Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-04-12
THE INTERESTS OF VERMONT.
Lecture, by d. X PASeBoRS, before the Burlington
Mechanics Institute, March 90, 1874.

IN appearing before you tO-HlBHli
labor under great disadvantages, for, at this day. e,o
qlience even is cheap and learning is common. But
have always felt the weight OF the divine oehuhc,a,
ton, "ln the of thy brow shalt thou eat oreau,
bearing upon me even from my childhood, ana ex
pec to do so till the full limit then fixed by the AL
mighty, "Till thou return to the dust ION whence
thou was, taken" !" | am no orator as Brutus IS,
but still trust that, though you may perhaps dlsa-
gree with me on many points, the importance Oh inc
subject have chosen may obtain for me patent
hearing and your indulgence and my limited educa-
ion (Which would scarcely have hanged me IN the
days Of Jack Cade) will obtain for me all necessary
allowance.
Ofpolltcal economy, as n science, know but lttle
But there some truths wifi stand out with such
prominence above the surface of things that he that
runs may read" and yet 1t seems 10 me mat even
these sometimes fer a long while overlooked
All feel with respect TO Vermont that she Is not what
she should be-that there is something rotten IN the
state Of Denmark land yet as it seems TO me her
troubles attributed 10 the right causes and
knOU the proper remedies have not been proposed.-
No sudden and unlocked for shock has beiallen YER
mont. The thousand manlas that have ragged else
where, carrying disgrace TO states, and rum to ndl.
viduals, have passed us by unscathcd The fever OF
speculation in Eastern lands and Western lands, af-
fected us but little. We built rail roads 10 the
moon and no cities in the wilderness. These evils
were the result of enterprise run mad, and the states
most affected by them slowly convalescing, and
yet we do not recover. The paroxisms of cholera are
much more fright!ul than the slow wastings of con-
SUMPTION and yet they may not be 80 difficult to
cure, nor as certain death to the patent .
1t is true in medicine, least in patent medicine If
we believe advertisements that there is no need OF un-
dersandng disease in order TO elect It's cure But
not so, | believe in regard 10 the malades OF the
state, although there are even in politics plenty OF
DR.. Brandreths and DR.. Morrsons, with Their uni
versa medicines, and their nosruns, like those OF
their great pro'oypesare only of one kind for all dis
eases,vz pu, me INTO office and put my neghbor out
We are not suffering from an e.rcess of enterprise
but for the want Of It, The world around us, Il l.
true, have sometimes gone wrong but we, for fear
we might err lave stood still, I'LL those whose course
has been most errac, have gone entirely ahead OF u.s.
And now, when we begin 10 wake up to the knowl-
edge OF the fact tina, are lehlnd II seems to me
very clear that we are whipping up the wrong horse
do not think lightly Of agriculture none can say
more heartily than do, Got speed the plowj and
none can estimate moro highly the hardy yeomanry
that guide II over our hs but, nevertheless, do
say that That wisdom which hopes to make Vermont
a iiourshlng and Independent state by fostering the
agricultural interests alone to the neglect and at the
expense IF the others, is not only unjust but foolish
There can be no lestion that the agricultural resour
ces of the state far better developed already, than
her mineral treasures or her manufacturing strength.
And believe all that is necessary is TO have her pre-.
sent condition. and the that have led 10 It, well
understood and the energies of her people wisely d.
rected, TO make her prosperous and happy.
