The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-12-07
SOUND DOCTRINES.

SOUND DOCTRINES.
The following is an extract Of letter from Gov
ernor DAVIS, OF Massachusetts,, in answer TO ques
lions put 20 him by of his constituents
The opinions of great importance, especially
at the present time, when the Iocofocos are indus
riousy circulating their notions against protection
TO American industry, and are striving to build
themselves up as party, upon the old ultra feder'
al principles Of free trade Buchanan, an old fed
eralis, and leading Iocofoco now, with much
consistency of character, advocated the same no
tons in the u s. Senate, when discussing the Sub
Treasury Bill and was replied TO by Gov. Davis,
then in the Senate.
tThe interests Of the Manu- faclurer and Mechan
ic have been too often considered rs alone aided
and protected by discriminating duties upon i'm
ports. Such duties encourage simply division OF
labor, for they open the way TO new Pursuts,wh'ch
is the end 10 be obtained that may sustain and
support each other Clothing, food, houses, tools,
&c are Indispensable. aud it requires the united
efforts Of the farmer, the manufactures and mechan
ic, to produce daily uecessaros. The one, in
truth, cannot live without the aid of the other
The organization OF society and its wants, places
all this in its clearest light; and the question Is,
shall a division Of labor exist among our citizens Z
Shall they furnish supplies TO each other, or resort
to the soil aud obtain their products from the shops
of Europe' am not able TO see how the people
OF our Commonwealth obtain foreign supplies
from The sol, as few Of our agricultural productions
can be sold in foreign countries. 1t is this fact
that has forced into a diversity of employment,
which we cannot abandon without great sacrifice
and distress. We have arrived at u crisis which
presents the great and nom ntous question, wheth
e our pursuits TO be continued. Whether the
div ison Of labor is to be tanod and upon what
terms The terms constitute the essence OF tho
matter, and on this point there is conflict ofopin
ION. There are many who aim at single object
in the regulation Of trade, and that is, TO Obtain
merchandise at the cheapest rate, regardless of 9th
considerations. They would bring the products
Of thus country to the lowest foreign prices. But
the laborer must remember that the value Of goods
consists in the labor bestowed upon them, and up
on the materials OF which they are made. Ii is all
labor, and they can only be chenpened permanently
by cheaPenng labor Those who contend for this
doctrine present the alternative to the American
labcrer to work AT lower wages, or TO abandoh ms
employment. This is the necessary result, unless
we cuu have the aid of the by so assessing
it, as to strengthen our industry. This Is felt and
known to be so. To reconcile us TO it, we are as
sured, that while wages are lowered,an equivalent
will be realized in cheaper products
The best test of this reasoning TO let facts
speak for themselves, and declare what is the con
dtion of The Iaborer of France, Germany, Italy,
&C. who works for the low rate Of wages preva
lent there II he is prosperous, having the com
forts and enoyme of life, and accumulates prop
er,y then the argument finds support. But if he
works hard, maintains rigid economy, and still is
surrounded with want and suffering, 1t fails. We
learn from which leave no doubt of the
truth Of the statements, that great masses OF The
people in these countries, are so mserablY paid,
thar they live upon humble vegetable diet, seldom
tasting of butchers meat, and eating sparingly OF
bread This is the revolving process by which
goods made chep. 1t is through the toll and
suffering ofthe aborers mserably clad and half
starved. This is the policy we are invited TO pur
sue, the example we called upon to initiate. A
leading English paper received by the last arri
val, eivss appalling picture of the condition of
the laborors Of that country. 1t says, among other
things equally distressing that "meat, tea, sugar,
milk butter, beer, &c. are tururtcs very seldom
tasted by those who have work." ''There are
hundreds without bed TO lie on, having parted
with it for food"
Are the aborers ofth Commonwe alth prepared
for such state of things? Can policy which
cheapens production by starving the worklnen,
meet with their oountenance
Ifi do not misunderstood the character Of our
people, they have made themselves free and indie
pendent for other and higher purposes, and they
will use The power confded TO them by the Con
stituton, to mpoverish and Cypress, but!to eie
vate and improve their condition. They will find
no satisfactory reason for making themselves poor
| and wretched, because they others In that con
dition.
| The tendency of the times has been, TO press
| the laborer downward, with the cry of monopoly
and this cheapening process. have observed
with great anxiety, the progress of events, and
have rested my hopes upon the fact, that the dest
ny of the country is in the hands of tho iaborers
whose intelligence and watchiuIness, trust, will
be exercised to preserve and continue their prosper