Extract from Thomas Jefferson’s Draft of His Eighth Annual Message to Congress
| Nov. 8. 1808. |
while we regret the sufferings of individuals employed in agriculture & commerce, the nation at large will derive sensible advantage from the conversion of the situation into which we have thus been forced has impelled us to apply a portion of our industry & capital to internal manufactures and improvements. the extent of this conversion is far beyond expectation daily increasing & little doubt remains that their the establishments [. . .] that the mass of our future wants will be supplied among ourselves formed and forming, will, under the auspices of cheaper materials and subsistence, of the freedom of labour from taxation with us, and protecting duties and prohibitions, become permanent.