Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-05-25
VOL. ss, NO. se-wHoLE NO. 1883.

eciinl culture gives, as we'll as with The additional
ability which II crentes, to discharge with skill and
hdelty the business of life.
a knowledge of the properties of bodies, saves
the slow aud tedious process of experiment, which
often, for the want of such knowledge, leads to
disappointment. 1.-THE agricult,iralist understands
The elements OF plants aud soils he readily dis.
covers their adaptation, and can supply in soils
those deficiencies which often defeat tile labor of
the unconscious husbandman or he can give such
direction to it rs 10 render it successful. The arts
rest upon principles often very imperfectly under.
stood by the workman but the better he compre-
hends them, the more easily he detects and avoids
obstacles, and attains TO successful results. As a
knowledge of the chemical affinities and union of
bodies, is of the utmost importance 10 the dyer,
the painter, the tanner, the printer &c. who there
ny understands the rationale Of his process; SO is
knowledge OF mechanical powers no less impor-
ant TO those engaged in the use or construction of
works where those powers are employed.
Our country has been much distinguished for
the invention of useful compositions and labor
saving machinery and may it not be chiefly i'm
pnted to the fhct tina, useful knowledge is not on
| ly largely dlifIsed among thu people, but the av-
euues TO II are open, and most men, who have
TASTE for il, find 10 serious difficulty in ndulging
La?
| Moral and intellectual culture is an essential ele-
Inent OF free government; and it is difficult to
comprehend how its character can he understood,
or it can be maintained by the elective franchise
Without it.
In private life it opens new resources, gives
stronger and better directed impulse to our efforts
and fills the mind with higher, more Just, and
confident hopes OF success.
But above all, il brings us out of darkness into
Ilght-elevates us from slavery TO freedom from
barbarlsm to civilization transfers tastes and
pursuits from the arts of violence to those of peace
and creates that vigorous prosperity, that ami
mated zeal and happiness, which have spread over
this broad country. and which have allured from
their homes, from the tender ties of blood and the
graves OF their fathers, emgrants from all parts Of
Europe.
Such are some oil the advantages of being free,
and Of having the ri ght to make and appropriate
10 our own use,acqusilions of property and knowl
edge and it is easy to see how each acts upon the
r other, contributing to its growth and expansion.
Our policy has made what we are, while that
of other states has made them what they are.
: But what is this policy? What is it that makes
great people, in the aggregate, prosperous and
happy2 The unrestralned action of labor, and
, the right to enjoy its own acquisitions, lies ut the
: base. Property will give us food, clothing, and
the means Of intellectual advancement; but all
property is the result Of labor, and the amount of
labor bestowed upon it is ordinarily the standard
q of its value. The ore of the eagle or the dollar,
is gathered from the earth, but in either COSTS
i in labor all it is worth, before it takes the form of
\ coin.
1t is therefore obvious, that the great advantages
, OF our system, have been certain and ample
ward TO industry; and our exemption from those
, Onerous taxes, which in other places take it from
the aborer, and appropriate il TO the of others
2 The great question u.s. shall we 90 on where
perence indicates the path or shall we turn our
course into That dark, uncertain road, which will
f lead the laborer back into the condition in which
a we see him in the eastern hemisphere? Shall we
abandon these great and glorious results of pop
uar government, the process which has built up
the people, instead of an idle aristocracy, and go
back to be competitors Of the suffering laborers
of Europe, to settle the question, which can starve
the longest and endure the greatest distress in pro-
duclng at the least possible price tools and our
. cIothes2
r Let us understand where this competition will
conduct us and who is to receive the benefits Of
s il, if there he any.
II The argument is, that goods nre not and cannot
II be made as cheaply here as in Europe; and there
= lore we are not justified in encouraging the bust
y mess of manufacturing,
z Those who reason thus, look only at what may
a be done, or to what has been done by our own
h competition and not to things as they were whilo
d Europe, and especially England almost held the
control of our markets, and furnished supplies
h her own terms.
= They leave out of sight the allimportant fact,
n that If England manufacturers an hundred mill
e ons worth OF cotton annually, and we. twenty
millions, that add much to the general stock
II in the market, and thus lower, materially,
the prices she would otherwise be able 10 exact.
II England exers herself for bread !; and the more
n severely she is pressed by competition, the harder
II she struggles to ill her mouth; for the reduction
J. of price in goods falls on the labourer. And
j. while we produce col,ohs, woolens &c., in large
a quantities, the statistics OF manufacturing will
+ prove that instead of abaiing her works, she has
J. extended them beyond all former example. In
n lo17, she manufactured one hundred and ten mill
a ion pounds Of ra,o cation, and in 1885, three hun
dTed and facenty miflion pounds; having increased
r her spindles 10 twelve millions. Her doom is in
:, exorable- manufacture she must for her popu-
J. laon has no other resources; and our competition
i is, and will be. with those who have no choice bur
l. to struggle on for life To them, event could
I be more acceptable, than reliet from this COM
petition, and an advance in prices, which would
Y probably follow. So il is in other things il we
II manufacture iron, the furnaces of Russia and
h Sweden are not left 10 cool nor The plantations
of Cuba left uncnyated, because make sugar.
e They take the only alternative reduce the price
ill they enter markets, and thus often
l. sumo the burden of our protection.
The advocate of foreign work shops seizes on
II the price of goods often thus reduced by own
z, artisans, proof Of their inability TO afford them
= al reasonable rates; while he omils to inquire
If what would lie the state of things if The COMPETE
ton cease, and the control of our markets
n he again thrown into foreign hands
d Facts, however, win Justify Inc in declaring
that on whatever our labourers have extensively
j. exerted their skill, its price has been materially
s reduced.
r But, interesting all these matters are, return
9 TO the inquiry what is the policy which makes a
Il free happy and prosperous people2 Why is the
e measure of physical comfort and social enjoyment
= among the reope, less throughout the eastern
|, hemisphere, Than heres Labour is not less in
n tense and The prices Siperchandse, the adyo-
o cate of free trade nssureyds IRE much more rea-
sonable. Yet, he fact is undeniable, that the pow
o eny wre,chedness and depraviiy of great masses
: OF human beings, surpass description They find