Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-03-18
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Friday MORNING. MARCH, lo, 1872.
THE TARIFF CONVENTION.

The Tariff Convention, which met in this
town last Friduy, was one of the most re-
spectacle meetings, both in point of charac-
ter and numbers, that we ever attended
within the limits Of Chil,endcn county. We
mean, OF course, TO except the ever menora-
bic STATE Convention, which assembled here
in June, 1910. But, aside from that, we do
not recoect, during the whole Tirprcanoc
warfare, to have been present at meeting,
composed of more substantial citizens, or in
which better spirit, greater enthusiasm, or
IA more commendable resolution was cxhi-
hled. The official account OF the proceed
lngs will be found in another par, of the
paper, and we hope our brethren of the
press, who are friendly to the Protective
Policy, in every section of the State, will
spread the resolutions before their readers.
lhcywere drawnup with great care, breathe
the right spirit and speak in proper tone.
We have no doubt they embody the scnti-
men's of grea, majority Of the People of
this State. We ask nothing from the b0unty
OF our Government. We demand as a rigM
! that the labor Of the People should be pro-
tecled--lIat they should be permitted to
use their own muscles and their own sncws
without molcstation or interference from
England. This is the doctrine of the res.
outions. And who, that has an american
heart in his BOSOM, will have the hardihood
to dispute it! Who will say, that, willie it
is the policy Of EAgiand to exclude trom
her market, by Tariff which amounts to IA
total prohibition, every thing which is grown
or manufactured in this country, our ports
should be thrown open to admit, free of duty,
the products Of her pauper labor? Who,
that has eyes TO see, cannot perceive that
such policy, long persisted in, will inevita-
bly,, necessarily, drain from this country
every specie dollar in circulation, and leave
every thing we produce, more than we
consume, to rot on our hands for the want Of
IA market! Who will deny that such must
be the ultimate result of this boosted policy
of Free Irade," so much lauded bv
Northern dougr-laces and Southern anti
Tariff men?
But, say our opponents, high duties make
high prices and compel the poor laborer--
the consumer - to pay to the rich manufac-
turer, as bounty, the additional duties i'm
posed for protection. Now these assertions
have, again and again, been shown to be
utterly false by statistical facts which none
can deny. They never have been fairly
met. They never have been, and never car
be refulcd. But for the sake of the arpu.
ment, let us admit, for IA moment, that the
price Of the protected article rises as pro-
lection increases, and falls as the duties di.
minish. Does it follow, we ask, bccaus,
the price of the protected article is increased
by a high Tariff, that il cannot be so casil,
paid for by the consumer? Does nat tn,
high price result from the greater amour
: ofspeoie in circulation And in low Tart
times, when our markets are flooded will
the productions of Europe and paid for il
cash, are not the reduced prices the coasc
. qae"ce cfthe abstraction Of specie from tn
" country! And is it any more diEcuh to
;, the poor man to pay for his eloM phe
- prices are high and money is plenty, tia
. 'ohen they are lar aud money re,y scarce
" Dies not the difference IN tie raiue Of none
make the difference in the price Of the cloth
We cal! upon the opponents of the Pro
tective system in this State to answer thcs
questions before they handy any more ep
- thets about robbing the poor man and pan
It. pcring the protected nabob. We shall resunl
u, the sahDcct again at our leisure.