Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-03-21

interested, which am enabled by all examination
of the returns in the Department of State TO pre-
sent to the House, and which furnishes an argu-
ment for continuance Of the protective policy,
which nm sure must strongly commend itself 10
the Judgment of all who hear me. allude 10 the
wool-growiDg interest
| There were in the United States in 1910, &c
cordng to the returns of the marshals, 193ll,34
sheep. The present number may be computed at
not less than twenty millions. 1t probably ex-
ceeds that. Indeed, the number returned by the
tnnrshals was probably below the true number III
1910. The capital invested, estimating the sheep
n, 50 head, and all the land necessary for their
subsstenco-being at the rate of one acre for
three sheep-at Sl2 per acre, would amount to
Sl20000I000 to which should he added the n-
vestmens necessary for the support of those ell
gagged in the Of the sheep the clipping of the
wool, and It's transportation 10 market, amounting,
probably, to Sl0,000,000 more.
The annual product of WOOL at an average Of
two and half pounds head, is fifty millions Of
pounds.
OF these 20000000 of sheep, Vermont, with
population of but $4,000 souls, has ,66 49, be-
ing an average Of five and three quarters TO every
man, woman, and child in the State. The capi-
tai invested, upon the basis Of the estimate Of
$4,000, 600 for the whole country is about SILL
600 000-equivalent to S35 to every soul in the
State.
OF the 100000 of sheep, New England, N.
York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, have over l3,000,-
600.
The owners of this amount of capital are cul-
tivators of the soil. The evils which have been
supposed by some TO be inseparaby connected
with labor in manufacturing establishments, it will
not be pretended attach 10 the employment of the
shepherd. All the influences Connected with this
employment are the most favorable TO moral puri-
~ and genuine independence; and may proud
ly point to the well known character of the peo
pie of my own State, as evidence of the truth of
this assertion
Thu ole IN tho IF ;uejicp nj Tho
pie who have made such large investments, to a
legislation which shall not abandon them, is too
Obvious TO need comment. pass to the broader
view OF the subject, which regards the wool-grow-
ing interest a national concern.
| Wool is raw material of vast importance IN n
national point of view. 1t is leading object in
the protecting policy to render our country indie.
pendent of foreign countries in time OF war, as to
articles of indispensable necessity and comfort to
the people at large, well as to the troops enga-
ged in our defence In these respects, the various
forms OF wooen manufactures are second to
none which soil aud our industry can produce.
Ii is a fact which ought TO be remembered that, al
the commencement OF the last war, we found our
selves dependent oil our enemy for munitions OF
war and clothing for armies-supplies of
which were TO a considerable extent, obtained
through an illicit commerce with that enemy. The
price of wool rose during the war 10 two and three
dollars pound, and of wooen cloths to tell,
twelve, fiteen and eighteen dollars yard.
Can any wise statesman, in this view OF the
subject he Indifferent to the great woollens inter-
est, both manufacturing and agricultural, which
has come into being under the combined III tluen-
ces of The last war and the protecting legislation
which followed it? Shall we learn no wisdom by
> the things we have suffered? Can we shut our
eyes 10 the possibility the probability, even-of
war? In other respects we do not aud why
) should we in this? We expend millions, annual
ly upon Notifications, ships of war, the procuring
OF ordnance and ordnance stores, aud in the man
ufnciura nj various description of arms suited TO
> our defence. In this we act wisely-at !enst in
accordance with the maxms which have hthcr-
10 governed the world. We regard these prepa-
ratons as Indispensable; and yet have we no wis
dom TO see that the fostering aud sustaining oil the
Interest to which have referred as well as the
iron and other interests, are also Indispensable ?
We have committed 10 us the powerio make war
u and we may be involved in war with the most
powerful nations in the world; aid yet the oppo-
nents of The protecting policy would disarm us of
> the power possessed by every other nation upon
the face of the earth II that of developing and ma
turing all the resources necessary TO the putting
= forth of their utmost strength in the conflicts we
may have with them.
Let us, then, carry out the policy which has not
= only brought into existence manufacturing estab-
shmrnts connected with the wool growing inter-
est which need continued protection, but which
has produced large investments in the production
of the raw material, which it would BIO unjust to
abandon, and which cannot be abandoned without
the hazard of our being again placed in state of
, Illuminating dependence in the event OF another
y war.
And, sir, we ough, TO protect wool, and its man.
. uiactures, not only to from sacrifice present
y investments, but with view to an increased pro-
: ducion in these departments Of industry just
= regard to our safety and our independence de-
rnands that the almost boundiess capacities of oar
country in these respects should he developed ana
J, improved.
| have spoken OF wool as an important raw ma
. teria My remarks are applicable, of course, to
70 the materials connected with the manuiac-
ture of iron aud other manufactures OF great ma
\ liona importance, in regard TO which we ought TO
u be independent OF the world
l. There is one important raw material for which
. we ure not dependent. i refer to cotton, But
o what laid the foundation of this independence ?
u Sir il was protection. BY the revenue laws of
1859, cotton was protected by duty OF three cehto
D pound, which has been continued ever Since
70 Ii is asserted that il does not need the duty now.
Is Whether this be not, tneeded ittheh; and
IL is bv no means certain that II irM not again re-
d quire t. The cotton interest grew up under that
y protection. And should not the growers OF cot
. ION he willing to aid, by protecting legislation, III
e giving stability 10 the great woolgrowng interest,
8 which needs like protection? Will the South be
~ nsensble to This appeal because, unlike me WOOL
- growers, the cotton planters are not dependent ior
= their market upon The demand OF our own cuul-
10 try Can the fact that Great Britain does not re-
"a ceiys n pound of our wool in exchange for the
millions OF her wooen fabrics sold TO US annually,
IS while she takes millions of the Southern staple,
i have the effect of rendering The South indifferent,
Is TO the claims of the grower upon the foster
a. ing care OF wise and an impartial legislation
9 Have we not one country and one destiny Pr
e And shall any part of this " one country" hnd, in
:, its exemption from excluding foreign legislation
- motive for Indifference TO the interests OF anoth-
J err part which is subjected 10 the injurious effects
of that egislaiion3 Nothing, i, seems TO me. can
- be more selfish and monopolizng Than TINS, un-
. less it be that British legislation which, for me sake
y of employing British looms and spindes and pau
;, per labor receives, upon small duty, the great
q Southern s,aplo while TO protect the landed in
:, terest OF the kingdom, it excludes, or burdens
II IL ll.,nIi IL r.1.u