Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-02-02
MONTPELIER, FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 1874.

the votes OF the very men who have, since, pre-
tended TO he the exclusive friends Of the wool
growing intereAi
ltis true, the principal fncts in regard 10 South
American wool were obained; but at a very late
pefiOd-too late to make the impression upon
Congress and tho country, which their impor-
lance demanded II was not until a short time
before the tariff hill was reported to the House,
that The facts camo ont in regard TO the extensive
production of fine wool in South America, and
The manner in which that production had been
effected. 1t happened that Boston pnper, (lhe
Cuilvntor,) was sent me, containing description
OF me nue. woods imported from BuenOs Ayres,
dniy Tree, costing less than eight cents and sug-
goslinS that they had been produced by crossings
oil the native South American with the iull blood.
ell lneflno sheep. On reading the article the
question occurred-Where cun evidence he found
OF ibe importation into South America of a num-
Der OF herlno bucks, adequate TO the production
OF 4lf.SHlledged result? An examination Of the
treasury returns OF our exports gave answer 10
the question for, on running them through for
the previous ten yenrs it appeared that there were
exported from the United States to Buenos Ayres,
~ 1857, 3UO sheer, OF the aggregate value of So
OOO averaging $50 each aud in 1888 sol sheep,
OF The aggregate value OF $4 sos, averaging $3.50
tnch. 1t further appeared that those were the
ohy explorations OF sheep from the United States
to thai country during The last ten years
The value OF the Sheep thus exported showed
concIusiVey that they were merino bucks 0ad
The truth was AT once revealed, that they were
sent to South America for the purpose of pro-
duclng fine wool-worlh, there, less than eight
cents, and therefore entitled TO an exemp,ion from
duty under the tariff Of 1882.
Samples OF fine wool thus produced WERE
about that tine sent 10 Senator from the West,
which l ohta,ued, and exhibited before the Com
luitlee of Ways and Means and in the House of
Representatives in the debate on the Wool ques-
! non, IN connection with the evidence from the
! treasury returns just alluded to-
ii does not become me 10 say what effect all
! this had upon the 6ual result but if it had any,
every one must see how much greater eftect would
have been produced 10y even the same information
seasonably brought out through Committee of
investigations such as had been proposed by the
resolutions to which | have referred. | leave il
To candor 10 say with what proprety an aliedged
! deficiency IN the protection to wool, by reason oC
the supposed importation, under the present tariff,
| OF the, under Tie denomination of coarse wool,
can he made subject OF complaint by those who
not only ind nothing TO obtain Il better protection,
but did what they could 10 prevent the premua-
| ry Investigation aud deveopenent of facts, neces-
sary 10 Just legislation upon the subject.
me ing upon The table the resolutions 10
which have REFERRED was at the Extra Session
OF The last Congress- The first stated session
came and The subject of the tariff having been
referred 10 the Committee Of Manufactures, that
Committee, through their Chairman, offered to
"Resoved, That the Committee on Manuiac-
lures he authorised TO send for witnesses and take
testimony on The subject of the present tariff
laws, their operation upon the interests OF the
country, and the alteration which those interests
may require"
After considerable debate, this resolution was
also tad upon the tddie--in other words, the qlie-
ti'S was .g1Nen 10 it-by vote in which the name
oiesery !ocoloco north. 81 bis6en 81 Dixons line,
who was present, is rec0nt1 Nm the affirmative
while the name of every Wing present, north OF
that line, stands in the negative.
Here Was proposiHQn TO give to q Committee
specially charged withNihe duty of looking into
the effects OF the tariff upon the manufacturing g,
aud connected interests, power to obtain facts
verified by the outh of wiiuesses-which was pu,
down by the votes Of men who make extraordina-
ny prelensOns of friendship for projections, and
loudly complain that il is not sufficiently secured
especially 10 the wool growing interest.
The Committee on Manufactures was thus LEFT
without the power 10 secure the attendance of
single witness, or to examine under oath any one
who might voluntarily appear before them. The,
, proceeded, however, 10 obtain, by correspondence
aud from individuals who volunteered their atteu
dance, all the information which this imperlec
process would furnish, upon the subject commit
ted to them; and then for the purpose OF facilila
ing aud eXledItIng Its proper arrangement Tor lh
benefit Of The house, offered n resolution author
, izing them 10 employ Clerk. This request wa
refused the motion 10 lay The resolution on tn
= table being carried by vole in which the nam
c OF no, single Locotoco appears in the negative.
9 My purpose in referring to these cases has bee
t TO show The systematic double dealing of III
friends OF The great New York Leader--prelend
ing 10 lie friends OF protection especially 20 III
= wou-growng interest," and yet pertinacousy re
iusng 10 furnish any facilities for eciling til
facts necessary 10 be known in order to just legi.
- laIiOn IN regard 10 that, or to any other intere
IS claiming protection.
l. The past furnishes lesson for the future
What has been done will be done again. Til
:. character OF the Van Buren, policy remains I'll
l. same-sinuous, double dealing, treacherous-
IL lung to-day --anoller 10. inorow-~here Tor pro
e lecuon--here for free Irade-lhrowing emba
N easements III the way Of maturing measures Il
l. protection, and then protesting 10 sympah1e vel
Ia deeply with the Interests which il is pretende
g nre ne ected in the adjustment of tariff. Tn
s. is Vnn Burenism II need nos say that decide
A. opposition 10 protection is far less dangerous tina
~ such an equvocating, vascillatng, treuchero'
III policy Let us rather have unveiled hostility
or All know how 10 meet it. And here i is in Il
NJ following resolutions of the New Hampsh
IS Legislature, which were presented in Congress
It. Mr.. Ktherion in June 1872
AT Resolved, That system Of tariff duties G
e. cepl TO supply The actual wants of governmc
ought not 10 be established; that the who
Id scheme Of protective tariff is gross iegiSlGtl
he error, founded in ignorance of the priucipl
%. of political economy-an imposition upon &
DIS creduIily Of the people, by ,OLieh They are lar
p wihom any equivaienl; that, instead OF encoura
10 ing domestic industry, il depresses it-inslead
re protection, il means destruction.
10 Resolved, That The true policy ofthe FEEDER
IN Government il TO conline lis action TO the obJe
ct specifically enumerated in the Constitution, lea
ed ing Industry 10 take care OF Itself"
re- Here is plain 'leaing--Ihe doctrine OF proie
IN. ton openly secuted as " gross legislative error
zen aud frank avowai that industry must be LETT
in regulate nset:-- other words that tariff is
use be adj usIed with view 10 revenue onfy-dra
tly lug ron tho people the means necessary to car
HE Oh the government without any compensation
ed the encouragement of their industry, or The pl
yn, lection OF IL from the exhnusllng ana fuhous
ke, huence OF a commerce so conducted US TO ma
lis us tributary 10 the skill and capital and labor