Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-10-20

they do to me. convincing and unanswera-
Bile the debt will, as the fund is under the
control of the State, be cancelled.
That Tariff of duties upon importatlons,
sufficient to supply all the reasonable wants
of the National Government, aud shaped
with a substantive and bona .tde intention
TO give adequate protection TO home indus
try. is absolutely necessary for the true in
dependence and prosperity of the country,
/ is believed to be a fundamental political
truth. which ought on all suitable occasions
to be proclaimed 1t is a doctrine, too,
which should be put forth in no ambiguous
terms, but ought distinctly to embrace the
idea of pro;ectfOd Ar tha-Sake of protection,
that thus there may be but two sides 10 the
question, and no cover for hypocrisy on
either.
The last Congress found that the sliding
scale of the Compromise Act had descend
ed so low that the revenue was not sufficient
to support the Government; that the low
rate of duties had caused excessive mporta-
tons of foreign goods, and consequently i'm
mense Indebtedness and large remlttances of
specie abroad, while at home the results
were, great injury 10 our manufacturers. as
well as to those who furnish materials, labor
aud subsistence, and an almost universal de-
preston of the business of the country. In
this State of things, the majority of that
Congress undertook to enact a new, and it
was hoped, better Tariff; and after the
strong opposition of the great body Of the
minority, aud with the reluctant votes of I
small number of that minority, the present
Tariff was passed. Although il is but about
year since its passage, its operation has
already been most beneficial. Business is !
now uncommonly active in the commercial
cities the important manufactures are in |
lively operation the demand for the great
staple of our State is revived, and the price
has somew hat increased and it is believed
that if the present Tariff can survive the at 4
tacks of its opponents in the next Congress,
the business of the country will be in per- |
manent state of prosperity, and, consequent
ly, our agricultural productions in good de-
mand.
If, as has been alleged, it shall turn out
that the protection afforded to every interest
except that which is peculiarly our own, is
too high, while the protection to that is in
adequate, it is surely consolatory to reflect,
that the portion Of the people, from whom
this complaint arises, NAV control the ma
jority in the next Congress and may add,
reasonable TO expect, that the majority will
raise the duty on wool to the necessary
point. The correctness Of this expectation,
however, time will determine.
1t should be remembered that the present
Tariff was not secured without great sac
rhce. The oyerweening opinions of the
President, and the opposition Of the minori-
iy in Congress. compelled the postponement,
and perhaps the final loss, of the distribution
Of the proceeds of the public lands among
The several States, TO which they have just
right. This was done, lest the want Of
sufficient revenue should obige Congress to
pass Tariff highly protective; thus inflict-
ing upon the States double iuiury--the
loss of their portion Of the money aecruing
from the sales Of the public lands, and the
risk Of having the present Tariff demolished
Or impaired. While we have yielded to the
necessity of suspending the Land Distribu-
lion, in order TO secure Protection, con-
ceive it to be our duty constantly to insist
upon distribution, as a measure which can
not be denied without trampling upon the
sacred rights of the States.
] have thus used the common privilege of
every citizen TO speak upon soue OF the
questions Of national policy which now en-
gage the attention of the public, meaning of
course no disrespect TO those who entertain
different views. My opinions may be of
small value, yet frankness requires that they i
should not be withheld.
thank you most cordially for the honor
you have conferred upon me, and | will as
cooperate with you in promoting
such measures for the good of the people as
your collective wisdom may devise, and aid 4
you, so far as it is my province, in bringing {
The session TO close with all convenient 4
despatch JOHN MATTOCKS.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
18th Oct A. ID. 1913.