Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-06-01
DOMESTIC TNDU STRY
EXTRACT FROM AN ADDRESS OF

October ls, 1885, Concluded
As sincere lover Of my country, devotedy al
iached to her institutions vt free government, and
believing, us firmly do, tbatlhey can only he
taiued by an enlightened neral people, relying
chiefly on their own intelligence and resources,
should despair Of those institutions and of that
people, if were to see them, by negIecting to
cultivate their understanding and 10 cherish those
resources, create Il dependence which will com
pel them TO share the destiny OF others. should
lament to see them, by essening their power and
impairng the means of improvement, voluntarily
precipilating themselves from the proud eminence
which we have toiled through blood and shurp
conflicts 10 attain, into an abyss of ignorance,
darkness poverty and political seryitude. The
eve of The world beaming with anxious hope, ls
watching our experiment, and, it will be dimined
with tears Of despair, it, after having triumpbed
over the meuaces, the contempt md the arms OF
Europr. we fall into the snares set by the sordd
md become the passive victims of policy and
influences, from which has been our high aim
TO escape
cannot doubt that the love. Of country is set
warm in the affections of the people, and esteem
ed more precious than the a!lurements of com.
merce NOR will distrust their determination TO
tnantain in defiance of the articles ofthe selfish,
a policy, that shall make,lem and their posterity
worthy and capable Of sustaining end perfecing
our glorious institutions.
On This my hopes ofthe iuture rest and comb
dent am, that in the exercise of n mistaken phi
lanhropy, they will never forfeit these blessings
and privileges.
Its enough, that we more than keep pace with
others in berality, by promptly meeting spirit
of reciprocity wherever it is manifested; but 1t
would be criminal negligence, TO disregard for
eign policy designed to over reach and impover
sh our citizens. Such war in disguise, upon
our most vital interests, should be met and coun-
tervailed by measures averting its pernicious len
dency.
The substantial proshation of the domestic mac
ket must follow the suspension of mechanical and
manufacturing labour, and the machinery of civ
ilizaton be utterly deranged; for the wonderful
progress OF Improvement which we have witness
ed is borne forward by the useful and intellectual
arts acting and reacting upon each other. ms ele-
mens blending together and eXerling their COM
blned influence TO establish the dominion OF rea
son, the ascendancy OF moral power.
Before we rush upon measures having a ten.
'dency to work resolution in business, and in
the social organization, it becomes US to glance,
at least, at possible results, and TO consider
whether we are not disturbing the foundations on
(which rest the great social and political fabric
The magnitude of the interests which it is pro
posed to take up anatlay down, prices vary in
foreign markets, should be considered and com
pared with the interests which demand this plant
submission TO their supposed higher and greater
national importance Statistics often teach les
sons which startle the careless and inconsiderate
:. -andit is greatly to be depIored that legislation in
the United States, in this respect, is limited 10
the custom house. But the industry of states
and. individuals has done much, 10 supply the
deficiency; and while we find it impossible
TO attain 10 accuracy in Details we feel as
Htlrel that we approximate sufficiently near 10
IT, to shun material errors III reasoning. Exports
and imports are valued at the custom house, ant
usually meet the eye in gross amou,s which seem
10 tower above any thing that the mind can EN-.
brace OF the scattered masses OF domestic com
inerce, and we are hastily led to The conclusion
that foreign trade is the great leading interest,"
This is an error full Of mischief, and is the parent
OF false doctrines and policy.
lie value ofcotton exported in 1885 was S64
100000; in 1887, S63,OO0,000 ; and the in,pora.
non OF cotton goods which are consumed by our
population, may be about $4,000 600 annually.
In ls32 the value of cotton goods manu- laciur-
cd in the United States, was S26000,000, ant
=. more recent statistics, far they have come tc
Y hand, show an increase, which justified the belle
s mat TIE annual value now exceeds $4,000 900
ana Inc consumption of raw cotton, which in So
Twas II ,o00,t00 lbs, now reaches l20,000000 lbs.
rand, at prcseh: prices may he valued at $4,000
OOO. Ahout $1,000, 900 in value Of the goods art
,(exported to foreign countries.
y Her0ls enough to invite the grave attention o
TIE planter enough for him 10 pause and refec
upon. There must he consumers as wei as man
ufacturers and growers of produce. Take from
us, OF the farming and manufacturing states, on
p division OF ;abor, by means of which we acquire
the ability to consume largely, and where will hes
Stmports, and domestic productions in cotton, Il
the amount of $47000000, find purchasers? p
Where will the one hundred and twenty miIlo,
pounds cotton OF find n market? If we are for
ced upon the resources of the land alone, we mus
clolhe ourselves in wool, fax and hemp aud
VIII he difficult for the planter 10 live on cotto
alone, or 10 enlarge the ability OF mankind to con
sumo 1t, by policy in which he demands ever
thing, and comedies nothing
nut ct US pursue details little farther, In In
year 1907, the woollens manufactured in Massa
chuse'ts. were valued at Sl0,400000 and Their
can be illlle doubt that in the United States the
exceeded $40,000,000. The number of sheen +
the United States is not less than fifteen million
and the clip OF wool, al the average prices. fror
twenty to twenty five millions of dollars. ri
boots and shoes manufactured in assachuset
the same year were valued at $l4 ,G42 $40; aud
the United States, must exceed $40 200 600 inch
sive of leather for other purposes. From q
sources Of Information which have been access
BILE 10 me, the value Of manufactured iron mi
be justly estimated at fifteen millions of dollar
, of hats, at twelve millions of cabinet ware,
twelve millions; OF nails, at five millions; of gla.
ut four millions; and of paper, at five millions
Our artisans employed in these nine branches
industry, bring into the market annually, goods
, the value of one hundred and seventy millions
. dollars, into which is carried domestic wool,
the value, probably, of twelve or fifteen niiiGI
!. and they receive. in wages, about fifty millions
dollars, most of which is again disbursed for I
= daily necessaries consumed ia families. Il
whole manufactures Of Massachusetts for O
year, ending April LIST, 1887, are valued ct egh
six millions, two hundred and egbty-six thousa
%. dollars--fsriy- nine millions eight hundred a
~ seventy two thousand dollars of which were
dhe nine articles above enumerated, the residue
goods which need not be enumerated fre
which some estimate may be made of the wh'