Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-03-14

shall require, all parties seem to acquiesce. No
does there seem to be any material difference o
opinion as to the absence of right in the govern
ment to tax one section Of country, or one clas
of citizens, or one occupation, for the mere ben
fit of another "Justce and sound policy for
bid the federal government to foster one brancl
of industry to the detriment Of another, or t.
cherish the interests ofone portion to the injury
of another portion of our common country"
have heretofore declared to my fellow citizens
that, in "my Judgment, it is the duty of the Gov
eminent to extend as far as it may be PRACTICABLE
to do so, by its revenue laws, and all other mean
within its power, fair and just protection to al
the. great interests of the whole Union, embrac
ing agriculture, manufactures, the mechanic arts
commerce and navigation" l have also declared
my opinion to be lin favor ola tariff for revenue,
and that Gin adjusting the details of such a tariff
| have sanctioned such moderate discriminating
duties as would produce the amount of revenue
needed, and, at the same time, afford reasonable
incidental protection to our home industry" and
that was "opposed to a tariff for protection
merely, and not for revenue"
The power "to lay and collect taxes, duties
imposts and excuses, was an indispensable one to
'be conferred on the federal government, which,
without it, would possess no means Of providing
for its own support, In executing this power,
by levying a tariff of duties for the support OF
government, the raising of revenue should be the
object, and protection the incident To reverse
this principle and make protection the object,
and revenue the incident, would be to inllict
manifest injustice upon all other than the pro-
tected interests. In levying duties for revenue,
it is doubtless proper to make such dscrimna-
tons within the revenue principle as will afford
incidental protection to our home interests.
Within the revenue limit, there is discretion to
discriminate; beyond that limit, the rghtful eX-
ercse of the power is not conceded. The Incl
dental protection afforded to our home interests
by determinations within the revenue range, it
is believed will be ample. In making discrimin-
atoms all our home interests should, as far as
practicable, be equally protected The largest
portion Of our people are agriculturalists. 9th
ers are employed in manufactures, commerce,
navigation and the mechanic arts.
They are all engaged in their respective pur-
suits and their Joint labors constitute the nation
al or home industry To tax one branch Of this
home industry for the benefit of another, would
be must No one of these interests can right
fully claim an advantage over the others, or to
be enriched by impovershing the others,~-All
are equally entitled to the fostering care and pro-
faction Of tho In ovorciciDn n
sound discretion in levying discriminating duties
within the limit prescribed, care should be taken
that it be done in a manner not to benefit the
wealthy few, at the expense Of the toiling mil
lions, by taxing the lowest luxures Of life, Or
articles of superior quality and high price, which
can only be consumed by the wealthy; and the
highest necessaries of life, or articles of coarse
quality and low price, which the poor and great
mass of our people must consume. The bur
dens of Government should, as far as practical
BILE, be distributed Justly and equally among all
classes of our population These general views
long entertained on this subject, | have deemed
it proper to reiterate 1t is a subject upon
which conflicting interests Of sections and occu-
patons are supposed to exist, and spirit ofmu-
tual concession and compromise in adjusting its
details, should be cherished in our widespread
country, as the only means of preserving harmo-
NY and cheerful acquiescence of all in the opera
ton of our revenue laws. Our patriotic citizens
in every part of the Union, will readily submit tc
the payment of such taxes as shall be needed for
the support of their Government whether in peace
or in war; if they are so levied as to distribute
the burdens as equally as possible among them,
The republic of Texas has made known her
desire to come into our Union, TO form part of the
confederacy, and enjoy with us the blessings Of
liberty, secured and guaranteed by our consttu
ton. Texas was once part of our country
was unwisely ceded away to foreign power
is now independent, and possesses an undoubteC
right to dispose ola part or the whole Of hel
territory, and to merge her sovereignty, as a sep
arate and independent State, in ours. ] con
graduate my country that, by an act of the late
Congress of the United States, the assent Of this
government has been given to the reunion; ant
it only remains for the two countries to agree up
on the terms, to consummate an object so impor
ldlL W DOIu
regard the question Of annexation as belong
ing exclusively to the United States and Texas
They are independent powers, competent to con
tract; and foreign nations have no right to inter
fere with them, or to take exceptions to their re
union Foreign powers do not seem to appreci
ate the true character OF our government. Gu
Union is confederation of Independent States
whose policy is peace with each other and all tn
world To enlarge its limits, is to extend tn
domination of peace over additional territorie
and increasing millions. The world has nothin
to fear from the military ambition in our go'
eminent While the chief magistrate and tn
popular branch Of Congress are elected for shol
terms by the suffrages of those millions who mus
in their own persons, bear all the burdens an
and miseries of war, our government cannot b
otherwise than pacific. Foreign powers shoul
therefore, look on the annexation of Texas to tn
United States, not as the conquest of natio
seeking to extend her dominion by arms and V