Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-04-04
lection
TO AGRICULTURE. COMMERCE AND
MANUFACTURES.
OF A CONVENTION OF
CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON CO XT


IN FAVOR OF A PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
Pursuant to n call, signed by three hundred and
City citizens of Washington County, w., without
respect to party distinctions, convention met at
the Court House in Montpelier, on Friday, March
25lh, l642, and organized by the appointment Of
Hon. Henry F. James, PreS1ent-Gen. r. P. Wal
ton and Hon. Dan Carpenter, Vice Presidents
T.. r. Walton, Jr. Secretary, and Col. George X.
Cobleigh, Assistant Secretary.
ordered, That committee, to consist OF one
member from each town represented, he appoint
ed to prepare business for lie action OF the Con.
ven'ion inland the following gentlemen were OPP
pointed
Slessrs Holden Of Barre, Stewart of Berlin,
CorSe OF Dnxbury Carleton Of Marshfehl, War
rem Of Nliddlesex, Walton of Montpelier. Carmen
ter of More:own Beckwith of Northfed. Green
of Waterbury, Smith of Waitshed, Brown of
Worcester, and Wright Of Warren.
Mr.. Carpenter, from the business committee, re.
ported the following resolutions and memorial TO
Congress, which were sevetnlly read, and, after
discussion Ivy Nlessrs james Green, VIM. Upham,
Jn,nes Mem. Shufer and f. =. Walton Jr., adop-
ted unanimously;
RESOLUTIONS.
]. Resolved That The Constitution confers upon
the Federal Government ample power to protect
the country from foreign aggression--as we'll its
agriculture, commerce and manufactures, as the
soil which susafns them-the Labor OF the c.
zen as well as his Liberty or his Properly.
2 RESOLVED, That Industry being the source e
the wealth, prosperity and independence of tie
country, the duty of the Government TO protect
that, against foreign laws and foreign pauper Ia.
bor, Is as clear aud imperative as its duty to pro-
lect the soil from foreign arms.
3. Resglred, That the measure Of Legislation
should be sufficient to give fair Protection, MOI
hounty-the mode discriminating g. specific duties
nome valuation and cash pay ments on ali articles
which compete with domestic products; md to
give the People security aud confidence, this poll
cy should he permanent.
q. Resolued, Tint desire no protection for
one class to the exclusion of others, aud no sec
tiona preferences all we ask is II mir field for
American enterprise, energy and skill upon terms
which viii admit fair price to American
Labor, wherever and however employed With
out Protection, we cannot compete on our own
soil with the pauper. labor Of Europe, except by ma
king our own laborers paupers. In such a COM
pelltion the measure ofsuccess would be the mag
nllide of the robbery perpelraied upon Labor.
| D. RESOLVED, That desire no excessive a.
mount OF annual revenue and as one mode of
preventing this evil, recommend that articles be
admitted free of duty, which, while they do not
compete with domestic products, are necessary TO
the comfort of the people, or auxiliary to sgricu-
ture, commerce or manufactures.
q. Resotued, That the wants ofthe treasury and
the general welfare demand the speedy and eff
eient action of Congress and the neglect of that
body so to act, we cannot regard otherwise than as
prejudical both to the honor of the country and
the interests of the people,
MEMORIAL.
To The Senate and House of Representatives
by the direction aud in behalf of convention
of citizens of Washington county, State Oliver.
mont, the officers thereof respectfully represent:
that the people of this county are almost exclu-
svely engaged in agricultural and manuac turing
and mechanical pursniis-the census of 1910
showing 7lO5 persohs engaged in agriculture,
i403 IN manufactures and mechanical trades,
l3O IN commerce, and los in learned professions
that they have already invested, according to low
estimates, based on the census statistics of 1910
and the grand list, more than two millions and
hall in houses, lands neat stock and manufacturers
and annually produce more than million and
u half exclusive of the increase Of neat stock:
that they have abundant resources in the soil and
water-prvileges, yet unimproved, largely TO in
crease the quantity of productions aud give active
employee t 10 labor; but that by reason OF the
diminished price OF agricultural products and the
depressed condition OF our manufacturers and me-
chanics, there are no inducements to extend the
business OF our citzens,-and those already in
The held OF honest labor aud bonest enterprizes
need relief We must have relief TO go on--we
must 60 on, or suffer sacrifices beyond patient en-
durance.
In seeking for the causes of this state Of things.
we think we have discovered the principal one in
tile want of Protection against the policy of for
egn nations, and particularly that of Great Brit
am She excludes our productions, whether of
the soil, the factory, or the mechanics shop from
no" in force, she is permitted harrass our man
nlacturers--to deny 10 the farmer fair prices IN
our own markets-Rnd 10 depress the wages of
! Labor in every department of business.
The evil is beyond the reach o! state legislation !:
the Constitution of the land precludes relief from
that quarter and explicitly confers upon Congress
all the powers necessary for nu efficient remedy.
! We are not unmindful that this power-a power
settled in the early practice of Congress- by the
. founders of the Federal Government and on tho
nnt hnritp nG % IL, l..,,.... L.
the Constitution itsef-has been questioned in
late years IL is not point for us to argue to you
nut suffer us TO say, that government which can
t motor, having the power, viii not-Protect the
rights and interests of its citizens from foreign aR
9 gression my, but practically subjects this nation
: to the Jurisdiction of the British Parament-s
i lects the soil, the Labor aud the Capital of the
4, country, to the destructive operation of British
laws and awless British monopolisls = cannot long
= secure the affection or respect of this portion of
r the American people.
J To you, then, who alone have the power
i and whose duty we believe il to be- TO grant our
e iprayer-we look for Protection and we respect.
S fully pray for speedy and favorable action at your
!. hands.
n On motion, it was ordered that committee of
five persons he appointed to select delegates TO the
: National Convention at New York, on the 5th of
IS April next, or forward statistics of the business of
: the county, and to furnish memorials for signatures
/ in the several towns in the county; und the fol.
/ owing gentlemen were appointed Milton Brown,
q Z. P Walton, jr, Orson Skinner, Orrin Smith, and
s Holden Putnam.
a On motion, it was ordered, that committee o
st three persons in each town be appointed TO receive
r signatures to memorials to Congress and the fol-
4 lowing were appointed
g Barre-G. w. Coamer, VIM Cook. d. Carleton
e Berln-Orln Smith, Osman Dewey, JOS Denny.
II Cuais-Jahez Mower, Pliny Curtis, Abdiel Kent
d Duxhury-E w Corse, G fiuntey, w Turner.
q, Fayslon-C. Fullerton, u. w. Boyce, Eli Bruce.
I'd Marsh6eld-J Carleton jr., BMartin, j. Putnam.
ID Middesex--H oIIen Putnam Don L, Carpenter
ID "a VIM. Warren.
be Monroe "A. Town, Hiram Putnam, A. Jackson.
"a Monlpel'r-D Baldwin, A. Metcalf, B. Southwick
e. Moretown-A G. Noble, A. g. WDship, A. Bass
lie Norhfeld-G. Pierce, Dav. Tilden, Nathan Morse
-. Plainfeld-F b Hall, ID Whuesey jr. M NJ Page