Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-08-22
MONTPELIER, AUGUST ~. 1912.

, interests And 1t is no doubt true, thnt the more
enlightened members Of the party, which has so
long and so ruthlessy warrcd upon the interests
OF the American laborer and producer, do know
and privately admit the truth of the principles for
whlch we contend, but II is melancholy proof
that the bonds of that party are stronger than the
love OF country, or even than enlightened self
interest, when we find the salne persons laboring
with unweared zeal, and reckless Inisre presenta-
tlon, IN the support of faction, which is pledged
beyond the possibility of retreat, to hostility n.
| gnnst every thing bearing the semblance OF lib
crafty or even justice to the mechanic and fnrmi-
err In the face Of the fact, that of the tchoie of The
seD styled democratic representation in Congress
| BUT ONE WAS FOUND TO POSSESS HONESTY AND
INDEPENDENCE ENOUGH TO BURST THE TRAM.
MkLs OF PARTY, AND IN THE LATE VOTE ON
THE TARIFF, TO GIVE HIS VOICE FOR PRoTEc-
TIoN, the opposition papers have the insurance 10
deny, that the party, rs such, is opposed to the
fostering OF American industry y Not n leading
opposition editor or politician in the Union, but
may he convicted, ont of his own mouth, Of the
most rancorous hostility to the principle Of pro-
leciion, and now upon the eve of an important
election, The relentless aud perseyering oppo-
nents OF the whole system, arc for political effect,
charging its probable defeat upon Il party who
make PROTECTION their very watch word
10 this piece of political effrontery, the history
OF party in this country furnishes no parallel.
And upon what ground is it that the wings are to
be held responsible for this enormous sacrifice Of
Inc pubic good, upon the accusation of those
whose every public uct bellies their present pro-
tessons? Let us not be mised by the false issue
ihey are attempting TO raise. The opposition
party and the ant-turif south are agreed in the
principle that Congress cannot legisate directly
tor tor The encouragement of manufactures but what
protection, il any be granted, must be medicinal,
and that duties upon foreign merchandise can be
laid 10 such extent only as is necessary TO supply
the deficiency of revenue from other sources.
The proceeds of the public lands, say they, tho
by solemn compact ceded to the general govern
men, in trust for The several staies, first TO be
appropriated TO the wants of the government, and
duties to be so adjusted, from time TO time, as
to supply the deficit. IT, as in 1886, IA contingent
cy by no means improbabe) the land sale, amount
10 sufficient meet the ordinary expenses
OF government, duties must cease altogether, aud
foreign trade become entirely unrestricted I'm
der such system of fiuctuating and uncertain
duties, it must be apparent to the shalowest OBJ
server that no branch of manufactures can he
sustained for a moment. There are few manu-
features land we take that Of our great staple wool,
us fair illusratioD,) in which a session of Con-
gress will not usually intervene between the pur-
chase of the raw material, and its preparation in
manufactured state, for market. Upon the
principles of our opponents, 1t will he the
duty of Congress TO modify the rate of duties or
tariff according to the proceeds of the land sales
OF The current year, aud these are never known
until the heads of the department make their all
nua report to Congress. The price of cloth, for
example, must depend upon the action of tue
session which is holden between the purchase of
the wool and the sale of the cloth, and upon what
principles Of calculation, shall the producer aud
The manufacturer fix the prcs of wool, il The value
OF the cloth is 10 depend upon the uncertain coll
ungencies of the opinions OF Congress upon The
wants Of government? The adoption OF this
principle would put ii into the power OF any fore
Ign nation, possessing the pecunary means, and
uncrupulous enough thus to use them, TO pre-
scribe he rate of duties, which Congress should
lay, and thus, in single year, by n moderate sac
rhce, TO ruin irreirievably, every manufacturing
establishment in the Union. The English and
other European nations encourage the emigration
of II certain class 10 the United States, and they
can extend il almost without limit. 1t would he
object of sufficient importance, easily accom-
plshed, aud mode of procedure in strict accor.
dance with the principles of British political NOR
alny, to lake up for her starving populations who
are willing 10 eingrae, quantity OF laiic Tie
proceeds OF which would supply our nahona
treasury for year or two, and thus suspend the
duties altogether, reduce them to such rate,
that they would no longer give an efficient prolec
ton TO any branch of domestic industry.
These and manifold other considerations have
convinced the Wing party of the inerpediency OF
suffering protection TO be annlhlated or reduced
by the proceeds Of the public lands. But they
claim distribution upon the higher ground of db-
srdct right. The public lanGs are the equitable
property Of the several states, and not of the ma
ton, TO which they coded in trust, and the
people of the states have clear and undeniable
right to reclaim their own, az fast as it becomes
capable of division by sale Of the public lands
Why then is the v hig party TO he condemned
for Insisting upon right directly beneficial TO the
people OF the states, and the surrender of which
will speedily, though indirectly, he followed by the
most disastrous results?
And yet it is upon this ground, aud this alone,
that you are charged with the dsleat of the pro-
tective system. Your votes will shew whether
you plead guilty to the accusation.
lie; us now examine the reasons Of our oppo-
nents for resisting, even 10 the sacrifice OF that
protection of which they IRE suddenly become
such clanorous advocates, measure which np-
pears to us to be of the cearesl expedency
and the most indubitabe right
il has been u measure long contemplated by the
friends Of tho late administration, TO purchase the
adhesion Of the states to the policy OF their
party, by donation, by way OF bride, of the pub
| lie lands lying within their respective limits. To
this notable scheme distribution is of course fatal,
| and the notorious fact that such purpose is en-
teralned, should be an additional reason with the
| Wings for adherng 10 the ground they have tux
Ell. But the recently avowed, though now dis
guised, hostility OF the self styled democratic
party to the protective policy, is no doubt The
most Influential reason, which has brought the
northern opposition members to act in concert
with the South, and the sum OF the whole matter
is that our opponents resist distribution for the
very reason that urge il, because, namely,
that distribution involves the necessity of Tariff
adequate not only for revenue but for protection.
Let no man be deceived 10y the present professions
OF these INSCRIPTIONS parizans, hut let us judge
them by the doctrines they ayOwed when they
supposed themselves strong enough TO act without
disguise, aud by their constant Official action,
when fairly brought TO The test. No man, famil-
lar with the tone Of the journals, which supported
the late repudiated administration, and with the
debates in Congress, can have any doubt that it
was the settled purpose Of the Van Buren, dynasty,
aud is still that Of The same party, TO break down
The manufacturing classes, and OF course the pro-
ducers who supply the manufacturers, 10 adopt
The system of Tree trade, and TO raise revenue for
the government, by that most odious mode, direct
L..