Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-02-02
POLITICAL.
MIR. SHADES SPEECH.
Continued.

ing OF The letter on which have commented, II !
is dspelIed by another which comes TO The point
without DISQUALIFICATION. Ii was addressed to a
friend in Virginia, evidently without intending
tina, it should b. published but being too good
for an opponent of protection TO keep, the sub
stance of it was incauously announced in The
Richmond Inquirer; and the entire letter was fl
nally drawn forth through the columns OF that
paper. Ii is as follows;
ALBANY Feb 20, ls43
Ny dear Sr,-l thank you kindly Tor your
friendly letter. have at no time, nor any where
hesila,ed to express my DECIDED Interpretation Of
The Tariff 4d Of The last SESSION toeH in respect
10 The PRINCIPLE upon ichich ii is formed, as
10 lis details. In good time you viii have my
views in respect 10 Tint mud Other subjects before
the public. la The mean lime, believe me to he,
Very sincerely, your friend and obj serv't.
Nj. VAN BUREN,.
Thirteen DAYS previous to this NJ Van Buren,
had written his Indiana Letter; and this was in
tended as u private key to unlock lis mystery
" In good time you will have my views aud you
will be able to understand them!
Here, then, is tho exposition. And why did
lie not give il in the Indiana Letter? Why not
expressly say in that letter, that he was opposed
TO "He principles on which the tariff act OF 1912
I" was founded!" Because that letter wus to be
published and his hostility to the "pruciples' of
thc tariff must go forth mystificd- bali concealed
undera cumbrous mass of ve:biage That was
the reason.
But the veil is taken off Mr.. Van Buren, is OPP
posed TO 4" The principles OF the existing tariff Its
foundation is wrong. 1t rests on discrimination
for Tie sake Of protection; and for this mus he
substituted I" discrimination for The sake Of rerenue
only" This Is the SUN of the Whole matter-"the
complexion to which it comes at last"
Here, then, is the man who is TO he the stand
ard bearer of our opponents in the coming CON
test, the chosen leader, under whose banner the
hmm mai t,fnrtu md E,,,,, and
chaulcs and laborers, to whom an abandonment
of "he principItS on which The present tariff is
founded" would be paraly sis and prostralion, are
to be invited 10 rally. If his real principles were
TO he inscribed every where on that banner we
should have no fears. But they will not be-
They were never inscribed, in lcgibe characters,
III any place where ii was his interest 10 conceal
them. In Vermont, the policy will, OF course, be
TO profess great friendship for protection: while
the eresy Will, nevertheless, he cautiously incul.
Gated that discrimination Tor revenue PURPOSES
only IS to be tue rule OF legislation" .The man
uaclurng interest will, ut the same time, he rep
resented as "gredi and dHuent, Standing out amid
the general gloom" and STRIVING To secure its
own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by new and unjust imposi-
uons"--as though The people did not understand
that the manufacturing, and other industrial
interests, have always risen and fallen to-
gether; and now rising together under tariff,
whose principles Mr. Van Buren, privately says to
hsve shown the double dealing character of
Mr.. Van Buren's policy as exhibited in his Ind-
ana letter. The same kind of policy marked, the
course OF his Northern friends in the last Con-
Sgress. While about twenty fihem dared nor go
against the present tariff on its final passage they
were found in fun cooperation with the avowed
enemies OF protection some very important
questions preliminary TO its passage. Let me refer
to Two or three OF them.
AT the extra session, viZ on the I'd OF Septem-
Der, 1871, the Committee Of Commerce reported
the following resolutions:
"Resolved, That Il select committee of eleven
! members, not more Than one of which shall be
from any one State, be appointed by the Chait
Tor the purpose of taking evidence at the prnci
pal ports of entry and elsewhere as TO the opera
| ton of the existing system aud rates of duties on
! imports, upon the manufacturing commercial
and agricultural interests of the country ; and o
| procuring, generally, such information may ht
useful to Congress in any revision OF the revenue
| Laws which may be attempted at the next ses
| sion.
Resolved, further, That said committee br
authorized 10 sill during the recess, aud to employ
! Clerk"
The Importance ofthese resolutions every frient
of protection, will, at once, appreciate. The,
looked TO the revision Oft Tariff which the up
proachng expiration of the compromise" ren
dered necessary; und provided that The Tim
which would intervene between the extra, and tht
first stated session of the 27th Congress, (abou
three months) should he employed by commit
tee, in taking testimony as to the actual effect .
{ the existing rates of duties upon the leading inter
esls of the country.
These resolutions were laid on the table, by
vote of 81 to 62-the entire vote Of The Loco
from the North going thus against the resolution
3 with the exception of fOur--lhree from Pennsy
{ vanin aud one from Massachusetts.
| 1t was in vain that the friends Of protection III
; gcd the indispensable importance of the conien
- plated invest CATION for the ascerninmeni oil iii
, actual effect OF tho reduction of duties under III
r =" compromise" upon the interests which had bee
: deemed worthy the fostering care OF lhc govern
|. msnt; in vain that the example of the Britis
y government was appealed 10, whose uniform prat
lice oil taking testimony preparatory TO any revl
q ion olIheIr tariff, atiested the wisdom of the met
D. sure. How, It was asked, can we arrive AT al
II satisfactory conclusion as TO the extent to whic
any particular protection of our agriculture
manufacturers needs protection, or what afnou
OF duty will effect the protection needed, unle
{. No are permitted to examine those best acquan
ed with the processes Of its production, and til
/ OF The rival articles OF foreign growth or manula
lie lure?
in But all was in vain The only answer we cou
I'd get to our arguments was dead vote against Il
: measure, not only from the open enemies OF pr
H. lection, but from its pretended Northern irien
III who thought more OF securing Southern su
DS port 10 lheIr Leader, tlihh eihcieht protection
the industry OF their constituents. They we
ri, willing 10 leave the true friends of protection
IL the embarrassment ofallemptng TO mature Int
he sure touching This intricate and difficult sule
x with the imperfect information to he gather
Is from common sources aud then, under the Ii
Ill., lence of extraordinary concern for particular
~ eress, raise clamor that those interests had be
on neglected. This has been strikiDgly illustrated
Ter reference 10 the wool growing interest, win
Ter pretended abandonment and sacrifice have LAT
an been the subject Of doelul lamentations by
ZEE very men who thus denied the investigation ne
no ed 10 draw forth facts Indispensable TO he kno "
m III order 10 just legislation upon the subject. Ia
IN. for example, coarse wool. How fully and sal
itb iactorily might the investigation contemplated
Ter the resolutions have drawn forth all the male
facts connected with its manufacture in
nd countryside extent TO which it is produced h
nc, the supposed necessity Of permitting its imp
up. ton upon a nominal duty Tor the purpose OF 9