The people's press, and Addison County Democrat. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1838-1841, 1841-05-18
EXTRACT
From the Message of GOrernor ELLSWORTH.
of Connecticut.

Of Connecticut.
A revision of the tariff is soon 10 engage
the attention of Congress. 1t seems TO me
there is no question what course of meas
ures is dictated, by the wants ofour coun-
trymen. The last Assembly passed reso-
lullons instructing eur representatives to
resist, by all constitutional means, every
attempt TO destroy or impair protective
tariff. The more ] have reflected upon
the policy of protective tariff. and its
bearing on the affairs of New England, and
other States, the deeper is my conviction,
that duties should not be imposed by uni
form rule, but be SO adjusted, as to AID our
industry against foreign competition. we
cannot Weld to the doctrines of free trade,
for the obvious reason, that such trade
does not exist, and will not be reciprocated
10 us. Among advanced nations, 1t has not
hitherto existed and if we may judge from
the past or present state of the world, We
cannot anticipate it for the future. How
ever beautiful in theory, such is the diver
sity in the natural and superindsced condl-
ton of the chief nations of the world, that
free trade would be found imPractcable,
and am fully convinced it will never be
introduced. England and France, with
whom is most of our commerce, will never
consent TO open new and hitherto
unDracticed trade, with the United States.
Their restrictive policy is unchangeably es-
1ablished, and whether wise or unwIse lib
cral orilEbcral, it enters SO deeply into their
political relations, into the very texture OF
their domestic and foreign interests, that
we may not expect such radical change
in their commerce and system Of taxation.
If England would open even her colonial
ports 10 free trade. we should find some
relaxation of her rigid policy, and hope for
more free commercial intercourse but at
present, VIC are debarrcd all reciprocity
whatever; our grain, tobacco and other
products, il admitted at all into any of her
ports, being burdened with enormous and
ruinous duties.
So long as England and France continue
10 Law US under such contributions annually
for their wines, their silks, and other man
ufaciured goods, we must protect ourselves
BY counter enactmcnts, or forego our man
uiactures, never again to be revived. Is II
wise for a nation of eighteen millions Of
people, TO shut uptheir own workshops and
open others in Europe to contract from
wear to year national debt, the inevitable
consequence of large imporlatlons and b.
rendering the market unsteady, or by open
inr If to the fluctuations incident to the
trade of Europe, suffer our own establish
nlaDts to be broken down, & an extensive de
preston oflabor? Our products, multiplied
as they must be. if agricultural pursuits be.
come universal, will perish without a mar
ket, or sell at prices greatly reduced. The
interest of the farmer and southern planter
ase most certainly promoted by extending
manufactures, as tending 10 divide and di
versify labor. and create a certain and con
venent market. am not an advocate for {
tariff beyond the wants of the government
but LET its necessary revenue be raised by
q system of duties SO adjusted, as to protec
the industry of our citizens. | entertain
great confidence, that if such tariff, wa
the established policy of The country
not to be broken in upon by any change o
men or measures and together with it, We
possessed the currency which we enjoyed
for forty years, to facil tate the trading inter
course of States, now fatally sundered, tht
elooln which has SO long settled upon u
would be dispeled, and hope and confidenc,
and courage. shed a cheerful light owe
many an anxious and despondIng heart.
Asrespects the exact character of Il tariff
=, -, that tax Oh consumption, Or Ii