Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-09-20
POLITICAL.
MIR. VI EB VT,.E's SPEECH,
DELIVERED Al ALBANY, AUGUST 81, 1874.
Reported ior the New York Courier and Enquirer.
tTn nm 4

DELIVERED Al ALBANY, AUGUST 81, 1914.
Reported Tor the New York Courier and Enquirer.
CONCLUDED
But now, gentlemen, hat we have turned back,
and contemplated this great first assembly of the
Chef Magistrate, and Legislature under the Com
stltnIlon, The eHqelry is, what system of admins
traton did they adopt? What measures appeared
to them to he consOnant with the objects Of the
Constitution, ana called for by the general voice of
the people' And ! wish to put the question at
once, without any preliminary remarks, and put
1t no, only to the Wings of this assembly but If
there is any gentleman present who has attach
mens to the Other party, or if there be any in the
country who may hear my words, put it to hinto
his conscience, To his love of TRUTH to say whether
the great measures which the government of this
day set out to carry on The government upon, are
such as our opponents hold out to us to be adopt.
ed this day? Did Gen. Washington. and his Con-
gress, begin by denying atogtth,r all pore, Of tos-
ttrng me idbor ana indaStryoI The United Staies as
JorbiLtn ty the Constitution? Did they deny that
Congress lias any power over the currency? Did
they dcny that Congress has the power to adopt
suitable means to collect and dlsburse its revenue
Did they egihb by denying to Congress the right
to make, fro the Treasury, Improvements which
were absolutely necessity Tor the convenience and
facility Of comaeIcr? D.d they, ia short, enter
upon the administration, with the notion That after
all that was DONE after all the efforts that had been
made, TO make more united people, there still re-.
/ interference
by which one State could set up its will against the
wishes Of all the other States, aud so defeat the on
eratlons OF the General Government An admin
stratlon upon these principles, any of those prn-
clples, would defeat the whole object of torn,lur
more perfect u'.ion among the people; it would
make the bands Of tie coliederacy as loose as be-
fore the adoption Of the Constitution; il would
have united, Instead OF Tying closer the knots of
concord and union.
And in this sentiment, gentlemen, uttered by
W ashlngton. concur with all my heart. | believe
that we have this great pledg IN our hands and
| believe that every lover OF Liberty in the whole
earth, is looking steadily and earnestly TO see if
this great model Of Il Republican government NAV
BE- held up to the imltat OIL of mankind
Now in the early administration of The govern
ncnt, soHle trusts and duties we're conferred uron
the general government, about wi ch there could
not be much dispute. 1t DclOLged to the general
government to make war aud peace; and TO make
tea les. There room for DISPUTE as to these
powers they were liable TO 10 great diversity Of
opinion. But then CONES the other most Important
power, which has BEEN and is now an important
pON or, regulating commerce. What does that i'm
port: On this part of the Constitution there has
Sprung up in our day gieat diversity of opinion.
Why, 1t certain that hen the Constitution hdd
I, been iramci, an the first Congress assembled to
pas; laws under IT, these was diversity of opln-
ION upon 1t T.; no contradictory sentiments. The
power OF regulating commerce, granted to Con
gresS, was most assure. ly understood 10 embrace
all orms Of regulations belonging to those terms
under other governments, all the meaning nIpll-
ed IN the terms, in the sAmc language, employed in
all laws and IN the intercourse of modern nations
And | consider it us capable of mathematical dem
onstration. that is, as capable of demonstration as
any mathematical proposition that the power of
discriminating III Custom House duties for the
protection OF American labor and industry, was I'M.
deFstood, not by some but by all, by high and low
I every where as Implied by The regulation of trade
The term was well understood in our colonial
history, and if we GO back to the history of the
CONSTITUTION, and of the Convention which adouied
1t, We shall bind that every where, when masses of
men were assembled, ana the wants OF the people
were brought forth into prominence, the idea was
held up that domestic industry could not prosper
manufactures ana the mechanic arts could not ad.
vance, the condition of the Common county could
not be carried up to any considerable elevation, un
less there should be one governmentto lay rate
OF dHty upon all the people f. II New Hampshire
to Georgia and in laying tins duty to regard the
protection OF American labor and industry. ! de-
iy the man IN any degree conversant with history,
acquainted with the annals of this country from
lIc7 to the adoption Of the Constitution in 80 to
come forward and say, that this was not ii leading
i may say, The leading object South as well as
North, Tor the formation OF the new government !;
and WITHOUT that provision in the Constitution, that
instrument never could have been adopted.
shall add one or two circumstances which &C.
CURED Immediately on organizing the government,
to show that this was the expectation, the belief,
the conviction, of what was the duty, and what
would be the conduct Of the new government, which
7 prevailed every where.
The House of Representatives formed quorum
for the first time under the Constitution in the city
OF New York, on the first day of May, 1859, by the
i elerton OF Its Speaker. And now, gentlemen the
House of Representatives being thus organized
what do yoa Imagine was the very first petition ev-
presented to II? hold an account of that petit
ton in my hand, copied from the Journal Of the
House, and here II Is:
"A petition of the tradesmen, manufacturers,
!, and others OF Maryland, whose names are thereun-
TO subscribed, was presented to the House, and
read stating certain matters, and praying an impo
sition of such duties on all foreign articles which
can he made IN America, as will give ii u Just and
decided preference to the labors Of the petitioners.
AMI that there may be granted to them, in common
with the Other manufacturers and mechanics of the
Unhed States such relief as in the wisdom of Con-
greSs may appear proper
There. gentlemen, was the very first petition ev-
or presented TO the Congress Of the United States,
and it came from the monumental city, the capital
of Maryland And now what do you suppose was
the second petition? Why. it was like petition
from certain mechanics of Charleston not Charles
town in Massachusetts, that Commonwealth now
scofed at, and derded as narrow and selfish in her
poliilcs-not that Charlestown which was burned
and land in ashes by foreign foe the l7th of
June, l775, but which under fostering govern
men,, sprung up again like another PhGnX, with
renovated and increased beauty-not that Charles
n town which skirts the base oil Bunker Hill but
Charleston, the refined and elegant city, the pride
:; of the South Charleston in South Carolina, always
distinguished for intelligence, hospitality, and all
i the social virtues -Charleston the mention OF
,, which always brings up by associatlonhc names Of
!. Plnckney' o Snmprer, Of llnger, and of Lowndes
s From the bosom Of that Charleston this second pc.
tluon to Congress came; and that was petition
/, of the shiprrighS of that city, praying Congress
+ to protect them against foreign competition Here
ID il is =
= "A petition of the shipwrghts of the city of
, Charleston, in the State of South Carolina, was
!. presented to the House and read, stating the dis
v tress they n from the decline Of that branch
Of business, and the present situation of the trade