The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-02-22
SPEECH

IN FAVOR OF
PROTECTING TARIFF,
Delivered in the House of Representatives,
December 90, l84I.
The question being upon the proposition Of
Mr.. ATHERToN, of New Hampshire, to a.
mend the resolution for referring so much Of
the Presidents message as relates to the tariff
to the Committee on Manufactures, by re-
ferring the same to the Committee Of Ways
and Means
Mr.. SLADE rose and said, that he felt urged
by peculiar considerations TO address the House
upon the question raised by the motion
If IN, ge tleman from New Hampshire.
1t was proposed TO take away from the COM
mittee on Manufactures the consideration of a
subject which had long been regarded as ap-
propriately belonging 10 it, and 10 transfer ii
to another committee. Placed as he had been,
by the Speaker, on The Committee OF Manufac-
lures, he felt it to be somewhat incumbent on
him TO vindicate the claim of that committee,
in behalf of the manufacturing interests. to the
consideration of that part of the Presidents
message referred to in the resolution. Besides
this. Mr.. S. said he represented constituency
having deep interest in the question which
| had been drawn into discussion, and who, of
| course. looked TO him to defend that interest,
whenever it should be brought under consider
alton. He felt, also, under high obligations,
from the fact that the Legislature Of The State
which he in part represented had, at their late
session, passed resolutions strongly approving
of the protective system, and instructing the
Senators and requesting the Representatives of
that State, in the Congress of the United States
TO use all honorable means tosustain it. These
resolutions, Mr.. S. said, he held in his hand :;
and, as they furnished an excellent summary of
the arguments in favor of the protective policy,
| he desired to make them a part of his speech,
and would therefore send them to the Clerk,
that they might be read.
The resolutions were here read by the Clerk,
as follows:
Resolved by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives Of the State of Vermont, as follows,
10 wit:
81. Resolued, That labor, both mental aad
corporeal, is not only the most honorable means
but the only true source of wealth.
80. RESOLVED, That it is the duty of our
Government, at all times, TO protect and en-
courage the industry of our citizens, by making
and enforcing such tariff Of protective duties
as will secure our home markets from the des-
perate and disastrous foodings of foreign COM
petition.
SO. RESOLVED, That we regard the right to
enjoy the products of Our soil and labor as
sacred and valuable os the right TO the soil
itself; and that it is equally the duty of our
Government to repel invasions and encroach-
ments upon the one as the other.
81 Resolued. That the farmer and manu.
facturer are alike vitality interested in such
protection, and that the prosperity Of all classes
and occupations is mainly dependent on the
success of our agricultural and manufacturing
interests.
as. Resolred, That the tariff laws now ex-
isting are highly defective and insufficient, and
by that part Of the compromise act which is TO
take effect in July next, will be rendered still
more defective, inefficient, and unjust.
"6. RESOLVED, That our Senators in Con-
gress be instructed, and our Representatives
requested, 10 use all honorable means in their
power TO procure passage ofaws. which, while
they shall guard against the numerous frauds
and evasions now praciised upon us by foreign.
ers and foreign agents, and while they shall
raise revenue sufficient only for The necessary
regard to the particular interests of every Sec
lion of our country, may give, by protective
duties, such a preference 10 domestic over
foreign products in our own markets, and may
SO discriminate between those articles which
we can and those which we cannot produce at
hume. as to give just, sure and salutary en-.
enlargement 10 the industry of every Ameri. |
can citizen.
ST. Resolred, That his excellency the |
Governor be requested to forward copy of
these resolutions to each of our Sena tors and |
Representatives in Congress"
If said Mr.. S., needed any thing besides
the convictions of my own judgment to induce |
me to sustain the protecting policy, | should
find it in request emanating from such
source as this. | yield to it with hearty good |
will and, on this and all proper occasions,
shall, in the best way am able, give my rea-
sons for so doing.
The debate has teken very wide range.
This has naturally, and may say almost ne.
cessarily, resulted from The peculiar character
Of the motion submitted by the gentleman from
New Hampshire. Upon proposition to
commit that part Of the Presidents message
which relates to the tariff TO the Committee on
Manufactures-a direction which that subject
has taken for more than twenty years-it is
10 change its accustomed direction,
and send it TO The Committee of Ways and
Means Why this proposed change? is
question which every body at once asks, and
which nobody can answer without admitting
hat the tendency and design of the movement
ire adverse 10 thetpro tec,ing policy. This is
apparent from consideration of the range Of
luties appropriated by the rules OF the House
o the two commttees-that to which it is pro-