| 98 MARYLAND HISTORICAL MAGAZINE
believe that foreign mechanics should be aided at the expense
of American manfacturers and artisans. Only after these Amer-
icans were given bounties and other aid should encouragement
be given to immigrants.-
Who should promote the industry of Maryland? Most of
those who suggested various methods of aiding Maryland man-
ufacturing did not leave this question to chance. As has been
seen, many who wrote thought that the state itself should aid
the manufacturers directly or indirectly. Some writers pointed
out that Maryland state aid to artisans was not new. Bounties
had been given before the war to linen weavers using Mary-
land flax.35 John Frederick Amelung deplored the fact that
in the United States, Maryland included, " . . . to my knowl-
edge, no man who has had sense and fortune enough to make
any progress in Manufactures, got any public preference and
encouragement whatsoever." 36 Others mentioned manufac-
turers as being " as worthy of notice of the [Maryland] legisla-
ture as merchants and farmers." 11 A " Friend to Agriculture
and Manufacturers " complained in 1792 that in the preced-
ing year several thousand skilled emigrants from Europe had
gone to Pennsylvania and New Jersey because those states en-
couraged manufacturing and Maryland did not.sg
Those desiring state aid for manufacturers usually did not
want it at the expense of manufacturers in other American
states. Most said that Maryland should not discriminate against
manfacturers of other states but only against those of foreign
countries. Often there was a genuine feeling in the state of
promoting American manufacturing as well as Maryland in-
dustry during this period."
However, in 1794 a " By-Slander " had a complete program
which he wished " the legislature " to enact to keep Maryland
e' Ibid., Mar. 5, 1794, p. 3.
"Other colonial aid to shoemakers and leather workers and iron workers
cited in John R. Commons and Others, History of Labour in the United States
(New York, 1918) , 1, 41 and St. George L. Sioussat, Highway Legislation in
Maryland and Its Influence on the Economic Development of the State (Balti-
more, 1899) , p. 124. There was also much state aid to defense industries in
Maryland during the Revolutionary War.
sa Amelung, p. 6.
'T B. Md. Gaz., Aug. 15, 1786, p. 3, " To the Tradesmen and Manufacturers of
Baltimore-Town;' signed "A Real Friend to Maryland."
as A. Md. Gaz., Dec. 6, 1792, p. 2.
" B. Md. Gaz., Aug. 20, 1784, p. 2, " A Plain Dealer:
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