1Thomas Jefferson to Hutchins G. Burton, Thomas Cooper, and Samuel Brown, 28 September 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
The government of the U.S. at a very early period, when establishing it’s tariff on foreign importations, were very much guided in their selection of objects, by a desire to encourage manufactures within ourselves. Among other articles then selected were books, on the importation of which a duty of 15. per cent was imposed, which, by ordinary custom-house charges, amount to about 18 per cent,...