliniansarguedtheirrightto

nullifywhattheydeemedtobeunconstitutionallegislationfromWashington.Jackson’s



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threatsseemedtoquietofficialoppositionintherestoftheSouth,thoughstateslike

VirginiaandGeorgiaexpressedacertainlevelofsupportandsympathyforthestates’

rightscause.25Theconflictwaspreventedfromgettingmoreoutofhandonlywhenthe

federalgovernmentfinallyreducedthetariffin1833. 26Thefoundationsforfuture

North‐Southconflictwerethuslaidinabattleoverprotectionisttariffs.Amidthis

heatednationaldebate,withlinesdrawnbetweenNorthernmanufacturersand

Southernfarmersandplantationowners,theHarrisburgConventionof1827convened

intheshadowsofthePennsylvaniaCapitol.AhundredoftheNorth’smostinfluential

manufacturersandpublicservantswereassembledtodrafta“memorial”toCongress,

imploringthatbodytopassaprotectionistbilltosavetheirindustriesfromwhatthey

viewedaseventualruin.Meanwhile,mostlyintheSouth,anti‐protectionistopinion

continuedtosurge.TheHarrisburgConventionof1827wouldleadtothepassageof

thatmosthatedpieceofprotectionistlegislation—the“TariffofAbominations”of1828.

Thecallforanationalconventionofmanufactureandwooleninterestscame

fromPhiladelphiainmid‐May1827atameetingofthePennsylvaniaSocietyforthe

PromotionofManufacturesandtheMechanicArts(thoughsomeSoutherners,like

Calhoun,suspectedthatthe“scheme”ofa“generalconventionofthemanufacturing

interestatHarrisburg”hadoriginated“withthoseinpower”andnot,asseemedtobe

thecase,asagrassrootseffort).27TheSocietywishedto“deliberateonwhatmeasures

arepropertobetaken”inregardsto“thepresentstateofthewool‐growingandwool‐

manufacturinginterests,andothersuchmanufacturesasmayrequireencouragement.”

TheorganizationcalledondelegatesfromeverystateintheUniontogatherat

HarrisburginJulyofthatyeartoproduceajointstatementtothecitizensoftheUnited

Statesonprotectionism—thelifebloodoftheAmericanSystem. 28Itwasunderstood

thattheconvention’sprimaryaimwastoencouragetheadoptionofahighly

protectionistbill.29CopiesoftheSociety’scallforaconventionwerecirculatedwidely,

reprintedonbroadsidesandinnewspapersacrossthenation.Almostimmediately,



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stateconventionswereselectingdelegatestoattendthenationalconventionin

Harrisburg.“AgreatconventionofthefriendsoftheManufacturingInterest,andof

DomesticIndustrygenerally,[is]tobeheldinHarrisburg,Pa.onthe30 thofJulynext,”

proclaimedtheMiddlesexGazette,aConnecticutnewspaper.“Thepeopleareawake,

andthisimportantsubjectisbeginningtoseeitstruelight…andwehopeConnecticut

willnotfailtoberepresentedinaConvention,theproceedingsofwhichwillbeso

pregnantwithinteresttotheAmericanpeople.” 30“TheHallandGallerieswerefilledto

overflowing,”reportedaRichmond,Virginianewspapercorrespondent,abouta

gatheringinBostontoselectdelegatesfromMassachusettsfortheHarrisburg

Convention,“andamorerespectableandimposingassemblage,probablywasnever

witnessedinMassachusetts.” 31

WhentheconventionfinallyopenedonMonday,30July1827,delegations

representingthirteenstatesandcomprisingclosetoonehundredindividualshad

gatheredtogetherattheappointedplace.RepresentativesfromConnecticut(7),

Delaware(4),Kentucky(4),Maryland(8),Massachusetts(7),NewYork(18),New

Hampshire(5),NewJersey(9),Ohio(7,thoughthisnumberwouldrisetoeightonthe

fourthdayoftheconventionwhenthestate’sgovernor,JeremiahMorrow,arrived) 32,

Pennsylvania(15),RhodeIsland(4),Vermont(5),andVirginia(2)wereinattendance.

