We almost had a Civil War in the 1830’s because of tariffs. The North wanted to force the South to buy their goods from northern manufacturers rather than from Britain or France. Cotton farmers were selling tons of cotton to Europeans before the war and many preferred to buy overseas goods in return. Remember the Nullification Crisis?
The founders most certainly did care about the political principles involved with trade and they weren’t all on the same page. To say they were all protectionist is ludicrous. The trade between the states while the Articles of Confederation was in effect is really a separate question but it showed that trade barriers between the states was counterproductive. In fact barriers to trade are nearly always counterproductive.
The steel industry has made over 3 Billion with a B Dollars the past couple of years and isn’t in any financial difficulty. Why do they need help? And before you say it will put steel workers back to work remember that today’s mills have been subject to automation and no longer require the massive amounts of workers it once did.
Your opinion of Goldwater says a lot about your political philosophy.
I am generally a Goldwater fan, but promoting some abstract idea of "liberty" at the expense of national sovereignty should be out of the question for anyone who calls himself a conservative.