The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-01-08
St. JOhnsbury, Vt. January 8, 1874.

"Rssoired, in view Of the productions of our SOIL
the vast extent Of our territory, the Improvements in
agriculture and the increasing facilities for transport
tatlon, that we recognize the only means OF
ting and perpetunting market for our surplus pro-
duee, the paramount importance Of Protective Tar
~, and the permanent continuance Of the Protective
Policy regards the encouragement of Manufactures
Agriculture, and the various Mechanic Arts
1t is not my purpose TO discuss the general merits
of:h protective policy Arguments are not needed
in Vermont to prove its paramount Importance
Our people appreciate the value of the interests in
vOved in its maintenance, and well understand the
principles which il rests. But there are matters
connected with the main question, which need dis
eussion. The resolution speaks of ''the permanent
continuance of the protective policy How is it to
be continuedl How is permanence and stability to
beg given to it These are questions at this moment
of great importance. They should be well consider
ed II is not enough that have good tariff It must
be maintained. II were better, indeed that it had
not been enacted than, having been that il should be
abandoned, or impaired in its efficiency that the
interests which have been quickened into life by it.
should have felt that life only to yield up to the
axe of the executioner This general truth is uppa
rent; bui the danger impending may not be nppa-
rent to all. That danger is from the open enc
I mics Of protection The Calhouns and McDuflies
! are harmless. We know where TO find them, and
how to meet them. But the proessed friends Of pro-
/ teetion,-the men who talk protectio when their
faces are towards the North, and anti protection when
! they took in the opposite direction; who, in fact,
begin sentence with protection and end it with
| free irade;-these are the to be feared The
protected interests may well say in reference to such
men-Saye us from friends.
Now, sir, ii should be an essential part Of our pre-
paraou for the coming contest that we look at these
men sharply, and endeavor to penetrate their dis
guises The great interests involved our cherished
policy should not be committed for safe keeping, to
men ofdoubtfu fidelity those interests. It is no, to
be disguised that the contest OF the coming yeara
contest involving in its results the character OF our ma
iiOnal policy probably for long time to come-our
I main conflict is to be with men of this stamp The
current signs but too plainly Indicate that tho banner
! of our opponents is to be borne by SEA Northern man
with Southern princples''--a man. who or oil other
living men. is the adroi in TIE arts If political
legefdemain; and who will not be slow 10 practice
them in reference TO the question of The protective
policy. OF his adroi,uess herein we have had album
dant evidence in his remarkable career The "judi-
cous tariff Of Gen. Jackson furnished in its wonder
uludaptednsss every phase oropniOn on this sub
is worn out and ''ineidentai protection has been
substituted Ask disciple of this school if he is in
favor of protection. Certainly ia the re-
ply am in favor Of incidental protection 1t will
not do to abandon protection. But what is inciden-
tai protection This is grave question Is there
anything fixed and definite in this idea Incidental
to what? Incidental to the raising of reyeaue is the
reply. But hou? Incidental 10 the mere act of rails
! i,0 or hv hate r 4.
great claim of protection be answered by the mere
fict that amount of revenue is raised adequate to
the Of the government If SC, then if the gov
ernment most conveniently raise the required a.
from half dozen articles no matter what they
may be- there is then, protection the of the
idea expressed by the word incidental. This would
be accidental protection, and of course. might be no
protection at all. And that is just the protection that
| the most strenuous advocates of free trade will
| ling 10 give. For those who wish 10 look one way
and row the oiher-and there enough of them
''incidentai' is amarveously convenient and very
| '.judicious' word.
But there is another form of this disguise 1t is
protection incidental to discriminating duties-that
is, duties which shall discriminate as to rates of
duty, between different articles. But here the cues
ton arses-Wha shall be the rule of discrimination!
that of projections Tito the purpose of only,
then the protection may be just accidental in the
other because is very apparent that Congress
may discriminate in the manner best suited to the
mere purpose of raising revenue, and have regard
whatever, 10 protection, and, in fact, give 10
any interest. If abundant be the only pur-
pose, the duties may be laid mainly on articles
which do not come in competition with any thing we
produce; leaving those which do thus compete, sub
ject to duty giving protection. Indeed duty
of fifteen per the latter class ofarticles would
by reason of leaving mportations under such duty
raise, probably, revenue than 40 or so per
So, then, we may have Discriminating ,arfi,and
yet have no adequate protection. Indeed the dis |
elimination may be for the very purpose of destroy
ing protection. Away, them with this general, ndef
mite language, suited only to the purpose Of double !
dealing, and hold the protested friends of protec-
tive tariff something which shall fasten them to the
idea of projection, aud compel them to toe the