The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-08-05
F0f the Spiril o[thc ire.
No Tariff-whOse fault is it?

sumed the reins of Government that after the 9O,h
of June 1912, the duties upon imports under the
Compromise Act, would be but 20 per cent, and
that 81 Oh rate would be insufficient either for
protection or the support of Government. With
large majortes in both branches of Congress, and
after two sessions of nearly eleven months, why
has not the party in power passed Tariff Law
sufficient for the wants of the Government, at the
same time making snch discrimination as would
afford fair protection TO the wool-growing. man.
ufac,uring, and all the other great interests Of tho
Country As no Tariff Law has been made, and
as our manufacturers are crowdihg their factories
with foreign wool imported duty free, excluding
the sale of our own, showing great neglect ofthc
interests of the people somewhere among the
"powers that be-" il is reasonable that the vo.ers
Of Vermont should examine the question, and know
who is in fault The wings contend that the fault
is in the President. To make correct decision,
let US examine the facts
The Land Distribution Bill of the Extra Session
contained proviso that the proceeds should cease
to be distributed, whenever the tariff OF duties was
more than 20 per cent. As men of all parties IL
gree that 20 per cent duty is insufficient. ask
the wing farmers groaning at the low price of wool,
what course should Congress have taken under the
circumstances Should the tariff bill have been
sacrificed, in order to appease the whims Of Office
seeking Parlizans in regard to the Land Bill -
You will answer no. You will all agree that
good tariff bill should have been passed and sent
to the President for his approval, wholly discon-
nected from any other question. Then the favor
tie wing measure, the Distribution Bill, could have
been amended if the majority so preferred it, and
sent to the President also If he approved or We
toed the one, it would not affect the other This
you agree is what should have been done. Now
let US examine what ras done by our wing SER
wants, hired at Sss per day, who pretend such
disinterested friendship for the farmer. That pas
done Which erery man of them positirely knew
could defeat The Tariff Bill. A clause virtually
repeating the restrictive proviso of the Distribution
Bill was inserted knowing thar the President would
veto it, and intending that he should so do. The
veto came, in which the Presden, tells them:
81 do not doubt that the necessities of the Gov
eminent do require an increase of the tariff of du-
ties above 20 per cent, and ne little doubt but
that above as well as below tina, rate Congress
may so discriminate as to give incidental protec-
ton to manufacturing industry, thus to make the
burdens which it is compelled to impose upon tho
people for the purposes Of Government, productive
of double benefit" And farther he says that
4" the proviso Of the (Distrbu,on) act of Septcm-
her ls4l being permitted in full force, tariff Of
duties may easily be adjusted, which, while il
will yield revenue sufficient to maintain the
Government in vigor by restoring its credit, will
afford ample protection and infuse new life into
all our manufacturing establishments. The condi-.
ton of the Country calls for such legislation, and
will afford me the most sincere pleasure TO CO.
operate in it,"
Thus says the President, proving beyond doub,
'hat any Tariff Bill disconnected from the Land
Bill would receive his hearty approval lie does
not ask Congress to repeal or even amend tho
Distribution Bill. He merely asks them to lie, i,
alone. 10 let that wing measure remain in full
lorce' as it was when enacted by tina: same whig
Congress. For this fair and honorable course, the
President is denounced by the majority in Congress
rs n traitor. and threatened with impeachment
They malicionsly and for party effect charge upon
him the failure of the Tariff Bill when every person
who examines the facts will say that the majority
IN congress alone is answerable. But not having
hl'ed the measure of their corruption, our wise
servants ncglecting the interests of their masters
the people, have passed through The House, ano,h-
er bill containing the same exceponabe feature
as the other, which If it pass the Senate, each
member knows will receive the veto of the Presi-
dent; after which they will return 10 their homes,
with the proud satisfaction Of having, by their own
corruption and foolish attempts to " head" John
Tyler, left their constituents to suffer under the evil
oil an almost free importation Of foreign wool
and goods, until another session.
Farmers and mechanics of Vermont, I ask Won
IN candor, is this the entertainment to which you
were Invl'ed' Was it for the present lamen,ablc
state OF affairs that you excr,ed yourselves in IS.
io' Is it for this that you nre called upon to fat
lher support the snmc party in 1922 A party
whose leaders and whose prints without exception
Justify the miserable proceedings in Congress -
Whose leading candidates for your sufrrages arc
fulfilling their promises f"6O cents for wool" by
providing their factories with foreign wool impor.
led free ofdu'y, while You are compelled to keen
yours, or sell to them at 20 10 25 cents nor no.uo
IS 1t not time to awake to the interests Of yonr
State Examine the legislation Of the pas, year
What party is crowding your neighsors and friends
nto Jail with murderers, for no other crime than
hat OF poverty I answer, the whip party. bv
ner laws, approved by a wing minority Governor.