Thus,theNorthernandMiddleStateswereheavilyrepresented,whiletheSouthern

stateswereallbutabsent.

ThetotallackofrepresentationattheHarrisburgConventionbySouthern

delegatesdidnotgounnoticed,ofcourse,andsectionalistsentimentranstrong.During

thecourseoftheevent,forexample,NewYorkrepresentativeAlvanStewartwarned

fellowdelegatesthattheprotectionistshadmanyenemiesthanksto“AdamSmith’s

work,”whichhad“poisonedthemindsofthenation.”StewartblamedSmithforthe

sectional“prejudices”atworkintheUnitedStates,adding,“ifwelookedoverourown

country,weshoulddiscoverthatallthesouthernstateswerelookingwithaneyeof



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jealousy,andthattheywerenotwillingtosenddelegatestothisconvention—thatthere

weretenorelevenstatesdisposedtocontendagainstthegreatintereststobehere

advocated.”Evidentlyinformedthattheseatinwhichtheconvention’schairperson

wassittingwastheverychairfromwhichtheDeclarationofIndependencehadbeen

signed,Mr.StewartlikenedthefightagainstthefreetraderstotheRevolutionaryWar,

expressinghopethata“secondedition[oftheRevolution]”wouldcomeoutofthe

convention.“Wefoughtthenforliberty ,”heisreportedtohavesaid,“andmustnow

fight forclothes.Wehadbeencreepingalongforfiftyyears,withoutsufficientcourage

tosaythatwewillclotheourselves;andifattheendofhalfacenturywecoulddoso

much,itwouldbeagreatpointgained.”33

Obviously,therelativelynewideasofAdamSmithandotherfree‐market

economistswerewell‐knowntotheconvention’sparticipants.Indeed,manymight

haveagreedwiththetheoriesintheirentirety(thoughMr.Stewart,itwouldseem,was

notoneofthem)—buttheproblem,astheysawit,wasthatafreemarketeconomy

demandedthateveryplayerplaybytherules.“Weacknowledgethetheoretical

excellenceofthedoctrinesofthepoliticaleconomistsoftheage,”aNortherneditorial

explained,“andwereallnationsoftheworldtoassenttoanunrestrictedintercourse,

shouldbethefirsttoadvocateamostrigidadherencetotheprinciplesofSmith,&Say,

andothers,ofthatschool.”However,theeditorialwentontolabelthepursuitofafree‐

tradepolicy“theheightofmadness”aslongasothernationsrefusedtodothesame.

Freetradeinsuchanenvironment,theyargued,wasparamounttoforcing“theseStates

toprostratethemselvesandtheirindustry,forthesakeofabstractandimpracticable

theoriesoffreecommerce,etc.”34Thetaskwasnottoprovefreetradetheoriesfalse,

buttoensurethatdomesticindustrywouldbeprotectedinaworldthatfailedtoadhere

tosuchtheoriesinpractice.

Theconventionbeganwiththeselectionofsecretaries;JohnC.WrightofOhio,a

lawyerandU.S.Congressman35,andRedwoodFisherofPennsylvania,aPhiladelphia



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merchantwhowouldlatergainsomeprominenceasanewspapereditorandwriter 36,

werethuschosen.37Eachdelegatewassubsequentlycalledforthbyname,atwhich

pointhewasexpectedtoproduceanofficialcertificateofappointment.JosephRitner,a

statelegislatorwhowouldlaterbecomeGovernorofPennsylvania 38,wasthenelected

theconvention’schairpersonandpresident.ThemotionforRitnerwasmadeby

MathewCarey,aPennsylvaniadelegateandoneofthecountry’smostsuccessful

publishers39;incidentally,Carey’ssonHenry,a“publicistforthePennsylvaniasteel

industry,”wouldlaterbecomeasignificanteconomicinfluenceonAbrahamLincolnin

favorofprotectionism .4041Finally,two“VicePresidents”wereunanimouslyelected:

