Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-10-18

within the state
The term Of one Of The Senators of this state
in the Congress of the United States will ex-
pre on the third of March next. 1t will there.
fore, become your duty 10 elect person TO rep.
resent this state in the Congress OF United
States for six years from and after that time.
have received from my predecessor sundry
resolutions of other states n( the Union, com
municated 10 him with requests that they
should be laid before the Legislature of this
state. shall make them the subject of a fu
turc communication.
Thus far have called your attention to sub
jccls Immediately connected with our domestic
policy, and falling, exclusively, within the
range Of our State legislation. But we consi-
tnlc part Of another government, whose &C.
ton vitality affects us, as a community, and as
member of the conicderacy. II is proper,
therefore, that should devote some attention
in this communication, TO the questions con-
nccted with the administration Of that govern
ment, which now agitaie the country and de-
mand the attention of us all.
The question of protection TO American la
Dor and capital, in their competition with the
labor and capital of foreign countries, is one
which comes home to the business and inter
ests of the whole community. The vast varl.
of the genius and inclinations OF its people,
plainly indicates that diversity of employment
and pursuit is essential to the full development
of its capacities for improvement. II was a
sense of this, impressed by the practical work
ings OF foreign competition, that formed a lead
ing motive 10 the adoption of the constitution.
The " more perfect union" of which that con-
stitutlon was the bond. was scarcely, in any re-
spec,, more important than in the mears which
uniform regulations of COR merce furnished for
the counteracton of the foreign policy which
sought to establish our workshops abroad, and
make our people tributary 10 the cheap labor
and abundant, capital of other counties. This
purpose of the constitution was carried ont in
the first revenue law passed under it, whose
trainers were careful expressly to declare, in
its memorable preamble, that the duties il i'm
posed were laid :" for the encouragement and
protection of manu- iactures" And if there is
any policy which, more than any other, has
marked our history, il is the policy of which
tina! preamble was the earnest and the pledge.
II is under lis creative power that manufactu
ring establishments have sprung up in almos,
every part Of the country. sending the pnl~a-
tons OF vigorous health through all depart.
menls of lis industry. We have, indeed, suf
fered under occasional partial suspensions of
that policy. bnt they have served 10 show us,
what uninterrupted prosperity under it might
not have done-its Indispensable importance
to secure adequate encouragement and reward
TO labor, a full development OF the nations
faculties for improvement, and realization of
the benefits derivable from the compact which
| makes us " one people"
In all the vicissltudes of the protective poll
cy, ii has never, perhaps, passed through great.
| - merrill than is M Tho In III
of S42 saved the protected interests from pros.
tralion. lis benefits have been felt in a rcvi.
val of business, a restoration of confidence. an
adequate revenue, and a general and healthfal
| impulse to the labor of the country. But in the
midst OF these successes, il is suddenly brought
| into perll.-Twelve years ago the system of
protection was put in similar peril, by the coin.
cIdent action of notification on the one hand
and betrayal by lis proiessed friends on the 9TH
err That is the character of the pre- cent dan
| ger Notification it is true, has lost much OF
us power; bu, false principles, deceptive rea
sonlng, and disguised enmity are as strong, per.
| haps stronger than ever. This is illustrated in
the success of efforts 10 cNnfornd all Just dis
lnc'lons in regard TO protection, and lead the
nnsuspectng to an incantions commlltd of the
protective system 10 the hands Of its enemies
Thus we have the doctrine of protection
ms,taled and perverted, by declarations, that i
consists in discrimination for the purpose Of
revenue only :" with protection incident tc
srch discrimination ; and again, that "the true
limit of the right and claim TO protection, i,
that rale OF duty upon any given article which
will yield the largest amount OF revenue
Beyond this. ii is asserted, the Constitution
gives no power to impose duties.
The hinge on which the whole protective
system turns, is, the purpose for which discrim
nations ale made in the adj u>tment of a seal,
of duties. If 'revcnue only" is the purpose
every one familiar with the subject can SCI
that it may not afford adequate protection Il
any interest, since it is obvious that a duty OF
given article, falling far short OF Just proec
ton TO lis rival of American production, ma,
be the duty which will yield the creates
amount of revenue from that article, by reasol
Of lis greater importation under the lower duty
To subj eci tie protected interests 10 the opera
ton of such Il rule, is TO commit them TO mer
chance. II this is the "lrue limit of the RICH
and claim 10 protection" it is "A limit With
which every protected interest in the countr
may be crushed. The true doctrine is not di.
elimination for revenue, with incidental pre-
lection, but tariff for revenue with di>crimi
nation for protection. The revenue purpose
u govern, When we are considering the amour
of revenue to be raised upon the whole OF til
, importaions No more revenue. in the aggrt
: gate, may be raised, than shall he necessary
supply the wants of The government-mak in
tarlii, in this sense, a revenue tagiiI Bl
| while this great revenue purpose is 10 be kel
in view, and lis limit never exceeded, anolht
} purpose is, also, to be kept in view, namely
: that of so discriminating between d. iierent ella
sps of articles. and between one article and al
! other, Of the same class, that while, in the Il!
gregl,e, we raise only the required amount, "
. may. by the discrimination. impose high duti,
J.. on alicleS needing strong proteciion-m0dera
y duties on those needing less protection, and +
e duties on such as need no protection This
), discrimination for proieclion--lhe genuine do
:, trine, of which discrimination for revenu
i with incidental protection, is the counterfeit.
4. II was this false doctrine which formed Il
II leading feature in The report of The commil
l. OF Ways and Means, al the late session Of Co
gress; and the bill reported by that Comm
= tee, and which stands upon the calendar OF 4
re House for lis action at the next session, "
es The legitimate result Of that doctrine.
c. As perpetual vigilance is the price of liner,