Vermont may not now be as badly embarrassed as
some Others, vet believe her at this moment the
most dependent state in the Union, and that in pro-
portion to her exports and means of paving she buys
more than any other. We have no great staple like
the COTTON and sugar of The South. or the pork and
grain of the West which our nciahbors will pay us
IN" cash for We buy every thing and sci nothing
and tn" necessary consequences obvious To all
was told not lng since, by one Of on. most ntclll'
cent farmers, What large portion r, the farmers IN
the hast tJwus in THIS County were wing usurious
interest, and giving mortgages OF their farms
rty while money is worth but four per cent. in New
York
Blu, what has embarrassed Vermont and what are
her true means of relief! All who have been az
ed with This the las thirty m
aware that great changes have taken place during
that time. | well remember when wheat
ported, but we now buy our flour. Once, too eX-
ported ashes, but do no more at least but
little We once sod lumber III large quantities. aud
though the Canada lumber trade to the employer
but game of chance by which far more ruined
than made rlch and To the laborers 9th morally and
PHYSICALLY an Aceldaina,"-a field of blood, vel
the trade helped very much swell our cash exports
and brought much money into this section of the
state: we now sell but lir,e lumber, and that little
had far better be kept AT home. All these changes
which one by one have Topped off our resource are
but The result of the progress of events, and the
march Improvement about us while some Of the
very causes which have tended 10 strip Of ou
means have done much 10 increase our expenses
The canals, the allroads, and the steaml ,ha
have aided the development of the resources of the
mighty West, and brought her into market oul
competitor IN every department of agriculture, have
deuged us with foreign goods, and foreign fashions
changing as often as the phases of the moon,-ant
foreign ooleres whose name is absolutely, legion
and into the cost of which, had the means of infor
nation, | should not dare inquire. Now, we can NJ
more stop the progress of these things if we would
! than stop the seasons in their revolution.
But we have not the strength to arrest, we ma
have the wisdom to understand them. Not the fash
ions of the ladies' dresses don't mean, no, heavel
lore'end nor the Merno, Circassian, Bpmbazne, CIR
de Nap, Satin, Thibe cloth, Lustrc Muslin de Iaine
Alpine, Alpacca. Chaly, Chnsan, they may happe
TO be made Of The poet saith, and saith truly,
"There is tide in the affairs of Women, =
(which taken at the flood leads God knowswhere.
There are in Vermont 10000 females, and $50
900 dollars must be below the cost of the prnte
goods and shoes bought each year for the Who'll
number. Oi this sum perhaps one half goes TO on
eastern neighbors, and the remainder To France an
England. Then comes imprinted goods of all sort
made in the eastern states, cheap that some varit
ties will bear expectation 10 England ITSELF and a
SO low that our farmers daughters have long ag
thrown away their wheels and choose to buy coito
instead Of making linen cloth. But why attempt an
computation? We have no data from which TO jnda
with any certainty But we all know that artic
of female apparel, which il will do for washerwoma
TO can be made in Vermont, unless, indeed som
few of our farmers daughters still so far benin
the times as to knit their own stockings when the
should be studying French and taking lessons
music al fashionable boarding school,
Let us glance for moment, in Imagination, nj tn
, progress OF Vermonter in this life. At his first &C
vent into this breathing world, he is clad and ven
iure to say no one ar cle Of that first dress mad
IN Vermont. English flannel, Irish linen, Frenc
lawn PRINT, constitute the dress and Russian din
per fastened with Victoria PIN and his patriotic al
parel is complete His infancy is rocked t may be
in a willow cradle; all know Of which is that
was not made in Vermont. His chill hood is tickle
with the toys of Italy and France, or perhaps am,
sed with the gaudy coloed picture books of Londol
5 Phllane phla or 30 ton" Goody Twoshoes," "Pu
lnBoos" or some other equally valuable literary wor
Some larger plaything gives his youth delight;
A little louder but as foreign qulte;" -
and so on through life. Art is not called on to AZ
minister want, to crafty desire but il is dor
| BY tax on Vermonters for the benefit OF some o HI
people. The carriages and furniture of the wealthy
The tools of the mechanic the plainest crockery q
our tables The clock that marks the time the chat
seat sill on; the bread eat; the books we reat
The sheets we sleep in all, all are bought from oil
ers A Nermonter cannot PIN his shirt collar or bu
7 ton up garment or light his fire of a morning, b.
r he employs foreign mechanic and sends off Il
cash to pay him.
= And how, and by what means are we to pay for {
= this foreign labor and material? Why, forsooth '
6 are an agricultural people! We RAISE grain al
make pork, and beef and butter nnl cheese and ,
export. TOO some few articles of manufactures an
besides, there is our great staple Wool.
81 Let us look for few moments AT this question a
IF passionatey, and whether these resources can
% increase Il or, even If we are that they will
~ diminish st more. We have said ] believe if no
,,,iu IL hat Of, rl 4 II