JesseBuel,aninventiveagriculturalist,stateassemblyman,andfuturecandidatefor

governorofNewYork 42,andFrisbyTilghmanofMaryland,astatelegislator,justice,

militialeader,andsociallyactivefarmerandbanker. 43

Followingtheappointmentofofficers,thewordsoftheoriginalcallfora

protectionistconvention,writtenanddistributedbythePennsylvaniaSocietyforthe

PromotionofManufacturesandtheMechanicArts,wasreadaloud.Theresolution—for

“farmers,manufacturers,andfriendsofbothbranchesofindustry”togatherand

“deliberateonwhatmeasuresarepropertobetakeninthepresentpostureoftheir

affairs”—wasthen“referred”toacommittee,ostensiblytobeusedtocreateanofficial

statementofpurposefortheconvention.Itisinterestingthattheconventionwas

framedasaneventforthefriendsofmanufacturers and farmers—thisdespitethefact

thatthemostagrarianstatesinthecountryelectednottoshowupatall.

This26‐membercommittee,thefirstorganizedattheeventandmadeupof

regulardelegatesfrommanystates,presentsausefulcross‐sectionofthekindsof

peoplewhoparticipatedintheHarrisburgConventionof1827,perhapsprovidinga

clueastotheimporttowhichtheeventwasgrantedacrossthecountry—andthe

convention’spotentialforfuturesocialandpoliticalinfluence.Thecommittee’s

membersincluded,innoparticularorder,GeorgeTibbits,aformerNewYorkstate



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legislatorandU.S.Congressman,authorofthefinancialplanresponsibleforraising

capitalfortheErieCanal,futurecandidateforlieutenant‐governorofhisstate,future

mayorofTroy,andfamousprotectionistessayist 44;SamuelM.Hopkins,alawyer,

formerNewYorkstatelegislator,andformerU.S.Congressman 45;ArnoldNaudain,a

surgeon,formermilitiamanandveteranoftheWarof1812,memberoftheDelaware

statehouseofrepresentatives(wherehe’dservedashousespeakertheyearbeforethe

convention),afuturecandidatefortheDelawareGovernorship,andasoon‐to‐beUnited

StatesSenator(1829)46;AndrewGray,probablythesameAndrewGraywhohadserved

asaDelawarestatesenatorfrom1817to182147;HezekiahNiles,aBaltimore‐based

newspaperman,“oneofthemostinfluentialjournalistsofthe1820sandearly30s,”and

renownedeconomistwhousedhispaper,theNilesWeekly ,toattempttopersuade

Southernerstodiversifytheiragriculturalcapabilities,buildup(protected)

manufacturingintheregion,andgrantuniversaleducationtoblacksasasteptowards

eventualemancipation48;OthoH.Williams,likelyasonofthefamousRevolutionary

Warheroofthesamename;IsaacAndruss,anofficerveteranfromtheWarof1812and

prominentcitizenofNewark 49;RobertG.Johnson,who,itisrumored,convincedthe

worldthattomatoesweren’tlethalbyeatingtwentyofthematonceonthestepsofthe

Salem,NewJerseycourthousein1820,evidentlywithoutanyilleffects 50;CharlesJ.

Ingersoll,oneoftheconvention’schieforganizers,aformer(andfuture)Congressman,

whorubbedshoulderswiththelikesofDanielWebsterandNicholasBiddle 51andwho

wouldlateracceptapositionofresponsibilityintheAdamsadministration 52;Walter

Forward,alawyer,formerCongressman,andthefutureTreasurySecretaryintheTyler

cabinet(wherehewasinstrumentalindevelopingthehighlyprotectionistTariffof

1842)53;SamuelSprigg,attorneyonretainerbythestateofVirginiaandoneofthemost

famouslawyersofhistime54;JesseEdgington,ahighlyrespectedlawyer,Virginiastate

senator,andanassociateofHenryClay55;GeorgeRobertson,alawyer,Kentuckystate

legislator(whereheservedasspeakerofthehouseofrepresentatives),formerU.S.



