The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-09-26
Reported for the Albany Argus
MR. WRlGHTS SPEECH AT
WATERFOWL.

- ASAS a ~ ' '
MIR WRIGHT said he had bcen in the cours
Of the performance Of the services which for man
yeas had been de, olved upon hin by the kind
ness Of his fellow clizeus-he had been often call
ed upon by citizens and subjects Of foreign gov
ernnen,s to converse about our popular inslilu
tons And when he had undertaken TO tell then
that with us the people were not mere subjects II
be governed, but were part Of the government it
sel(--aye, that all the government we had resiet
on them as lis basis and received its direction from
their Wilt was statement which they seldom
failed to receive with ncredu,y The proudes
moment of his life would be this, if now he coul,
have an intelligent citizen Jf one of the govern,
mcnls of the old world standing b, his side anc
could point him 10 this vast usscmblage aud ask
him whether he did not think that the American
people felt tia, they were II part of tho govern,
menl Of the country. Look, Confined Mr. w
as if in this imaginary position, aud speaking to a
foreign subject by his sde) look at this sky (Which
was still lowerng) and at this assembled multi.
Iude, and tell me, according to your notions Of
government what has brought this great mass here
Would ne not believe that it is because in your
breasts rests the deep, abiding consciousness that
"A crisis has come in the aiaus Of our government,
demanding your earnest. patriotic attention, with
out reference to the character Of the weather or
the comfort of your position. Aye, it would be n
demonstration to such man beyond the power Of
argument; and, Iellow-ci,zens, would that you
had one more competent than am to aid you in
the discharge OF your duty as irecmen ofihis coun-
try. Yet called on as have been, with the NJ
most cheerruncss, as bu, speck in the debt Of
gratitude owe to the democracy Of this state and
most especially 10 the democracy Of Jefferson, and
Lewis, and Oswego and 5, Lawrence; will de-
vote the strength Of my voice and the best exer-
lions of my feeble mind
Every election (Mr Wright wen, on) brings
with it to u', issues Of vast Importance, dividing
the Two parties our country. This election has
brought along with it, with many others mu,h dis
cussed before You four years ago, one Of perya-
ding and universal interest ! refer yon 10 the
question of II tariff. II is vast question ques-
ton of great complication; but believe, with n
little of your calm, dispassonate reflection, and u
fair draft on our candor, wc can arrive at concu-
sions clear and unqueslloned, even upon this in.
tricac subject. VIVA, CONTINUED hc) is the diff,
erence between the tw) parties OF this suhjcci'-
Our opponents tell US they are in favor ola prolec.
tive tariff; and that protective tariff. as they I'M
ders,and it. is a source Of almost every blessing,
individually and collective'y,to every portion of
the whole country. That we may understand
each other perfectly. let US frs, ascertain, if we
can, what we should properly understand by n
protective tariff; Cor | believe brief examination
will satisfy us that confusion and msappllca,ion
ofierms has produced as much difficulty on this
great question as any other cause. But first, to
remove from our way, as democrats, stumbling
block which our ingenious opponents place there
let us look at what they mean and how we should
understand them when they tell you that we are
the free trade patty Of the country, and refer you
10 portion Of our brethren at The south who as
sumo that name. II is a mlsapplicalion Of terms
TO u.s. We know ard feel it. We are not in la
vor of free trade in the proper, fair and legitimate
sense or these terms, Are our southern brethren
so! Do they desire Il repeal Of all duties, and
that the necessary revenue shall he raised by u
direct tax on property ! cannot answer any for
lher than an informed; but will give you in
candor aud rankness the information | have.
admit when | saw this name assumed by those
who acted politically with me, at the SOUTH j.
startled and alarmed me could not conceive
that men of sense, Of information, Of extensive
practical experience should have adopted notions
Of that stamp as practicable under our govern
ment. On repairing to Washington at the com
mencement of the last session, finding that this
subject must be pressed on US for discussion and
action, went 10 some of these southern members
Of congress whom had known many years, men
Of truth and candor, and whom | had though,
men Of sound views, and said, 81 beg you to tell
me, If you have satisfied yourself that our reve.
nue. system is all wrong-that we should no Ion.
ger tax foreign imports to raise revenue 10 sup.
port government, but have direct tax upon the
property of the country" NO." said the frs
man asked, 90! entertain no such opinion neve
have, and know Of none who do swell ihcr
will you be good enough 10 tell me what you
mean. You call Yourself free trade mani" al
do So, and mean this. am friendly to hnvin,
the trade of the country kept as free as ii can b.
kept, and raise the revenue necessary for ib
supper, Of government; and when it is so, cal