Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-02-21
The TariH.
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III cur history, set forth IN the report ON your
table, II is said that The planting and grain grow
ing states, have since 1883 paid 10 the manuaclur-
Crs Of tins country about three hundred and fliy
millions Of dollars, for which they have received no
equivalent Sir It this be truo, siIce the lsraetes
were required by the Egyptian yrant, 10 make
bricks without straw, there IS no parallel TO such
monstrous oppression.
have already stated that viii not pretend to
quote the precise language Of the report. | am
sure J.. Is stated that duties imported articles 10
tho amount OF six hundred and eighty two millions
Of dollars besides thirty millions for lis collection
have been paid since the year 1883. 1t Is also sta.
ted in the report, that more than one hofof this dg-
Ffsgoe had been levied on protected articles. The
whole scope Of the report abors to prove that this
duty on protected articles IS crcvous and oppres-
siye tax on consumption Cor which no equivalent is
received IN return. Connected with these positions
Che author Of he report cndcayors TO show that the
planting and grain growing portions Of the Union
were, and the cons umers, and the few northern
manufacturing states, the producers of the protect
ed articles that the former are the payers and the
latter the receivers Of the duties which duties
represented as mere bounty TO the labor Of the
North, foi which the South and the West never
have been, and in the nature Of things never can
be, reimbursed. SIR, shall not now trouble the
House, nor my friends, who put forth this fact as Il
truth proved by figures and tabular statements,
with any argument opposed TO it, but must be al,
lowed TO advert to IL Western man with feel
lngs Of pride. AT the same time, must, in COM
mon with others, labor under some doubts of the
usSGTlCu uflSlDE Cul q inc Known history OF the
last twenty thirty years.
1.-THE West and South west have paid their due
portion Of this UNJUST and unrcmited tax Of three
hundred and fifty millions within The last forty years,
while, at the same time, they have, the world
knows, conquered the sagagcs, who possessed the
whole Western and Southwestern territory, cleared
the thick forests wlich oycrshudowcj it in short,
Il that portion of The United States, has IN less than
half a century, as all admit reached point of I'M
provement IN wealth and arts which other times
and people required ages 10 achieve, then, | say,
may with pride and confidence challenge the whole
world within the period Of authentic history to par
allc the wonderful people which have the honor,
an mart. 10 represent.
But, Mr. Speaker, some sober reality aud stub
born facts compel me to reprcss this eXultation at
our ianced superiority; modesly compels me to
doubt whether truth places SO lar above Common
mortality as this report hes done. Facts, known
facts, those unaccommodatng things, that RUIN SO
many beautiful inventions Of fertile and ingenious
minds, are constantly lhrusting themselves before
and N the way Of the figures and philosophy Of the
gentleman who has labored in this report to push
By them, and drive over them 10 reach his fayorte
conclusions. You will observe, Mr. Speaker that
told of the "treasuries other than those of
the United States" into which this enormous trb
of three hundred and fifty millions has been
poured. Ia the same connection you hear Of the |
"prncey establishments that have been reared up
and sustained by it. The 'prncely establishments"
are in he northern manufacturing states The
''princes' to whom the tribute Is paid are the people
Of this happy, favored region. Where, sir, the
poor oppressed tributaries, according this report?
Why sir, III that sinking ruined, wasted wilderness,
the West?
The author Of this report under the influence Of
too teryd Imagination has spurned the shackes
aud broken through the embarrassmcnts arising
from facts connected with the scheme Of his theory.
He represents the northern ,nulacturnG states as
another imperial Rome, seated ON her seven hills
roling IN the luXuucs Of he despoied and impoyer
ished South, her treasures burs.ng with the enor-
nous wealth poured into them from the rayaged
,,,1 ofaIr .pGl
ng is pictured as the wand Of Midas turning every
Thing IL touches into gold, while 1t would seem that
grain growing and planting cotton, brought only
taxation without equivalent, poverty and unreqnod
toll, Sir If all This were true, what would follow!
The people Of this country, however they may be
Cxceled by oher nations III the walks Of letters and
the polite arts, are known TO be shrewd and we'll
informed, touching helr own pecuniary interests.
Such a people would be found rushing into the
manufacturing districts, TO reap haryc5ts Of wealth,
and wallow IN monopolies that drained every other
portion Of the Union to swell their accumulation
Such a people would be found to shun, as land of
pesience and death, the agricultural region,
where nothing awaited them but taxation and con
sequeni poverty. Sir, | regret that facts and the
truths Of history compel me to spoil the beautiful
theories and exact calculations Of this admirable
report; but, sir truth, however unwelcome will be
found at last the safest guide in wandering through
the labyrinths of speculation and theory. What,
sir, is the fact? Why sir, for thirty years, the tide
Of emigration has been from this land OF wealth, and
u
PROMISE TO the house Of bondage. The shrewd
Yankees have been flying Gom wealth. and case,
and monopoly in their own country, TO this very
oppressed grain and cotton growing region OF the
Wesi, seeking taxation, oppression and want -
For these last three years. as every American lex
cept the authors Of this epori) well knows, pupua-
ton from the Northern States has been poughng
lis way through The ice Of The northern lakes, and
bursting over the mountains, Ill the roads and rivers
literally choaled with its masses. Where ara 1
these coluuists going! To The w est 10 raise grain
and 10 taxed To the Southwest 10 grow cotton /
and become poor Such is The reasoning of the !
report. New, beg to know whether II Is not
taxing our good nature quite too far TO ask us to
believe, and act upon ingenious theories, and long
columns Oi figures standing, as they do, oppos- |
cd 10 facts, admitted known, and understood by /
every man in this Union over twenty one years Of
age. TO come to the conclusion al which The re-
port has arrived, we arc required 10 admit mat man .
is blind to and careless q hrs own personal adyan- .
lage. Nay more, The authors Of this report require
you 10 deny to our American race the common m /
stincl Of all animal creation. The philosophy Of
this report teaches that shuns ease and desires
tOil-lh0t he haies pleasure and desires paln-tbat /
he hates wealth and eschows poverty that he I
flies FROM power and seeks sublugation. All this /
tumble Of contradictions we required 10 admit
as seli-eyident truths, simply to explain existing
facts in way not 10 contradict this efudlte treatise
on trade and finance.
Mr. Speaker, | know it is impudent to obtrude
our crude notions upon those TO whom, from their
position, we are taught to look upon for tic les
sons Of wisdom; but hope may be allowed TO in Z
quire of the majority Of the committee OF ways .
and Means whether It had not been better had
they reviewed slightly their philosophical reading,
before they Sc, down 10 the arduous task Of writing
the publication before us. Had they turned to the .
pages of Bacon, with which | sure they must be .
familiar they would have found a maxim which,
since the days Of the great author Of the "nductwe
philosophy" has never been disregarded think,
If my memory is not ut fault it teaches that IN all
our researches after truth must sec prae-
coneesa AIT eT praeoognias" For the benefit Of my
unleuered Western friends | am bound to render