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Congressman,andsoon‐to‐beKentuckysecretaryofstate(1828) 56;SamuelSmith,likely

thesameSamuelSmithwhoservedasaU.S.CongressmanrepresentingthestateofNew

Hampshire57;EzekielWebster,brotherofthefamed(andardentlyprotectionist)Daniel

Webster,whoattendedtheconventionattheinsistenceofhisbrother 5859;andGideon

Wells,anewspaperman,Connecticutlegislator,andLincoln’sfutureSecretaryofthe

Navy(wherehe’dberesponsibleforimplementingtheblockadeportionofthe

“AnacondaPlan,”effectivelyshuttingdownSouthernports). 60

Theforegoinglistofbiographicalsketchesisincomplete;tenothersservedon

thisinitialcommittee,nottomentionthescoresofotherswhoparticipatedinthe

conventionasdelegates(seeaddendumatendofarticle).Still,thehighlevelofsocial,

professional,andpoliticalaccomplishmentofwhichthesesixteenmenareillustrative

is,certainly,instructive.Who,afterall,wassenttotheHarrisburgConventionof1827?

Highlyregardedstatesmen,legislators,writers,merchants,bankers,lawyers,and

others.Congressmen(includingfoursitting).Senators(includingtwositting).

Governors.FuturemembersofpresidentialCabinets.Asonenewspaperreportedthe

dayaftertheconventionended,“Wemayventuretoassert,withlittlefearof

contradiction,thatitembracedmenofthegreatesttalent,everassembledinour

legislativehall,orindeedperhaps,inanydeliberativenationalassembly,sincethe

congressof’76.”61

WhileitmayhavebeentruethatsuchagatheringofVIPshadneverbeen

witnessedintheUnitedStatessince1776ortheConstitutionalConventionof1786,the

differencewasthattheHarrisburgConvention,thoughpoliticalinmanyregards,

representednopoliticalentityororganization.Itwas,inessence,thefirstnational

attemptatlobbyingthefederalgovernmentforfederalmoney,foritrepresentedthe

interestsofcertainprivatecitizensor,atbest,meresegmentsofthecountry’sentire

population.Itsgoalwastoraisethetariff,andnot forthepurposeofgarneringrevenue

forWashingtonbuttofurtherthebusinessinterestsofcertaingroups(groupsthat



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happenedtobealmostexclusivelylocatedintheNorth)—andithadbroughttogethera

formidableassemblytodojustthat.

Thenextmorning(Tuesday31July),theconventionreconvenedandthe

aforementionedcommittee’srecently‐drawn‐upstatementwasreadbeforeall

delegates.Itsmessage,inshort,wasten‐fold:(1)Congressshouldraisedutieson

importedwoolenitems;(2)acommitteeofnineshouldbeformedtocomposea

“memorial”toCongressoutliningthereasonsforthepresent“depression”being

experiencedbymanufacturersandothersandsuggestingmeasurestoimprovethese

conditions;(3)acommitteeofnineshouldbeformedtocomposeasimilar“memorial,”

writtento“thepeople,”addressingthesameconcerns;committeesshouldbeformedto

researchandreportupontheneedforprotectionistmeasurestobetakeninregardto

(4)theironindustry,(5)thehempandflaxindustries,(6)theglassindustry,(7)the

cottongoodsindustry,(8)thecopperindustry,and(9)thedistilledspiritsindustry;and

(10)acommitteeshouldbeformedtoreportonthestateoftradebetweenstates. 62

Thislastresolutionisespeciallyinteresting;afterall,Northernmanufacturerswanted

theagrarianSouthtopurchaseneededgoodsfrom them.Perhapsthisresolutionwas

calculatedtodemonstrateSouthernrelianceon foreigngoods,toNorthernloss—and

perhaps,too,todiscoverhowmuchgainwastobehadshouldahighlyprotectivetariff

beadoptedinWashington.

Intheafternoon,committeeswereorganized.Thenextseveraldayswerespent

attendingtocommitteedutiesandreportingtothegeneralbodyofdelegates.Finally,

theevent’sseminalpurpose—thedraftingofmemorials—wascompleted,andthe

HarrisburgConventionof1827adjournedon3August.

