It’s an econmic tool. The USA was very prosperous when the Federal Govt was COMPLETELY funded by tariffs(1789 - 1913).
Only in your imagination. Our growth probably was impeded by the tariffs since that is what a tariff does. Taxes do not grow an economy. And a tariff is a tax.
Tariffs slow growth and can even destroy certain industries. There was no alternative to a tariff when the nation was formed. There were no data on incomes, so that could not be taxed. Property taxes were excluded by the Constitution so they were out. Selling of public lands provided the non-tariff revenue the federals collected.
Why do you pretend there are no negative effects of tariffs?
Surely you know better.