Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-03-14
OBJECTIONS TO A PROTECTIVE TAR
IFF CONSIDERED

o"sses Of obIectors for want of power-tbose WIN
we existence of any power at all, and those
NV "u''''' '"u' protection may be given only so
WI "' "'"y hnpI'en to follow from duties impos.
Z" mercy 'or revenue and an nltempi was u,ade
10 snow mat The latter is practically denial or nh.
power 10 give protection. Having done ,h;s !,
was our purpose ut once TO urge that the Camel
luton coners ample power upon Co,,ro.s -,
grant protection to any extent required 6or a..
public good In order, however, to rive o,r ns;,I,-
Dor of the Patriot that respectful considero,io,,
"h'ch mas been promised him. we find necessn
ry mere to make aggression. On the strength Of
a series OF articles, developing incdentalsm in
ne most uneqnivocal terms we thought il u.t tn
rank him in tie second class of oljeclors and in
ths we FELT confirmed hy other kindred obect;ons
To protective tariff, wIirh llavo for wears orru.
SonaIly 'onud place Ia the Puiri1i. and have be.u
repeated within The last few weeks Our neiyb
Dor has now discovered tllut his recent edtorinls
upon Tie Tarlif-whch, we thought, bore upon
their face Whence Of more than usunl caution
care liable TO be misapprehended," and he there
fore declares in the Patriot of the 5h that for
the relief of all concerned, we propose to define
our posl'Ior always reserying the right to change
or modify our opinions as new light is discovered
OF asking questions, suggesting doubts or attempt
ing to conIrovert the positions Of any of our con-
temporarles, as occasion may offer" Here is GER
Inlnl! large molcum Of reserved rights. all
which might he more pihiy expressed thus-re-
serving the right TO change front to rear, and 10
lake new positions at any moment, and 10 oppose
froleclIonlsts with every weapon. This certain
" dlninlshes the value of any particular position
which he may define, as lie warns us in advance
that il one attempts to pin him upon THAI like the
Paddy's fee, he'll be sure not TO be there But TO
the PATRIOTS Position Defined" On the oues
ton of Protection it is as follows:
"For years it has been our opinion, and
VIC supposed it was the opinion of the bunk of the
democratic party, and we have seer cause for
| materially changing it, that The IdrF shouldLe ESQ
arranged as 10 produce more repenue than ueas
required 10 detrdy The expenses Of The government,
economically Administered, (as the federasts prom
ised 10 do if the people would place them in pow
er) and that, in graduating The dulles, discrinin-
alton, in Jaror Of The staple products Of The coun-
try moderate IN itself and just and equal as possible
mreierence to The tchote Union, should be made"
At first blush it seems that the friends of pro-
lection have one point gained, viz. "a discrmin-
alton, in favor of the staple products Of the coun.
try, moderate in itself and jus, and equal as posi-.
bic in reference to the whole Union :" but we fear
that the economical standard of revenue duties
by which this discrimination is limited by the
Patriot, utterly excludes the possibility of ade
quate protection. Under the compromise act, 20
per cent. is the standard of duties - the standard
which SIus Wright, the Patriots leader now con.
tends is high enough,-bnt every intelligent man
knows that discrimination in duties under that
standard, without The power either of prohibiting
some articles altogether, or imposing duties be-
You'd 20 per cent, cannot afford protection In
truth, we are under this very standard now, when
the langushing condition ofdomestic industry, the
excessive foreign inportaons, and the immense
drain OF our specie which it is producing, arc a.
rousihg the people 10 cry trumpet tongued for
Protection. The Patriot yields nothing en-; alb
solutey nothing. Let it avail itself of its resery-
ed tights, and declare whether it is. or is not for
Protection al any rate, and through any means
which Congress eau adopt whether by revenue
dues 10y prohibitions, or 10y protective dulles p
Here is chance 10 define n position which it nny
never blush TO ackno Wedge, and IN terms never
to he misapprehended.
Bu-conscious that its position might I've mis-.
unprecedented, or considered utterly without
ny point or meaning at alI-the Patriot pro-
ceeds stairway to tumble all Tariffs and protec-
tive duties into " the receptacle OF things lost np-
on EARTH" and substitutes therefor the - Sub
Treasury 1t strikes us that this is position some.
what differing from that which precedes il, unless
no duties and discriminating duties mean the same
thing with the Patriot Ii there is an essential
difference, we suppose it is only practical exem-
plifcaon OF the reserved rights of our neigh
hoi, Read-ye people who have agun and again
condemned the sub-treasury; read, oil we who
ask bread and behold the stone which the Patriot
tenders yo:
I" But we think, nevertheless, that the lndepen.
dent Treasury system Of finance, which our oppo-
nenIs we're in such hot haste TO repeal and for
which they mud themselves disgracefuly buiiied
in attempting TO provide substitute better calcu-
lated TO protect Domestic Industry, and manufac-
turers IN particular than all the Tariffs that the
wit OF man can devise and without such re-
form III the currency as that system would work
OUT, we are not quite sure that all protective du-
ties will not prove aborlve in effectng the desir-
ed object. The great trouble lies in the imitation
OF our paper system, which is very apt 10 keep
pace with the advance of duties and counteract
their effect As direct taxation, under existing
circumstances is impolitic, If NOT mpraclicabe
and as the independent Treasury, with the specie
clause, lthe brightest feature in the whole of i'll
is not likely To he re-enacted during the next
three years, unless both houses of Congress
which is probable should be revolutionised and
The President should yield his opposition To i'll as
at present advised, we stand upon the ground u
bove defined"
Thus the Sub Treasury is the Protective agen,
which The Patriot prefers does that protect and
elevate the people in the twenty-five monarchies
IN which it is found? A hard currency is the rem
edy for hard times that currency which gives
labor cents day in France aud il is that which
is to give better reward TO the Labor OF this
country Yea, saith the Patriot, thus will I" man
utactures in particular he protected. We grant