The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-03-22
S267,726,579
Total


There is one of these results in branth of in-
vestment in which my constituents are especial
" Interested, which ! am enabled by an exam
ination of the returns in the Deparlment oil State,
to present 10 the House, and which furnishes an
argument for a continuance OF the protective po-
Icy, which am sure must strongly commend
itself to the judgments of all VIC hear ME. al
lude To tie wIol-gruwing interest.
There were in the United States in 1910. ac-
cordirg To the returns of the marshals, 1884,
374 sheep. The present number may be comput-
ed al moi less than twenty millions. IL proba-
bly, exceeds that Indeed, the number returned
by the marshals was probably below the true
number 10 1910. The capital invested, estmat-
ing the sheep at TWO dollars head, and the land
necessary for their subsistence-being at The rate
of one acre for three sheep at twelve dollars
pcr acre, would amount TO Sl20OOO.OOO; 10
which should De added the investments neces-
sary for the support OF those engaged n the care
of the sheep, tie clipping of the wool, and It's
transportation TO maikeI, amounting probably to
Sl0000,0 900 more.
The annual product of wool, at an average Of
two and half pounds head, is fifty millions Gf
pounds.
Of these 20, 600 900 OF sheep, Vermont with
population of but 292 900 souls, has ,6Sl ,Sl9-
being an average OF five and three quarters 10
every man, woman, and child, in the State. The
capital invested, upon the basis of the estimate
of s 80, 000 900 for the whole country, is about
81 !, DOC, O00-equiyalent 10 S35 10 every soul la
the state.
or the 90 600, 900 of sheep, New England,
New York, Pennsylvania, aud Ohi', have over
10 100000
The owners of this amount Of capital are cuL
tivators Of the soil. The evils which have been
supposed by some be inseparably connected
with labor in manufacturing establishments, it
will not be pretended TO attach The employment
Of the Shepherd. AL! the influences connected
with this employment are the most favorable TO
moral purity and genuine Independence; and |
may proudly point 10 the wel-known character
of the people of my own state, as evidence Of the
truth OF this assertion.
The CAIN on the score Of justice, OF the people
who have made such large investments, 10 a leg
isIdtion which shall not abandon them, is too OBJ
vious TO need comment. ] pass % the broader
view of The subject, which regards the wool-srow-
ing interest as a national concern.
Wool is a raw material Of vast importance In
a national punt of view. Ii is a leading obj"ct
in the Protecting policy, 10 render our country
independent OF foreign countries in time Of war,
as TO articles of indispensable necessity and com
fort 20 the people large, TO the troop, en.ag-
ed in our defence. In these respects, the various
nome which our soil and our industry can pro-
duce. Ii is fact which ought 10 be remembered,
thai at the commencement Of the last war, we
found ourselves dependent on our enemy Tor
munitions Of wal and cl thin. foi our armies
supplies Of which were 10 considerable extent
Obtained through an illicit commerce with that
enemy. The price of wool rose during the war
to two and three dollars pound, and OF woolien
cloths 10 ten, twelve. fifteen. and eighteen dollars
a ward.
Can any wise statesman, in this view OF the
subject, be Indifferent TO the great wooen in-
ierest, both manufacturing and agricultural,
which has come into being under the combined
influences 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
evcn-of warl In other respects
we do moi: and why should we in this! W.
expend millions annually upon Notifications,
ships Of war, the procuring of ordnance aud
ordnance stores, and in the manufacture DIVA
rious descriptions ofarms suited 10 our defence
In this we act wiselv--at least in accordance
with The maxims which have hitherto govern
ed the world. We regard these preparations
as Indispensable; and yet have we no wisdom
10 see that The fostering and sustaining Of tho
interest," 10 WHICH iidNC lClSiiNu, ~ WV ~
The iron and other interests, are also indlspen-
sablcl We have committed TO US the power
% make war; and we may be involved IN war
with the mos, powerful nations in the world
md yet the opponents Of the protecting policy
would disarm US of the power possessed by
very other nation upon the face ofthe earth
hat of developing and maturing all the re
sources necessary TO the putting forth of their
Utmost strength in the conflicts we may have
sItb them.
Let US then carry out the policy which has
lot only brought into existence manufacturing
Establishments connected with the wool grow
ng interest, which need continued protection.
ut which has produced large investments in
he production of the raw material. which i,
would be unjust 10 abandon,iand which cannol
e abandoned without the hazard Of our being
gain placed in state OF humiliating depsnd
oce, in the event of another war.
And, sir, we ought TO protect wool and its
not only TO save from sacrifice
resent investments, but with u view to an IN
rcased production in these departments Of in