Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-05-02
VOL. SO, NO. 33.-WHOLE NO. 1854.


labor; hence it must be cherished, and never suf-
fered to auguish from foreign competition.
do not desire, Mr. President, to raise one dol
lar more revenue than may be required for the ne
ccessary and economical wants of the government.
Looking back to the expenditures af the govern
ment and forward to the condition of our defen-
ees upon the sea-board, our Indian relations on
our borders and frontiers, together with the posi-
i've wants OF the navy and ARMY have estma-
'ed the expenditures at thirty millions annually for
the next five years, and shall set aside t,ps millions
annually to create sinking fund for the extn-
guishment OF the national debt. The aniount
then TO be raised is thirty-wo millions of dollars
| estimate the whole amount of imports at one
hundred and ten millions, on an average, for five
years the two first years may fall short of that
amount, the three last will probably exceed the
estimate. OF this one hundred and ten millions
deduct from three to i've millions of coin, and
fifteen millions of articles, which should be free
OF duty, leaving about ninety millions upon which
duties should be assessed. We have then ninety
millions upon which we can assess thirty two mil
hons annually, which would give about thirty
Three and third per cent. The difficulty now a.
RISES how shall The duties be assessed shall it be
Il horizontal duty Of thirty three und one third
per cent. ad vaorem on every thing or shall we
adop: the principle of discrimination and specific
duties? From considerable experience in these
matters have 10 doubt whatever of the expedi-
ency, nay, the necessity Of adopting the Iatter.-
Discrimination was adopted in the first tariff es-
ihDliShed, aud should not must not, now be aban-
doned. Specific Guties are far more safe and con.
Venient, IN most cases, than the ad valorem sys-
TEN. All practical merchants agree in regard to
the utility of specific duties. Our own experi-
ence should not be lost upon us. The revenue, [
am confident, would be much larger under speci-
nc duties, equal to twenty-five per cent than nd
valorem duties Of thirty FIVE per cent. The Of.
feet of al valorem duties has been to place the
foreign imporlaons of the country in the hands
OF foreigners; great proportion of the ad valo-
rem goods imported from Great Britain, arc
brought TO u. by British subjects, and nine ,ep,hs
OF all the ad valorem merchandise imported into
New York from France, is imported by Frensh-
men. So it is with nd vaIorem German goods. [
deem ii essential that there should be O specific
duty upon boots aid shoes. Under the tariff of
49,, you had specific duty OF one dollar and if
ty cents per pair on boots, and thirty cents on
shoes. Now there have been, under the reduction
OF the compromise act, large quantities of French
and German boots imported the best French boots
cost four dollars, and the German three do lars
under an ad valorem duty, you will find these
boots involced from France at three dollars and
perhaps at two dollars and fifty cents, aud from
Germany at two dollars. A duty of thirty-three
and one third per cent would not give you the
protection that would enable you to pay the la
borer any thing like the wages he has been in the
habit of recelylng Of course if his wages are
materially reduced, he and his family must be de-
prved of many of the comforts they have usual
ly enjoyed. Besides, you degrade the character of
our now independent laboring people, when you
reduce the wages of labor so low as not to allow
them the means of educating their children, and
clothing them decently, that they may attend pub
lie worship and the Sunday school on the Sab
| bath We should exert all our efforts to elevate
ana not depress the laboriny classes. We live I'M
der popular government, founded on public opin-
ION, and II is to the intelligence of the people we
are 10 look tor its stability aud permanency.
SIR, am for uni versa education. l have no
tear OF the people learning and moving too much
Our government cannot, will not stand, but with
an intelligent and moral population. Shall we
compare and place in the same scale the free, in
telectual industrious mechanics and working men
81 our country with those half paid half-sturFed
parlsh-ed people of Europe? No sir, my indig-
nation 10 excited when hear it said that the rea-
son WHY we cannot compete with the old coun-
'rieS IN manufactures and the mechanic arts, is be-
cause our labor is too high-we must bring down
the labor, is said, to the European standard, and
then we shall go on very well. Sir, do not de-
sire TO compete with foreign labor. hope never
10 see the time when labor can be obtained at the
price II is now in Great Britain. fair hand loom
weaver obtains but from 81 rs to 81 per week.
Farmers may be hired tor 30 to 25 cents per day,
and most kinds OF mechanics in proportion; paid
Of course aecordingIto the skill and employments
MOST articles OF subsistence, loo you must remenl-
Der, are double the price they are with u.s. Upon
the continent Of Europe labor is still lower Can
we, shall we throw open our gieat country 10 the
productions of all the world and maintain FREQ
Trade, which is all Oh one side Not country
in Europe will take an article from tins country.
that they not obliged TO receive either for rev
ehue or their manufactures. Cotton they cannot
at present do without, although an effort is max
ing, and fear successful one, by Great Britain,
TO supply herself with the common qualities from
ludla Tobacco is taken for revenue with duty
OF from TO 800 per cent Flour, pork, beet, in
short all our great staples, with the exception OF
cotton, tobacco and rice, prohibited and every
article that completes in the slightest degree with
their own labor. And ct they have the assurance
IN England to write books and pamphlets, and 10
make speeches. and send out reports from the Brit
18Th House OF Commons upon the submated
beauties OF Free Trade. We have seen their
plans from the time of Mr.. Huskisson, and have
had an abundance of theories up to the last report
OF Mr. Hume-snd Il has all ended in promises.
Not step has been taken to ameIiora,e the res
lrictive system OF Great Brilain--nor do believe
that there is any prospect Of change that will be
OF the smallest benefit to ns. The Corn Lave. il
has boen often said, iorthe last fifteen years, would
be repealed. Has it been done' No. Nor will
they he repealed, or modified, so as to admit for
eign corn, without the price reaches about - per
bushel with the duty. | am tired of tins evsrias-
ting speculation upon free trade. 1t means moth
entertained by practical men, Ii is a iranscenden-
tai u,opan doctrine, that has no practical result.
My friends We have in this country bu, one course
TO pursue, and that is TO look our own Country,
and to the special care Of our own labor-lel us
protect t-and with the protection that paternaI
government is bound to extend TO this ali impor-
Iani interest. have no fears TOR the prosperity of
our glorious republic have very much at beart
the success Of this question, which is SOON think
to ngilate the whole nation and feel its inpor-
lance to such an extent that | sincerely believe
thal nolhlns now will save the country from al
most fatal bankruptcy but a tariff, embracing the
principle OF discrimination and specific dulles
ana unwilling as | always have been to appear in
public l am ready to spend and be spent in this
cause, which believe to be that of the country's
best good--and would willingly, if it should lie
found necessary, buckle on the armor, and can-
yass our good old Bay State, from the shores Of
Cape Cod to the hills of Berkshire. l am eneour-
aged, howsyer, in looking 10 the future, from the