The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-05-31
THE VOICE OF AN OLD FARMER.

The writer of the following, which We copy
from the Waterman, we take it, is none other
Than Consul JARVIS, of Weathersfield, one OF
the greatest wool-growers in New England
and an intelligent farmer. Mr.. Jarvis was
once Minister to Spain, and knows more about
the subject upon which he writes than any
other man in New England. He has too, been
at Washington we believe, the present session.
TO aid in pressing upon Congress the duty oil
Protection. We commend the article to the
pcrusal of all.
THE TARIFF-WooL AND WooLENs.
The following comes from a farmer who 10
not only deeply interested in wooi-growing'
but whose knowledge and experience on this
subject entities his views to grant confidence
Mr.. Editor,-A gentleman friendly to the
protection of American industry, has called my
attention to an article in the Vermont Patriot
of the 23d ut, under the editorial head, pro-
Tossing some zeal in behalf of the wool grow
ers, and great Indignation at the Wings Tor
sacrificing as the writer says, the interests OF
this useful class of the community. to favor
the manufactures. Being one of the earliest,
most uniform and most steadfast friends ofthe
wool growing and manufacturing industry OF
our country, am always happy to receive aid
/ from any quarter in favor Of a cause upon
which, sincerely believe, the prosperity of our
country mainly depends. But from such
quarter, and in such n questionable shape, 1t
brought to my recollection the fable oil Tho
sheep, the dogs and the wolves, which read
| in my carly life. As those excellent moral
lessons are not now so fashionable as they were
when was at school, for The benefit OF some OF
your readers who may have never seen 1t, L
will rive nv recollection Of it. The story ran
thus a flock of sheep had long lived with
| safely under The protection of their strong,
courageous and faithful dogs but pack OF
wolves ia vicinity, whose mouths had watered
to devour some of their JUICY launches and lat
loins, but had always been kept at bay by Inc
vigilance of The dogs, at length concluded 10
accomplish bv cunning, what they could not
effect by open force. They all at once pro-
fesscd the greatest friendship for the sheep,
approached them in the most bland and Insin'
uaiing manner, praised them for their molten
sive, amiable qualities and useful proper
ties, and prolTered their services IN any
way that might be required for the
comfort, safety and well being of the flock -
The sheep were charmed with these las they
believed) generous and DISTINGUISHED oifers'and
when the willy wolves represented to them that
their dogs were a set of lazy, gluttonous AM
mails, which it was expensive and useless to
maintain. as they, the wolves could and would
more efficiently protect them, the sheep lent
willing ear to those plausible, but insldious rep
reservations, and banished their faithful dogs
No sooner were wolves thus left masters oil the
flock, than they turned to and gorged their vo-
racious appetites from the fine flesh OF the
sheen, until at length they deyoured the whole
flock.
, When | saw this new horn zeal in favor OF
The protection of American industry against
: foreign rivalry. and the indignant outpourIngs
against the Wings for neglect Of duty, IN not
! protecting the wool grower, the aptitude OF the
fable have given, forcibly struck my mind.
Now for few facts in the way of education.
1t will hardly be necessary 10 mention the dec
Iaratron OF Mr. Van Buren,, of his being nor
thern man with southern principles, and that,
throughout his administration, he was init
mateiy associated with J. G.. Calhoun, Thomas
n. Benton. and the other most bitter opponents
of our projecting policy. But VIC will try Tho
question Of the friendship or enmlty Of the
Wings and Looofoco party, by the facts that
have occurred since the commencement OF the
present session of Congress. No sooner was
the Presidents message delivered. than the
lines were were drawn and openly avowed,
between afFording incidental protection to A.
mcrican industry, in the arrangement OF the
new revenue law on the one side, and, on the
other side, that of abandoning the whole pro-
tecting policy, either direct or incidental, by
lavinp duties on all articles equally alike. 1t
was rs well understood and openly avowed,
that the Committee of Manufactures would so
arrange the Tariff as to grant protection and,
Oh the other hand, that the committee OF Ways
and means were to arrange the Tar'fi exclu-
sivclv for revenue, without any reference to
protection, either direct or incidental. Upon
| the motion being made for the distribution oil
the several portions of the message to the APP
propriate Committees a Wing member rose and
moved that the part. recommending ne"
Tariff Of duties, be referred TO the committee
on Manufactures whom Mr.. Anterior, To-
cofoco member from New Hampshire, moved,
as an amendment, that it be referred to the
| Committee of WAYS and Means. warm,
ardent. and sometimes violent debate ensucd,
| of mare ,han month in length, in which the
| twoprincipIos of protection and hon. protection,
were fully discussed; and throughout it was
| distictlv understood that If the reference made
was to the Committee Of Ways and Means,thc
principle of protection was to be abandoned
and if to the Committee of Manufactures, the
protecting policy was to be sustained. THIS
was test vote for or against protection; How
did the vote stand? Every Wing in the House.
with the exception Of or 10 from the south,
ern states, voted in favor of its being referred
to the Committee of Manufactures; on inc
reverse, every Loco Foco in the House. with
the exception of the Loco FocO members rl rom
Pennsylvania, and one from MASSACHUSETTS
who were not willing to sacrifice the interests
If their country for party purposes. voted ina,