We can speak of protective tariffs all day, and there are a few good arguments in favor of them, but to suppose that imposing them inflicts no cost upon us (through higher prices, retaliation, etc.) is absurd.
My comment about the Barbary War was meant in that regard. It wasn't fought over merchant ships sailing between New York and Georgia.
I agree that we've always engaged in trade, but I think it is much less accurate to say that we relied on it. The history of our nation is more one of growth and increasing self-reliance on our own resources. The importance of trade diminished as a portion of our GDP.
But it certainly IS accurate to say that trade was never "fair" to begin with:
The most egregious and inexcusable violation of another nation's sovereignty by the United States occurred in 1854 when Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Edo Harbor (now Tokyo) with 7 ships (4 sailing ships, 3 steamers, 1600 men) and demanded that the Japanese open their ports to trade or else he'd open fire with his cannon. This was actually Perry's second visit to Japan. His demands had been diplomaticly rebuffed the previous year.
The consequence of Perry's actions was disruption of the Japanese currency, which eventually led to the collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1867, and the restoration of the Meiji emperor.
This blatant misuse of American military power for the benefit of private enterprise occurred during the administration of Franklin Pierce, a Democrat. It is an embarrassing stain on our national reputation.
To not impose tariffs also inflicts costs on us. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch...