Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-05-23
THE PATRIOT rs. PROTECTION.
From The TermJm Patriot, May II.

From The TermJni Patriot, .lIay II.
The Watchman would have the public under
stand that, up TO a recent date, have uniformly
been opposed 10 turiff in any maiIaer calculated
TO protect the products Of our industry, when the
truth Is, that though we have turned the subject
over aud over TO examine it in all its aspects and
IT practicable TO obtain new light, our opinions
hhve undergone little or no change, In our pu-
per OF August IA, 1874, used the following
language, which, we contend, harmonizes fully
with the resolution OF the last Legislature of this
State addressed TO our delegation in Congress to
enllghten them in tie path Of their duty
"He haze been and are in favor Of Tariff for
revenue, but no. for protection ercept so far as pro-
fecf'On may be incidental 10 revenue. In ARRANGING
the duties, horerer, ice should hare regard 10 our
domestic interests
Is not this, taken together orthodox We know
1t is not The doctrine of the party in this country
some ID years since, known as the Adams party.
ora few years later as the National Republican,
party but the American System notions of Clay
and Adams have long since been abandoned, even
by The federal purity themselves We think we
may md passages Ill the verable w. Watchman
within the lest thee months, very near parallel to
me o!.e qnoled, though we are aware that that
print has expressed various and contradictory o.
pnons upon the subject at different times.
Quite as had us we expected after all lis re-
cent professions, the Patriots opinions hare really
"unergone little or no change" It is Oniy for IN.
c'dental protection now, as il was in Aug IS4l and
during the last winter; il expressly repudiates the
doctrine of Protection, as practically carried OUT
by Clay und Adams-and OF course such Tariff
they gave us in 1894 and in 1928, the Patriot
will not consent to have. The Tariff OF 1882 al
so was protective, and that ii must repudale, to
be consistent: and At last it must settle upon the
compromise act, or something worse. lis "posi-
ton is defined" again. Let us see if it will stay
defined.
Now 10 tile extract from the Patriot of August
l64l. Ii is very brief considering that this is all
which the editor selects from his files for the las,
nine years, in accordance with our challenge. IN
this indeed all that the Patriot has said for Pro.
lection during that time E? How fit was it, then.
for tnt paper to boast Of its daring deeds in this
matter We think it is pretty much ALL in poiut
ofprinciple, though the same thing may have been
differently and repeatedly expressed A, any rate.
these are the views OF that paper noio, and we are
asked if they are not orthodox ?" To anti pro- !
tectioniss they may be-to protoclonsts they are
far from orthodox. Incidental protection merely
will lot do; or, in another FORM the doctrine tina,
the Tariff must be adjusted with reference to rev.
enue, leaving protection merely incident. will
never do as Il permanent system. For this rea
son il will he variable, more or less revenue is
required; at one time high enough for protection,
that is, when the expenses are unusually large.
heavy debt is pressing, as in case Of war and
at another too low, ms when the amount of rev.
enue required is small. If we add another meas
ure which the Patriot is anxious for, viz. return
of the land fund to the treasury il will be found
that the incidental protection, which revenue du
ties will then afford, will be purely accidental. ri
the lands are thrown into the market by the GOV
ernmen as they may be AT any lime, and sold TO
a large amount, there will he little revenue want
ed from duties; while if The lands are Withheld
from sale, the necessities of the government may
require higher duties. Protection under such "A
system, will lie only contingent and for that very
reason will amount to nothing Ii will in, pire no
confidence in capitalists 10 make new investments
OF money in manufactures and by the want of
confidence, those already existing will soon be
brought 10 all end. This system will indeed do
no better for the country than Tor proteclionisls.
depend upon heavy revenue in order TO get suf. 4
ficen, incidental protection, the tendency will al
ways be 10 make these interests ready 10 rush into
extravagant expenditures, and if possible run up
national debt They will be ready 10 pour out
money like water in time OF peace; and if peace
will not tap the treasury sufficiently, then will
there be inducements TO 8" let loose the dogs of
war" For these, among other reasons, it is evi.
dent that the Patriots position is not Orthodox,
Tariff Tor Protection is quite es necessary as for
revenue; aud Protection must be sought, not as
mere ncident-it must be HAD AT ANY RATE.
ms IS our doctrine now, and always has been.-
On this point we admit no charge of inconsistent.
cy from any body; certainly not from paper which
mas al one time proclaimed that il had no fixed
and nnaterable views on this subject