ThememorialtoCongresswasanimpassionedcryforasignificantlyraised

protectionisttariff.Withoutprotection(meaningprotectionistlegislation),thepetition

argued,manufacturingandfarminginterestsinthecountrywouldface“imminent”and

“utterruin.”Furthermore,theissueofadoptingmoreprotectionistpoliciestowards



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domesticmanufactureswasdefinedas“ofthefirstimportancetothegeneralwelfareof

theUnitedStates”—notlightlanguage. 63Thisissuewas,tothehighlyrespected

delegatesrepresentingtheNorthasabloc,thenation’stoppriority,astancethat

certainlyshedslightonthegreatweightwithwhichthismatterwasdebatedatthetime

bybothsides.Thiswasnomeanjamboreeofafewbusinessmendiscussingprofit

marginsandsalestechniques;itwasagatheringofsomeofthemostrespectablemenin

thecountrytofacewhattheydeclaredwasthenation’smostpressingproblem.

The“need”ofprotectionforNorthernmanufacturerswasframedinthe

memorialasanationalissue,a“commoncause,”importanttothe“generalwelfare”of

thepeopleofAmerica.WhileaSouthernfarmermighthavearguedthatprotectionist

tariffsbenefittedonesegmentofcitizenrytothedisadvantageofanother,the

HarrisburgConventionpresentedtheissueassomethingthecountryasawhole

“[stood]inneedof.”Thememorialsubsequentlydisavowedany“sectionalistviews,”

assertingthataprotectionisttariffforAmericanmanufactureswas“ofprimary national

importance,”“oneoftheprincipalelementsoftheindependence,prosperity,and

greatnessofthisrepublic.”This,again,waspureFriedrichList—thatforthebenefitof

thenationasawhole,acertainportionofthepopulationmustsuffer.Themarketplace

wasacompetitionamongnations,notindividuals.Supportingprotectionismwas,as

thememorialtoCongressputit,everyAmericancitizen’s“patriotic”duty. 64

Theconvention’sproceedingswerepublishedwidelyinnewspapersacrossthe

country—bothintheNorthandintheSouth—andthememorialtoCongresswas

deliveredtothatbody.

ThefactthattheHarrisburgConventionof1827wasamajornationalevent

knownandfollowedbythecountry’sbrightestpoliticalstarsisdifficulttodispute.

DanielWebster’spromotionofthegatheringtohisbrotherEzekiel,encouraginghimin

morethanonelettertoattendasaNewHampshiredelegate,hasalreadybeen

mentioned.FivedayslaterWebsterwroteseveralotherletterstoprominentcitizensof



16

NewYork;oneofthemwasaddressedtoCongressmanJohnTaylor 65,urginghimand

otherstoattendtheHarrisburgConventionasdelegatesasamatterof“great

importance.”66

AccordingtoCharlesM.Wiltse,theDartmouthhistorianwhoeditedthepapers

ofWebster,duringthegreattariffdebatesoftheTwentiethCongress—whenthetariff

wasfarandawaythemajorissueoftheday—theAdamsadministrationandits

supportersstrovetobringdutiesintolinewiththerecommendationsoftheHarrisburg

Conventionof1827.67InaconfidentialletterinAprilof1828toDanielWebster,Boston

merchantPeterPaulFrancisDeGrand—amanwith“thewholeCaucussing[sic]

Machineryofthemanufacturingconcern”behindhim—urgedWebsterandallof“the

friendsoftheAdministration”nottomove“oneinch”fromobtaining“theHarrisburg

Platform.”68Thus,thegreatmeetinginthePennsylvaniastatecapitalprovidedthe

blueprintforlegislatorsovertheproceedingyearincraftingthe“Tariffof

Abominations.”

