The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-04-11

well KNOWN ldCiS leColucu III VAC auIhCi
| ticated history Of our country, or wilIfu
rejection of evidence. The man of on
idea, convinced against his will, retains
but one idea still. Every school boy wht
has reaG the history of his own country
knows the truth OF all the testimony pre-
scented in my former reply as clearly a!
he can discern by his natural vision tina
a COW is not horse. Has Investigator
ever read the journals of the first Con.
gress? If so he must be convinced Of the
faIsitv of his statements, which are in sub
stance, briefly, as fo!lows:-that no bill
for the protection of home industry ever
passed that BODY, (meaning the first Con-
gress.) l would charitably hope, that
with all his learned researches, the follow
ing facts have escaped his notice. ltwa
then, as now the policy of Great Britain
to supply herself and The world with the
creations of her own induslry-to buy
nothing which she could produce, and TO
sell everything which others would puf-
chase. And it was notorious TACT that
British goods so flooded the country
that within two years after the close
of the Revolutionary war, it was esl-
mated that the country was more i'm
poverished by this influx, than they were
by a seven years war. The attention of
Congress was called to this subject by
petitions from all quarters to suppress this
growing evil, which threatened our de-
PRESIDENT WAsHINGToN,
the Congress, and all the country, wings
as they were, awoke as from dream to
see their danger. The result was the
passage of the first revenue or impost bill.
The preamble of this bill declared that it
was passed for this purpose, among 9TH
ars: for the encouragement and Protec-
ton Of manufacturers. This bill was a2-
proved and signed by GEN. WASHINGTON
IN the 4th of July 1879, an appropriate
1ay indeed. This bill underwent warm
and lengthy discussion in committee of
he whole. will give you, Messrs Ed
tors, for the iufor nation of Investigator,
few sentences of Mr.. Ames' speech in
Congress on this important Revenue bill,
IS it was then termed. II consider, Sir"
aid Mr.. Amos, '4hat the present Consti-
uton (.neaning the second, under which
hey were then acling) was dictated by
necessity, more than any 9th
r cause. The want OF an efficient gov
.rnment TO secure the manufacturing in
erests, and to advance our commerce was
oag seen by men OF judgment, and point
ID out by patriots sollcitous to promote
he general welfare" The new Consti-
utica was more efficient than the first one,
n the following respects as well as 9TH
,rs; it gave "power to regulate commerce
With foreign nations. TO levy, and col
ect taxes, duties, imposts, and excuses; TO
,av debts, and provide fJr the common
License general welfare;"& power of pro-
ecling industry in the great departments
Of agriculture, commerce, and manufact-
ures. AS a specimen, Messrs. Editors, of
he thousands of petitions thrown into
congress for protection againslBritshcom-
petitions oflhat early day, | will give you
he following. One from Baltimore sign
ID by 1872 citizens of that town, "humbty
that since the close OF the war,
md the completion of the Revolution,
your petitioners have observed with seri.
ous regret, the manufacturing and trading
interests Of the country rapidly declining.
while the wealth of the people hath been
orodlgally expended In the purchase of
hese articles from foreigners, which our
citizens, if properly encouraged, were ful-
Y competent to furnish. The happy pc
.iod having now arrived when the United
States are placed in a new situation; when
he adoption of the general government
yires one Socereign Legislative and &C.
;lusioe pomer Of laying duties upon sm-
oosts, your petitioners rejoice at the pros
,ect this affords them, that America, freed
rom the commercial shackles, which
lave so long bound her, will see, and
pursue her true interests, become ande.
,onJoot IN tart nc ,yelI nc m nane. and