Commercial Compromise
Dependent on British goods for the survival of their agricultural economy,the Southern States strongly opposed any attempts by Congress to taxforeign and interstate imports. This was seen as a direct affront to theSouth as well as to states' rights in general. Those who believed in astrong, powerful federal government favored import duties because the moneyraised bolstered the national economy. As the United States was still a newnation, federal monies were needed to fund infrastructures. However, theAmerican economy was still regional in the decades immediately followingthe War of Independence. The North became increasingly industrial in natureand was largely self-sufficient. Northern states did not rely on foreignimports as much as the southern states did at the time. However, the southhad been practicing a plantation economy for centuries and to suddenlyimpose a tax would burden many southern plantation owners and business men
The tax is not anattempt to bully the south, but rather to even the playing field. Especially in a nation as geographically diverse as the UnitedStates, it is possible to become largely self-sufficient nationwide. If atfirst the South loses revenue, it will not matter in the long run becauseof the interdependence that the nation will create. This way, the southern economy will notsuffer too much as it makes the transition from slavery to freedom. Each state has the right to raise taxes that payfor local needs. Therefore, the issue of taxation became one of the mostcontroversial issues of the time. The import tax isbeneficial to the state of the union, both socially and economically. Certain issues will always be decidedon a state-by-state basis. Except for those goods that absolutely cannotbe produced a t home, most of our nation's supply should come from domesticsources. Import taxeseventually will benefit the American economy because they encouragedomestic economic growth and development. I support the views of the north for several reasons and propose aninteresting solution to this issue. Any southern statethat voluntarily eliminates slavery will be granted temporary immunity fromthe Congressional import tax. Statesthat do not wish to eliminate slavery will be subject to the taxes. Furthermore, the import tax affects all states.
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