Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-04-04


which. I confess, filled me with dismuy-cried
out to us Abolish your tariff-reduce your reve-
nue. to tho standard of an economical government
and once more the fields OF South Carolina VIII
smile with beauty her emlarrassments VIII van
ish-comnerce will return to her harbors, labor
to her plantations, augmented prices Tor her sta
pies, and contennent and prosperity and univer'
sal happiness to her oppressed people Well, we
did reduce the tariff and, after nine years of pro.
lection, we have had nine years Of descending
tariff and of free trade. Nine years (irom 1874 to
1881 we had the protective policy of high Ia
riff; and nine years from 1888 TO lS42) we have
Ind the full operation of free trade on more than
q moiety of the whole amount OF our imports, and
n descending tariff on the residue. And what is
the condition of South Carolina at this day?-
Has she regained her lost prosperity? Has she
recovered from the desolalion aud ruin so conf
IDENTITY imputed to the existence of high tarfI
| believe il the gentleman from South Carolina
could be Intercepted here, and would respond in
caudor, unbiased by the delusons engendered by |
a lavorite, but delusive theory, lie would tel us
that she had not experienced the promised pros
periiy which was dwelt upon with so much elo |
quence by his fellow citizen.
How is it in regard to the great staple Of The
South? How stand the prices of cotton during
these nine years of the descending tariff and the
prevalence of free trade ? How do these years
compare with the nine of protection AID high inr-
IF? Has the price of cotton increased, as we
nian? 1t has happened that during the nine
tariff years the average price OF cotton was from
1924 TO 1888 higher Than during the nine years oil
descending thrift aud free trade aud al the in
slant am speaking, / understand that cotton is
selling at lower rates Than have ever been realized
since the war with Great Britain. know with what
tenucity theorists adhere to lavorite theory, and
search out for imaginary causes OF results before
their eyes and deny the true. am not going into
the land OF distractions and metaphysics. There
are two great leading incUn,estible facts, which
gentlemen must admit first, that II high tariff did
not put clown the prices of staple commodities
and, second, that a low tariff and free trade have
not been able to save them from depressom.-
These IRE The ucts; let causiss and theorists, and
the advocates OF one sided para yc free trade,
in which we turn our sound side In the world,
and our bighted and paralized and dead side to
wards our own people, make of them what they
can. At the very moment that England is push
ing the resources OF Asia, cullivutng the fields Of
India, md even contemplating The Substituting OF
Africa, for the supply of her laclore' with cotton
and when the mporaions from India have swell. .
led from 200 900 bnles to $4,000, we are told that
there are to he no restrictions on free trade.
Let me not he misunderstood, and let me en-
treat that ! may not be ulsrepresented. ! am
not advocating the revival ola high protective ia
riff. am for abiding by the principle of the
compromise act; ani Tor doing what 10 South
man of fair and candid mind has ever yet
denied-giving to the country "A revenue which
will provide for The economical wants of the
government, and at the same time give an in iden-
tai protection to home industry. If there he
here a single gentleman who will deny the fair
ness and proprely of this shall be glad 10 hear
who he is.
This check on the flow OF specie abroad, 10 pay
commercial or public debit will operate by the
imposition OF duties 10 meet the wants OF the gov
ernment-will keep the precious metals at home,
! to much greater extent than is now possible.
! hope that we shall learn to live within our own
| MEANS and not remain so dependant us we now
are on the mere good pleasure and domestic poll
| cy OF foreign governments. We 20 for revenue
for an amount of revenue adequate to an econ
omcal administration of the government We
| can get such revenue from where else than
| from II tariff Oh importations. No man in his
senses will propose resort to direct or internal
taxes. And this arrangement OF the tariff while It
answers this end, will at the same time operate rs
IA check on the elux of the precious metals, and
retain what is necessary for the purpose of ex-
change and circulation.
! The fourth advantage attending the adoption OF
| the system proposed will be, that the states will
be left in The undisturbed possession of the land
fund secured to them by the act otthe last session
and which was intended 10 aid them under the
embarrasSments under which some of them are
now hboring
And the last is that to which | have already adj
veried viz that it will afford indirectly, protec
ton to the interests Of American industry. And
the most bitter and perseverlng opponent 10 the
true protective policy ever met with, has never
denied that il is both the right and the duty OF
Government so to lay the taxes necessary 10 the
/ public service as to afford incidental protection to
our own industry.
But it is said that, 10y the adoption OF some one
fixed arbitrary maximum of advalorem duty, we
! shall not derive that measure OF protection which
! is expected; and admit that there may he GER
| mi, trIp tba rt nf ha me mr.
such for example, as Shoes hats, aud rendy made
clulhing, and sugar, iron and paper-soIne or all
| OF which may not derive the protection which
they need under the plan propose. On that
subject can only say, what said at the time OF
| the passage Of the compromise act, II some few
articles shall not prove 10 be sufficiently protected
beneath The established maximum rate, should
hope that in the spirit of harmony and comprom-
Use, additional duties, above that rate, sufficient TO
aftofl reasonable protection TO those few articles,
by general consent, would be imposed. ! am NOT,
al present, prepared to say whether the rule |
have suggested will afford adequate protection 10
these particular interests or not; lear II may not
But il the subject shall be looked at in the spirit OF
patriotism, without party bias local influences,
il will be found that The few articles alluded To
distributed, aud OF such nature, as TO fur
l nsh the grounds of a friendly adjustment The
J, interests of the sugar at the South mny then he
set against the iron of the centre, and tho produc
lions cf the mechanic arts, which, although pre-
waning every where are most concentia ted al the
North. With respect 10 these, without reference
: to my general system OF protection, they have
been at all times protected And who that has {
1 heart or the sympalhies Of man, eau say or fee
that hatterS, tailors and shoe makers, should
: not he protected against the rival productions o
r. other countries Who would say that the shoe
a maker, who makes the shoes OF his wifr-hs owl
wife, according TO the proverb, being The last wo
is in The parish that is supplied with hers -sha
Is not be protected2 That the tailor, who lnrnishe
u him with new coat, or tho halter, who make
e him new hat 10 60 TO church, TO attend wed
II ding or christening, or to visit his neighbor, sha
" not be adequately protected?
Then there is the essential article OF iron--lhO
n is great central interest. Whether il will re
ID quire a higher degree OF protection than it wi
IN derive from such system as have sketched,
10 have not sufficient information to decide; but h
10 | am prepared to say, that question will be wit
of the Renrasentaiiyes Of those states which ar