The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-03-01
SPEECH
EECH
MR.. SLADE, OF VERMONT,
IN FAVOR OF
A PROTECTING TARIFF,
Delivered in the House of Representatives,
December 90, ls4I.


Decenber 90, ls4I.
As il is thus rendered apparent that the sue.
cess Of the gentleman's motion will in fact, abo
ish the Committee on Manufactures, and indi-
cate disposition on the p"rt of this House to
abandon the protecting policy, propose to ex-
anime the origin and the history Of that policy,
TO urge the duty of its continuance, and to call
the attention of the Eouse to the crisis which is
impending in reference to the interests which II
was established tn protect.
The nature and necessity of the policy IN ques-
tion are indicated by its name. Ii is tie pro-
tecting policy. 1t supposes the existence of a
policy which is TO be COMMENSURATE attacks
| which are to be repealed. II acts on the defen-
sive, and ceases 70 act only when foreign legis-
la,ion ceases to render its action necessary.
That necessity has existed from the very com
mencement of this Government The achieve
ment of our independence did not change the
policy of tile mother country. That policy had
been 10 prohibit the manufactures, to disco urage
the navigation, aud TO resiaiu the commerce of
the colonies; 10 give single direction to their
| industry, and Ia make il tributary TO British
wealth and power. The iriumphs of the Revo-
luton relieved us from the power of British legis-
/ lation. That legislation it is true, had ceased
! 10 act on us directly but il still reached us. Ii
prohibited our trade with British colonies; j; dis
couraged our navigation, by imposing dscrimi-
mating duties on our tonnage; and it prohibited
or burdeued with excessive duties the impor a.
ton Of every production of our Industry which
could come in competition with British industry
| 1t was then, as il is now, the policy of Great
| Britain 10 supply herself and the world with the
creations OF her own industry-to buy nothing
which size could produce, and 10 sell every thing
| which she could induce Others to purchase
Such, too, was substantially the policy towards
US # all Europe. II is needless 10 say that, un-
| der It's operation, our manufactures languished
and our commerce and navigation were crippled
and prostrtted. There was but one remedy for
all this. 1t was protective Legislation. To this
the Government OF The Confederation was in
competent. 1t had no such power to regulate
commerce as 10 reach tie evil. Ii could lay no
imposs 10 check the food Of foreign manufac-
| lures, which were exhaustiDg the couLtry tn
| foster the industry and augment the wealth of
others. The State Government could not act
in concert, and were therefme powerless. Their
| disconnected Efforts were unavaiIing.
| A sense of this great defect prevailed the
country, and aided in impressing upon il con-
| viction of the necessity of a new Government
Said Nh. AMEs, in the debate, in the first Con-
gTeSs, on the revenue bill, TO which shall here
alter REFER
81 conceive, sir, that the present Constitution
was dictated by commercial necessity, more
than any other cause. The ,cant Of an efficient
Government to secure The manufacturing interests
| and 10 advance our commerce, was long seen by
men of judgment; and pointed out by patriots
solcitous 10 promote our general welfare"
II was IN this state of things that the Constitu-
| ton was formed, and this very state of III ings
constituted one OF the chief reasons for forming
it. In this respect, above all others, there was
need of ga more perfect union p for. in nothing
was the old one more imperfect than in this.
The new Government was hailed as the in
strument Of delve ance from commercial thral-
dom. The people recognised in its power to
regulate commerce with foreign nations" and 10
clay and collect taxes, duties, inposts, and ex-
rises, 10 pay the debts and provide for the com
mon defence and general welfare" the power To
perform the indispensable duty Of protecting their
industry in tile great departments Of agriculture
| commerce, and manufactures.
To enable US Ia enter more fully into the views
in which the protecting policy originated, as well
as to show how the question OF constitutional
power was regarded by the people, at the mo-
ment the new Government went into operation
il may be useful to recur to some of their petitions
presented to Congress al its first session under
the Constitution.
| have before me "the petition of the tradesnen.
mechanics, and Others, oil the town of Bal more,'
10 which ind appended the names oil seven
hundred and thIrty-two citizens of that town, and
which "humbly showeth:''
That since The close of the late war, and the
completos of the Revolution, your petitioners
have observed, with serious regret, the manufac-
turing and trading interests Of The country rapidly
declining, while the wealth of the people
hath IN prodigally expended in The
purchase of those articles from foreigners, which
our citizens, if properly encouraged, we're fully
! competent to furnish
ITO check this growing evil, applications
| 40 H., - IL
Legislatures. These guardians of the people, in
several of the States, interposed their authority
Laws were by them enacted, with the view of
subduing, or at least diminishing, the rage for
foreign, and Of encouraging domestic, manufac-
,, lures. But the event hath clearly demonstrated
| to all ranks of men that no efectual provision
! could reasonably be erpeeted, until one uniform,
efficient Government should preUade this ,cide er-
tended country.
"The happy period having now arrived when
the United States are placed in new situation /;
when the adoption OF the General Government
gires one sovereign Legislature the sole and erclu-
sire po,cer Of laying duties upon imports, your Pc
tltoners rejoice at The prospect this afurds them
that America, freed from the commercial shackles
which have so long bound her, will see and pur-
sue her true interests, becoming independent in
fact, as tceH as tn name and they confidently
hope that the encouragement and protection of
American manufactures will claim the earliest
attention of the supreme Legislature of the ma
ZION; as it is an universally acknowledged truth,
that the United States contain within their limits
resources amply sufficient to enable them 10 be-
come great manufacturing country, and only
want the patronage and support Of wise, en-
ergetic Government"
The petitioners then drew picture of the con-
dltion OF the country. "the number of her poor in
creasing for want of imploymcnI fore ign debts.
accommodating, houses and lands depreciating in
value, trade and manufactures languishing and
expiring ;''and conclude by praying fthe supreme
Legislature of the United States, as the guardians
of the whole empire, TO ''impose on all foreign