How Did Tariffs Work?

[elektratig]

Ole,

Yes. Another lesson is that it's really hard to understand how something is going to work in practice until you actually start the engine and see it run. In this case, Madison, for all his theoretical knowledge of the Constitution, was apparently taken by complete surprise when the form of the tariff immediately became a political football -- he didn't foresee that development at all.

For the record, it was Thomas Fitzsimons of Pennsylvania who introduced the first amendment to Madison's impost bill, transforming it into a tariff. I guess we should give Fitzsimons credit for appreciating the implications of the Constitution better than Madison did in this instance.

[unionblue]

To All,

Bumped to the top to assist in poster's research.

Unionblue