Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-08-01

engrossed the principal part Of our commerce in
the city Of New York, are the great centre from
which this free trade enanates. They have some
Of The presses of the country in their interest
and no means ore spared TO disseminate these
doctrines through the land. We have, sir, hereto
fore heard much about British gold" and its cor
ruptng influence. Now, sir, defy any man to
produce more striking instance of foreign influ-
ence than this case presents. Foreigners have en-.
crossed seventy four per cent. OF the commerce
OF New York, and the member from that city
comes forward aud pleads for unrestrained com.
merce; nay, so devoted ia he to their interest," he
had rather have recourse to direct taxation than to
subject his foreign friends to tho great inconven-
fence OF estifying TO false invoices as they have
been convicted Of doing. do not, Of course, in
Tend TO accuse that gentleman Of being corrupted
by them himself but If he, with his admitted
honesty and fairness eau he so far influenced by
the doctrines they put forth, to give up the or
binary mode OF raising revenue, and to advo-
cate the doctrine OF imposing direct tax upon
the people, we may safely conclude that this for
egn influence is overshudowing in that city.
The very fact that foreigners have engrossed
seventy four per cent. of the commerce of New
York, add that gross frauds have been committed
by them upon our revenue, shows the necessity OF
some legislation on our part and have no doubt
that the substitution OF specific for nd valOrem du-
ties, aud Other necessary checks, would save TO
The government hundreds OF thousands annually
ThIs glorious free trade doctrine, this golden
dream, over which gentlemen are brooding, is alto
gehnr imprncticahle. |, could not and would not
exist, even il all nations should attempt to come
into it. The different localities, conditions, and
situations oil the nations would give one country
an advantage over another, und destroy the
very thing aimed at. Bot the nations OF Europe
will not in practice into the doctrine Of free
trade In the imposition of duties, they all dis
criminate against us; and why should not we rec
OuuiZp tlp urlu,inlp and ulSc rlmiunf Them
Free trude OH Que side and restrictions on the
Oiher, would be iar from the doctrine OF equality
1t would be madness and folly for us to open
our ports TO the productions of all Nations, while
they are hedging in our commerce on every hund
This idea is 50 repugnant to tho common sense Ol
mankind, that no person would adopt II in his
own private rffnirs. Let two neighbors be so sit
uued That they were under the necessity OF eros
sing each others land, and let one impose duty
upon the other Tor the privilege, and how long
would it be belUre the other would be under the
necessity in self defence, of imposing something
of u countervuiling duty? II the cities of Bos
ton and New York were equal in their advantages
and resources, and were cut off from all the rest
of the world, aud were compelled TO have COM
mercia inteicour with each other, aud the CITY
in my own State should impose restrictions upon
the commerce. OF New York, how long would the
honorable membef from that city he willing TO
practise upon his free trade doctrine Would lie
advise his constituents TO remain tributary to the
New England emporium until the merchants and
capitalists left the city and removed 10 Boston,
where they could enjoy tho advantages of laying
New Y ork under contribution ? Men may talk Of
free trade theory, but no one would be willing 10
reduce it to practice.
MIR. ChairEan, the protection Of our own in
dustry is so important, and so obviously the duty
OF the Government, that hope and rus, we shall
adopt one of the bills now before us, with such
notifications as may be found necessary Such n
measure is demanded at our hands; every inter-
est requires relief. An exhausted Treasury and
n sagnant commerce, agriculture languislng, aud
manufactures laruly wed, to us make their solemn
appeal. Let the voice of the public be heard and
let us adopt measure which will give to industry
its due reward.