Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-05-02


mone me most important, and perhaps il would
DO safe to say the largest mechanical and
manufacturing interest in amount in the country.
reJelce to see the people awake to their true
INTERESTS and that they have sent you here to con-
sun ond deliberate upon the best manner of pro-
curing security now and hereafter to the laborers
IN this branch Of business. l look at this Con-
ventlon, assembled without distinction OF party, as
" the dawn OF brighter day. aud | hail it with
Joy as the commencement Of general movement
IN all the States, favourable to the protection of
our own labor; hoping that a strong expression
oil public opinion may produce the adoption of
system of measures by our government, which
not only the people but the government itself re-
quires. The remedy for the evils under which
we now suffer, is in your own hands. You are
the sovereigns, aud can make and un,Hake our ru-
lers; il is at the ballot box that the question of
protecting our labor is 10 be settled. The great
majority of the people ofthis country are working
men, laborers upon the soil, or in some one the
mechanical trades and when they, in the con-
ciousness OF their integrity aud worth, rise aud
assert their rights by sound arguments YOU may
be certain they will be heard und respected by the
Congress of the United State.
ask you, fellow citizens, to look for moment
10 The condition OF our country. Have we ever
seen anything like it, in time of peace before? or
even since we existed as a nation In Two thirds
OF the States we have paper currency not con-
vertable INTO coin-without q standard of value
Tho credit OF several OF tho States gone aud their
stocks selling ut one fifth their par value The
treasury OF the United State empty, aud its credit
dlsrused, so that Treasury notes at discount,
ana government loans cannot be negotiated. Tho
general government cannot pay its debts. Some
OF the States cannot pay Banks do not pay, and
Is u surprising that individuals do not pay 1?
MIR. President the grea, business of this great
country is parayzed; every branch of industry
Is almost at stand still, and this too in q country
blessed with every thing man eau desire, with all
Tue elements oil prosperity in it; and this suffering
10 brought upon the people by the want OF very
moderate amount OF honest and wise legis alton.
Ihs nation, several Of the states, and individu.
aus are bankrupt. Strange as it may sppear in
this posture Of affairs it is proposed to depart
ron the uniform policy by which we have been
governed since the adoption of the constitution,
ana Try the experiment of low and uniform duties
upon imported merchandise. Sir, | am opposed
20 experimenting upon the Labor of the country.
IL Is mere experiment upon The laborer, aud lille
experience VIII he sufficient to prove my assertion.
we want no more foreign merchandise at present
We have already quite TOO much more than we
can pay Tor. We import loo much and manutdcitir
Too ldHe. "Tbe whole question is in nut she'll"
anu can be seen at glance: our distress arises
chiefly from the surplus of foreign products, Tor
ecu upon US in many instances by foreigners un-
der the compromise net and ad yalorem duties
''"o "'S'hO hicH III OuT country tllHt feel most
senslbly the effects OF the fluctuations in the cur
rency, excessive imporlations and reyulsions in
business! Is It the merchant the farmer, the pro-
lessiOnal man or the mechanic? All men and all
interests are more or less affected by these chan
ges; D,it sir II is the hard working frugal indus
tr'ous mechanic who is the greatest sufferer, and
IN no one branch OF mechanical labor does tho
pressure OF the times cause greater embarrass-
men' than among those engaged in the manufac-
lure oil leather; Tor it is produced in large amounts
Tor export TO other parts of the Union, and when
link IN the chain receives blow, il ybraie, to
either end with force that is felt severely by ALL
me annual product of leather when munulactur-
ga III all lis branches has been estimated M 30
hilliions OF dollars and large proportion of this
enormous amount is made up OF boots and shoes
ana shall this vast interest be suffered to perish for
want oil moderate protection from the General
government? Shall it be sacrificed upon the al
Ter OF on abstraction, called free trade? No. sir il
requires protection, aud must have it. You have
right to call upon Congress TO protec; your labor
against Inc distressed and miserable pauper labor
OF Europe. We should have a protection that
WIN secure the Journeytnan aud the apprentice, as
well AS the masIerworkman. Ii is the laborer who
requires the fostering arm of government
have already said, that the great source OF our
trouble IS, that we import TOO much and munufac-
ture too little. Why, sir, imports for the last
ten years have far exceeded our expotts. Wa
n
which is truly fright(u The amount of state.
city, bank, and other corporation stocks held A.
oroai, which we have sold and pledged, amounts
10 TWO HUNDRED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Besides
tins pal sum, we pay Tor should do So near
y million OF dollars every month Ton interest
es sir, more than Two hundred thousand dollars
goes every week to Europe TO pay our interest Oh
this d4bt. Now | ask, what have we 10 show Cor
his two hundred millions of debt created in the
last ten years, under the compromise act of low
dulles and no duties at all on one half of all our
imports? Why, zoe haze had a great amount of
champagne and French Ribbons, and a LITTLE RAIL
ROAD IRON. | confess that the recklessuess with
which our public affairs have been MANAGED in
lhis department OF our national economy is abso-
luely appalling. Our country literally mortgage
al, not at home, but abroad, for TWO HUNDRED
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, for which we have receiy-
ed The surplusses OF the manufactures of every
country IN Europe, to the permanent injury of
our farmers, mechanics, merchants, manuiactur.
ers; IN TACT, oil every individual, whatever his &C.
cupation or condition may be.
Many persons have regretted our loss of credit
abroad for one, cannot agree with them at the
risk OF being denounced as political hereto, |
rejoice that we cannot borrow another dollar. NV
only regret ID, that we have been able TO borrow
so large an amount, much of which | fear will
never be paid, TO the disgrace of those who have
borrowed the money. Ii would have been n great
broad many years ago. If we had drawn the
coin for the loans instead Of broad. cloths and cal
icoes, French boots and shoes, &c. &c, our debt
now would have been but u small amount.
MIR. President, the question comes at once, when
we look at the condition of the country, what can
be done TO restore our lost prosperity, and raise
the failing credit OF The country? The first meas
urs, in iny humble judgment, that should have oc-
cupied the attention of Congress last December,
have made antnla n hu ,L l.,
ton of Tariff of duties upon imports to meet all
the necessary expenses of the government, and
provide a sinking fund TO pay off the national
debt II this had been done, confidence would
have bsen restored, and you would not witness
the scenes of trouble that present themselves at
the present lime. regret however, TO say that
the condition OF affairs at Washington is not flat
lering, and that many things are doing that should
not be done, and great many lett undone which
II sis their duty 10 do"
do not speak as politician. wish nothing
from tho people but their good will and nothing