The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-02-25

s23, 2sS tons, and the coasting trade increased
665 ,699 tons.
The value Of domestic exports for 1882 was
SOL Ell 057, and for 1910 Si3, 1895 1884. and ma
king difference Of $50 Sis, SIT, in favor Of Fl ee
trade.
The value Of exports Of domestic manufactures
rose from thu year 1882 to 1910, from $5,O5O,-
633 10 II, los, 53S.
These facts prove, beyond any doubt, that the
tonnage aud the exports to foreign countries have
increased under the principles Of free trade, and
declined under the protective system.
Mr. Speaker, will now consider some of the
most important arguments used for the protective
sy,lsn, The gentleman from Vermont (Nlr Slade)
seemed 10 me 10 present us many and us able ar
gurnen,s as any other member to sustain this sys-
.sm The ground-works, the pih,and marrow of
NIL he said, were. that manufactures had been pro-
'ec'ed from the commencement OF the Government.
All the Presidents, to late CATE sustained Them.
The faith Of the nation was pledged to Them to
preserve them. In Time of war they would be nee
essnry to Us, aud in peace we could make the pro-
,sc,ive system u counter action to England,
The argument Of antiquity and ancient usage
will no. do in many things nc applied to the Amer
i,ans or TO the American Government. This whole
Government, and all our happy Institutions the
result of the moral and intellectual Improvement Of
man, rather Than any bind adhrn we had 10
ancient presidents Every improvement and ame-
lilIation of man ara on the onward march TO hi
man perfection. Therefore, these stationary ar
guinenls, and the arguments that look back to an
cient precedent alone, without reason, ought not
10 govern U.S. When solid reason and sound argu-
ment are in favor of precedent, together with sue
cesful practice, then bow TO it, and not before,
II Il not many years back, that it was the received
opinion in Europe that kings and queens were sent
10 govern the people }" by the grace of God, and
that they ruled " by Divine right" The people,
at that day, were considered kind of stock be-
longing to the king, Many people AT the COM
mencenen, of our Revolution judged it wrong to
abandon the ancient tyranny Of the British King,
and become free people; and still, down to II
R.ore modern PERIOD many citizens IN the valley
Of the Mississippi considered il injurious 10 the conl-
muni,y to abandon the old mode Of navigating the
Western waters for the improved and modern in
yen,iol, of STEAMBOATS, Let any one, Mr. Speaker,
examine the models in the Paten, Office in this city
and he will see At once the great improvements AMI
inventions, achieved of recent date, over the old
machinery of the world,
Having all these cases Of improvement before
our eyes IN other things, may It not also he wisc
Improvement in the world TO adopt the principles Of
free tlude,
pretend not that the snges and patriots who n
rbie,ed our Revolution and gave life and moiou
10 our Government, were unwise, or wanted patrl
otism. They judged, no doubt for the best, at the
time. Our country was then ,hinly populated and
in truth and in fact poor. We had been exhausted
by long war; aud were not as able then IA n,
present TO establish manufactures AT that Time
also, the people were in the habit Of obtaining n
great portion of their foreign articles from England,
which required some e,irt to coun,erac. And
moreover, permit me 10 say that the country, from
that period, has changrd in almost every thing. II
has improved by experience. The wealth and non.
u..on of ,ha country have SO much changed, and
i,s resources are so mach more developed That il is
scarcely the same in any Thing as it was in the wear
1889, when this system commenced, As the conn.
ny changes may il not be necessary also to change
its policy! The people have changed from the mo-
nnpoly Of banks, and why no, change from the
monopoly of protection, us they are twin sisters?
will leave this argument winch il founded on
ancient precedent; and, in my opinion, without
reasons sufficiently strong to sustain it, and tuIn
my attention to the arguments ofolher gentlemen
ii il SAID in debate that much the greater portion
of the power and greatness of England Is al,ribu.a-
Bile 10 her protective susiem.
Mr. S;peaker, il is known to all these gentlemen
around me, for they are mostly lawyers, who are
honoring me 50 much with their attention, that
when part of the character Of person il brought
before cour, by one party the other party can al
90 examine the same character hroug bout. have
q right therefore, to examine the other side of the
character OF the British Government.
|, i. true. as the gentlemen said, no nation, in
ancient or modern times. is greater or more power
ful than the English; but, n, the same time, may
not the people of such great and'powerlu ia,on,
he the most miserable and wreched, on eaIih, Is
Il not the case II, this time with the English! Are
hot many of the people all over the Kingdom in
hesg,ry and want Are they not in II stute of
and many Of them absolutely dying for
the want Of bread Examine the beggurs and pau
pers, which is the result of protection Is this the
country for an example for US?
Thi, example reminds me Of the A, teaching the
bee, music; the fable states that dv. enriy one
came hunyry. naked. and sLiycrinc win
III. cold TO the be. hive and offered ia service n
The bee, 10 teach them ,nusc. The hoes rcr,,seI
and s,id ,hey did not wan, 10 learn n nrol.ssnn
,h,, had broupht the possessor I, such ,h.,,ue
starvation md beprory. So soy. like the hoe.
God n,eserye This coun,ry from ,ie m;.er,hIe and
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