Significantly,fouryearslater(1831)theSoutherninterestwouldrespondtothe

HarrisburgConventionof1827withaconventionofitsown,againinPennsylvania(this

timeinPhiladelphia).NearlytwiceasmanydelegatesashadattendedtheHarrisburg

Conventionwoulddeliberatethetariffatthisreactionary,anti‐protectionist1831event,

manyofthemwell‐knownpoliticalandsocialfigures. 69Thus,regardlessofwhetheror

nottheHarrisburgConventionof1827playedanysignificantroleinthepassageof

subsequentprotectionistlegislation,itdemonstrated aunitedprotectionistfront ,drawn

alongsectionalboundaries,againstthefreetradersoftheSouth—afronttowhichthe

Southernersfeltcompelledtorespond.Delegateswerenotmerefarmersoreven

businessmen;theywerebyandlargehighlyrespectedsocialandpoliticalleaders,

includingGovernors,Representatives,Senators,andfutureCabinetmembers.Manyof

themwouldultimatelyfindlisteningearsinfuturepresidents,andsomewouldardently

pushforandevenpersonallydrafthighly‐protectionistfuturetariffsthatwouldbecome



17

U.S.law.Neverbefore,itmightbeargued,hadNorthandSouthstoodsofirmlyand

formallyagainstoneanotherasduringtheHarrisburgConventionof1827—almost

certainlylayingthefoundationforafuturewar,nottoofardistant,dividedalongthe

verysamelines.

DelegatestotheHarrisburgConventionof1827notmentionedabove,organizedbystate:

VERMONT

• HemanAllen(VT),astatelegislatorandfutureCongressman70;

• ElijahPaine(VT),aRevolutionaryWarveteran,Senator,lawyer,businessman,

secretaryofthestateconstitutionalconventionin1786,statelegislator,judgeon

thestatesupremecourt,and,atthetimeoftheConvention,aUnitedStatesjudgeof

thedistrictofVermont 71;

• RollinMallary(VT),alawyer,Vermont’sattorney,secretarytotheGovernor,

Congressman,and,relevantly,thechairmanoftheCongressionalCommitteeon

Manufactures72;

• WilliamJarvis(VT),PresidentialElectorforthestateofVermont.73

Otherdelegates:WilliamJarvis.

RHODEISLAND

• DavidWilkinson(RI),amechanicalengineerandinventoroftheslide‐restlathefor

cuttingscrewthreads—“immenselysignificanttothemachinetoolindustry”74;

• Asher(orAshur)Robbins(RI),aU.S.Senator. 75



18

Otherdelegates:JamesRhodes,JohnFarnum.

PENNSYLVANIA

• WilliamClark(PA),PennsylvaniastatetreasurerandfutureCongressman76;

• DanielMontgomery,Jr.(PA),aformerCongressman77;

• WilliamP.Maclay(PA),anotherformerCongressman78;

• DavidTownsend(PA),aprominentbankerandWestChesterCounty

Commissioner79;

• JosephPatterson(PA),ayoungbusinessmanwhowouldlaterplayapivotalrolein

loaninghundredsofmillionsofdollarsingoldtotheUniongovernmentduringthe

CivilWar80;

• JonathanRoberts(PA),aformerCongressmanandSenatorwhohadplayedamajor

roleinthepassageofthewarbillin1812andwouldgoontobecomeoneofthe

country’smostardentprotectionists81;

• CharlesHuston(PA),asuccessfullawyerandmemberofthePennsylvaniaSupreme

Court.82

Otherdelegates:JamesTodd,SamuelBaird,AlexanderReed.

OHIO

• BezaleelWells(OH),founderofSteubenvilleandaninfluentialmillerandbanker 83;

• WilliamR.Dickinson(OH),anotherprominentcitizenofSteubenvillewho,lessthan

twomonthsbeforetheconvention,had,alongwithelevenothers,invitedHenryClay

toOhiotoboostsupportforwhathehadcalled“thegreatcauseoftheAmerican

System”84;



19

• ThomasEwing(OH),asoon‐to‐beSenator,futureTreasurySecretaryunderWilliam

HenryHarrison,andfutureSecretaryoftheInteriorunderZacharyTaylor. 85

Otherdelegates:JohnMcIlvam,DavidBegges,JamesWilson.

NEWJERSEY

• JamesMatlack(NJ),aformerCongressman86;

• CharlesKinsey(NJ),asuccessfulpapermanufacturerandCongressman87;

• JohnColt(NJ),asuccessfulmanufacturerandmillerand,bythe1830s,theonly

supplierofsailclothtotheUnitedStatesNavy 88;

• WilliamHalstead(NJ),asuccessfullawyerandfutureCongressman,NewJersey

DistrictAttorney,andcolonelintheCivilWar. 89

Otherdelegates:LooeBaker,PhilipFine,Jr.,A.Godwin,Jr.

