Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-08-28
A Tariff. Protection 1.-The Issue.

II IulIllt lOtCOllVHt nv ADEuN'
The ~rallying cry of the Wings is, down with the
Democratic party, and stand firm for protection. c
A tariff is the Alpha and Omega of their creed. [
Democrats send back the echo, we are con- t
tor the purpose of destroying the Wing {
party-to come in possession of the rich spois
they have so long monopolized, and to adjust the
tariff so as to have it protect the interests of all
classes alike.
The great issue, about which nearly fifty thou
sand of the Freeman in Vermont are no contend
ing, is whether the Wings shall beat the Demo-
Gratis, or the Democrats the Wings. Both parties
need ,&must ever need alike thesame course of leg
islation, hence both parties are injured or benefit
ted alike by the same general policy. There can
be, then, no chance for a real difference in princi-
pie between them. They may get up a difference
in measures; to blind the eyes of the people & keep
the parties at variance, and thus support a con-
tinued party strife, by dividing the north and CIV
ing the south unlimited control, which she has
faithfully executed for the last halfcentury. What
an exalted work for the patriotic statesmen and
enlightened christian, to be found contending
with each other, with an ardor and devotion as
though the salvation of the country depended up
on whether fine or coarse wool should receive 2
cents per pound more protection than It now does,
while by this very contention, they foster and sup
port the system of slavery, which according to
facts published in the NJ journal of Crommerce,
some time since, has robbed Maine, New Hamp-
shire and Vermont, in the space of twenty years,
ofOne hundred and thirty-seven millions Of dollars.
Not an encouraging word have they to utter,
not a single effort are they willing to make to put
down this monopoly that is brutalising millions of
our countrymen, trainpling on every sacred and
God given right, and reducing our whole country
to a state of vassalage, but little better than slave
ry itself. All this is done to keep one party from
getting The advantage of the other, under the false
pretence Of keeping the tariff right. A tariff for
what? To protect men in the enjoyment of their
the tyranny and misrule of the stronger, and give
to every man all that God has designed for him TO
enjoy! No, it is to protect wool or something else
that is far inferior 10 the rights and souls OF suffer-
ing millions.
Why be everlastingly contending about tariffs,
which are to u great extent, made to please the
south and destroyed at their will. Who does moi
know that we have been Iaboring for the last sc
years, to settle down upon some settled protective
policy? But it is a useless task, so long as slave
ry holds the reins of government in its own hand:
and guides the chariot of State to its own liking
and protects its interests regardless Of our own.
The object of the Liberty party is, to unite the
north upon Il common platform, and first settle the
question whether slavery, which has entered eve.
ry department Of the government and had a con.
trolling influence over almos every office or act
which has blessed or cursed our nation, shall be
perpetuated or destroyed. Whether we will a
once purify the fountain and remove the cause o.
our unstable, Auctifying policy, or whether We
will, like the other parties, he contending about the
best way of purifying the streams which flow from
this fountain, a work that can never be done unit
the fountain is first cleansed. Remove the cause
-, and the evil will soon cease. Crush slavery, arr
; the interests of the north aud south will harmo
nize, and the questions about which the old partiei
have so long commended, can be amicabIy disposed
of.
d Honest freemen of both parties, we ask you t.
look at these facts and decide at the ballot boz
=. next Tuesday, whether you will longer vote tt
h keep up this contention, which robs the north o
y her strength and gives the south almost limilles
. power, or ~hether you will vote to burl SLAYER
from its throne into the pit, its own dark home
aud secure to man his rights first, and protect hi
. interests afterward.