The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-31
PRESS
Middlebury, May 81, 1913.
MR.. WEBSTER'S SPEECH AT BAL
TIMORE.

Oui iSodSto SShSaoAAl DSSAA e''N'
that complimentary dinner was recently
given to Mr.. WEBSTER at Baltimore, and
served up in splendid style at the Exchange
Hotel His speech upon this occasion is
exciting great interest, and we extremely
regret that the state of our columns before
we received it was such as to render it i'm
possible to give it to our readers in extenso.
He says nothing, as was expected, of his
position in relation to the present admins
tration, or of his views of the conduct and
policy of John Tyler. He confines him.
self entirely to subjects connected with the
great commercial, agricultural and manu-
factoring interests of the country, and ur-
ges strongly the expediency of resorting to
treaty stipulations for the regulation of our
trade, and exchange of commodities with
foreign nations. He strongly urges that
more may be accomplished by CONNER
cial treaty for the benefit of the country
than from any amount of protection by
means of tariff The extract from the
speech which we give below will explain
his views upon this subject.
Now for our humble selves we entertain
not particle of hope that treaty can be
formed with England upon any fair ground
of reciprocity. England would doubtless
be very glad of an opportunity of again de-
luging our country by the free admission
of her woolens, her iron and her silks, and
after sweeping away every home manufac-
ture, charging US what she pleased for her
fabrics. This is the quid pro quo. Mr..
WEBSTER seems to think she may admit
our breadstuffs, even our Indian corn, at a
less rate of duty. Which would amount
to this, yield up the full possession of your
market for our manufactures where we can
set all rivalry at defiance, and you may have
the empty advantage of competing with all
Europe in vending your grain in Liverpool
and London. But is there any reasonable
ground of hope that even this contempla-
ted concession OF their market would be
made by England, advantageous as it might
be to a certain portion of her population,
at the expense of her great landholding in
terest, which in Parliament has ever been
too omnipotent to be controlled by any 9TH
er influence in the government.
And how silly it would be for US to send
our breadstuffs three thousand miles TO sup
ply British operatives, and then receiving
foreign goods in exchange. instead of hav-
ing them consumed at our very doors by
the home manufacturers, and taking do
nestle fabrics in return free from freight,
commission. and mercantile profit. This
would be perfect lunacy. 1t would be sac
rificing the certain, steady and ample home
market for a foreign one of the very oppo-
site description, and subject to the rivalry
of nations enjoying the most decided ad-
vantages in the competition from their prox-
unity. The Germans, Danes, Prussians,
Poles, and Russians would supply the de-
manG before it could be known across the
Atlantic.
No one could have so happily illustrated
the vast importance of pcrmanency in our
policy than Mr.. WEBSTER has in his speech.
Whatever it may be, says Mr.. WEBSTER,
let US stick 10 IL. But unfortunately for his
consistency in laying at the door of change,
change, the dreadful paralysis under which
we are laboring, he proposes a new and
extensive scheme Of reguating the business
of the country never before dreampt of,
and would so rivet it upon the nation that
it could not be changed but by a voluntary
modification by the parties TO the treaty.
As delicate and difficult task as is the ad.
Justment of the pecuniary concerns of a
country. especially by a bargain with such
a sharper as England. nothing would seem
TO US so hazardous as holding the power of
reform at the mercy of that government.
Far better would il be to retain correcting
blunders under our own control until the
sagaciiy of our rulers can be more reliable
than for few years past. Let "entang-
/ ling alliances alone"
| But it is for the very reason that we dep.
reca;ed change, that we wish Mr.. WEE
srER had never preached this new project
of a commercial treaty. After long, pa.
tent, and laborious investigation into those
principles of political economy best adapted
TO the wants of the country, tariff has
been passed. In protecting almost every
branch of domestic industry, nothing better
has been ever devised, and should expert
ence develope errors they may be easily
remedicd by future legislature. Under its
fostering influence all the various interests
] L.