NEWHAMPSHIRE

• SamuelBell(NH),formerGovernorofNewHampshireand,atthetimeofthe

convention,aSenator90;

• AsaFreeman(NH),astatesenator91;

• IchabodBartlett(NH),asuccessfullawyer,Congressmen,andfuturecandidatefor

NewHampshire’sgovernorship.92

NEWYORK

• CyrenusChapin(NY),arespectedBuffalomedicaldoctor93;

• RichardKeese(NY),aCongressmanandoneoftheonlyJacksonianstoattendthe

convention94;

• EnosThroop(NY),alawyerandsoon‐to‐beGovernorofNewYork 95;



20

• PeterS.Smith(NY),asuccessfulmerchant,furtrader,andlandspeculator96;

• DavidRussel(NY),astatelegislatorandfutureCongressman97;

• RobertDenniston(NY),afuturestatesenatorandNewYorkComptroller98;

• PeterSharpe(NY),aformerCongressman99;

• FrancisGranger(NY),futureVice‐Presidentialcandidate,Congressman,and

PostmasterGeneralintheCabinetofWilliamHenryHarrison100;

• AlvanStewart(NY),ahighlyrespectedlawyer,futurefounderoftheNewYorkAnti‐

SlaverySociety,andfuturecandidateforGovernor101;

• JohnB.Yates(NY),alawyerandformerCongressman102;

• AbrahamH.Schenck(NY),aformerCongressman103;

• JamesTallmadge(NY),aformerCongressman,abusinessman,andaleading

protectionistwriterandorator104;

• EleazarLord(NY),asuccessfulbusinessman,founderoftheManhattanFire

InsuranceCompany,andsoon‐to‐befirstpresidentoftheNewYork&Erie

Railroad.105

Otherdelegates:E.B.Sherman,JohnBrown,CyrenusChapin.

MASSACHUSSETTS

• AbbottLawrence(MA),awell‐knownBostonmerchant,futureCongressman,and

futureU.S.MinistertoGreatBritain 106;

• SamuelD.Colt(MA),aprominentPittsfieldwoolensmerchant 107;

• BezaleelTaft,Jr.(MA),anearlymemberoftheTaftpoliticaldynasty,astatesenator,

andpresidentoftheBlackstoneNationalBank. 108

Otherdelegates:JosephE.Sprague,JosephStrong,JamesShepperd,JonasB.Brown.



21

MARYLAND

• EdwardGray(MD),likelythesuccessfulmillfounderofthesamename109;

• JamesSykes(MD),aprominentmember—alongwithHezekiahNiles—ofthe

MarylandInstituteforthePromotionofMechanicArts.110

Otherdelegates:JohnPatterson,WilliamMietteer,FranklinAnderson.

KENTUCKY

• JamesCowan(KY),aprominentattorney111;

• RichardH.Chinn(KY),asuccessfulattorney112andclosepersonalfriendofHenry

Clay113;

• JohnHarvie(KY),sonoftheprominentpoliticianofthesamename,brotherof

PresidentThomasJefferson’sprivatesecretary114,andastatelegislator. 115

DELAWARE

• JohnHiggins(DE),acolonelinthestatemilitiaandastatelegislator. 116

Otherdelegates:PhilipRibold.

CONNECTICUT

Otherdelegates:HenryWatson,ThomasS.Perkins,JohnATainter,FrancisMcLean,James

McClelan,LemuelHurlbut.



22

Notes

1Toombs,Robert.“SpeechtotheGeorgiaLegislature.”GeorgiaStateParksandHistoricSites.2009.GeorgiaDepartmentofNaturalResources.<http://gastateparks.org/net/content/go.aspx?ran=692663408&s=1339590.1.5>(2May2009),6.

2Toombs,14.

3Fox,Frank.TheAmericanFounding(Boston:PearsonCustomPublishing,2003),483.

4Fox,343.

5Brands,H.W.TheMoneyMen:Capitalism,Democracy,andtheHundredYears’WarOvertheAmericanDollar(NewYork:

AtlasBooks,2006),107.

6DiLorenzo,Thomas.Hamilton’sCurse(NewYork:ThreeRiversPress,2008),18.

7Ibid,29‐30.

8Brands,59.

9Brands,H.W.AndrewJackson:HisLifeandTimes(NewYork:AnchorBooks,2005),333.

10Bailey,ThomasA.TheAmericanPageant(Boston:D.C.HeathandCompany,1961),225.

11Hadden,James.AHistoryofUniontown(Uniontown,PA:JamesHadden,1913),777.

12Stewart,Andrew.TheAmericanSystem:SpeechesontheTariffQuestionsandonInternalImprovementsPrincipally

DeliveredintheHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnitedStates(Philadelphia:HareyCareyBailey,1872),4.

13VonHolst,Dr.H.TheConstitutionalandPoliticalHistoryoftheUnitedStates,Vol.1.Chicago:CallaghanandCompany,

1889.388‐393.

14Brands,AndrewJackson,381.

15“DomesticManufactures.”MiddlesexGazette[Middletown,CT]27Jun.1827:2.

16DiLorenzo,Hamilton’sCurse,19.17“HarrisburgConvention.”CarolinaGazette[Charleston,SC]13Aug.1827:3.

18Calhoun,JohnC."ToL.W.Tazewell.Pendleton,25thAugust1827."ThePapersofJohnC.CalhounX1825‐1829.Ed.Clyde

N.Wilson.Columbia:UniversityofSouthCarolinaPress,1978.300‐302.

19ThePapersofJohnC.CalhounX1825‐1829.Ed.ClydeN.Wilson.Columbia:UniversityofSouthCarolinaPress,1978.246‐

247.

20“DomesticManufactures,”2.Italicsadded.

21AttributedtoTylerofVirginiain1820,inVonHolst,Dr.H.TheConstitutionalandPoliticalHistoryoftheUnitedStates,

Vol.1.Chicago:CallaghanandCompany,1889.403.


23Calhoun,JohnC."ToS.D.Ingham,‘Private.’Pendleton,26thSepr1829."ThePapersofJohnC.CalhounXI1829‐1832.Ed.

ClydeN.Wilson.Columbia:UniversityofSouthCarolinaPress,1978.78‐79.

24DeTocqueville,Alexis.DemocracyinAmerica,Vol.1.NewYork:VintageClassics,1990.193‐194.


26DiLorenzo,Thomas.TheRealLincoln:ANewLookatAbrahamLincoln,HisAgenda,andanUnnecessaryWar(NewYork:

ThreeRiversPress,2002),63.

27Calhoun,JohnC."ToLt.JamesE.Colhoun,“BostonSloopofWar.”Pendleton,26thAugust1827."ThePapersofJohnC.CalhounX1825‐1827.Ed.ClydeN.Wilson.Columbia:UniversityofSouthCarolinaPress,1978.304.

28Ingersoll,C.J.andFisher,Redwood.“AtameetingofthePennsylvaniaSocietyforthepromotionofmanufacturesandthe

mechanicarts,heldinPhiladelphia,

onthe14thdayofMay,1827.”PennsylvaniaIntelligencer[Harrisburg,PA]29May1827:3.

29“DomesticManufactures,”2.

30Ibid,2.31“FromOurCorrespondent.Boston,June6.”TheRichmondEnquirer.[Richmond,VA]51Jun.1827:2.

32“HarrisburgConvention,”3.

33“FromtheU.S.Gazette,August4.”CityGazette.[Charleston,SC]14Aug.1827:2.

34“DomesticManufactures,”2.

35“JohnCWright.”VirtualAmericanBiographies.Virtualology.Appleton’sEncyclopedia,2001.

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38

Wilson,JamesandFiske,John.Appleton’sEncyclopediaofAmericanBiography.(NewYork:D.AppletonandCompany,1888),262.

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41DiLorenzo,TheRealLincoln,71.

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25

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harris burg convention 1827

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