Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-10-16


iogoble protection being that which is SO incident
al'' TO revenue duythat is, incidental TO that du-
ty which, without any reference to protection, will
Yield the larqcstamoun Of revenue from the i'm
portations of the article upon which it is imposed
The mere statement Of the doctrine is sufficient
TO show that it strikes fatal blow at the principle
of protection, because that rate of duty cam obvi-
ousIv furnish stable protection, which is made
to depend, not on the degree of protection it will
furnish, but on the amount Of revenue it will yield
since it is well known that a rate of duty on
given article, which will yield little or no proec-
ton, may be the very rate which will Weld the
most revenue. There is not protected interest in
the country, that can stand single year, under
the application of such principle as this. ,..
The true principle may be thus stated-A tariff
which, while it SHALL in the aggregate of its duties,
yield the amount, and no more than the amount,
needed for the treasury, shall be so adjusted in its
details, as to throw much of that aggregate up
on articles needing protection, TO give the pro-
lection needed-the balance being thrown upon ar
ticles needing little protection
1t is against the principle of rerenue duty with
incidental projections in the Proean shapes it will
be made 10 assume, that We doomed to con-
tend and it is a contest with fearful odds, when
we take into account the power and inhence of the
new administration, aided by the deceptive app-
cation of the sliding rule of protection incidental 10
a reueaue duty. ...
Nor is this the only aspect of The danger The
Secretary of the Treasury, whose purpose to de-
stroy the protection afforded by the tariff of 1912
IS not attempted to be concealed, scngaged in the
unprecedented work of collecting, without tho au-
thority OF Congress, and by replies to certain ques
tons prop0unded to manufactures and Others to
be answered without oath or examination
information, TO carry his destructive purpose into
examination
Vermont has too deep an interest in the great
question thus about TO be forced to a fearful and
periOus issue, to remain Indifferent or silent 1t is
due the great value OF our interests involved in the
true principle of protection, that we thoroughly
scrutini2e the false principle which, by COM
bination of its pretended friends with its open en-
emies, protection is 10 be made TO rest. The i'm
mincncy OF the impending danger would seem to
call for decided expression Of the General Assem-
bly, on this subject.
have received from the Corresponding Secreta-
ry of the American Peace Society communication
on the subject Of Peace, with a request that
would lay it before the General Assembly. In COM
plIance, send herewith copies of the communica-
ton for your consideration. This request appears
to be part of general movement of that society
to impress upon the rulers Of States and Nations
the duty of reconsiderng The question of war as it
stands connected with the temporal and spiritual
interests ofmen, and to inculcatc the importance
and practicablty of superseding its supposed ne
cessty by the principle of Arbitration, applied to
nations as it now is to individuals.
1t would seem necessary to do little more than
to announce this object, TO for it the favor
able consideration of the rulers of every Christian
people. War is the greatest of all the caIames
that ever afflicted the human race and vet the
world, after having been involved in its crimes,
and felt the terrific sweep of its desolatons, for
near sixty centuries, seems but Just awaking from
the dauson that it is necessary, and consistent
with the spirit and principles of a religion whose
all pervadng element is love.
Our own country, more perhaps, than almost any
other, needs this awakening influence. The free
dom happily enjoyed by our people, seems to en-
gender the restless spirit favorable TO war, while it
receives additional impulse from the popular APP
peals incident to our system of free suffrage ,--ap-
peals made olten by men who love distinction
and excitement more than their country, while their
appeals act on minds IN no condition, from the as
soclation of numbers and other causes TO feel their
true individual responsibility for the crimes and
consequences Of war.
The maxim" In peace prepare for war" is,
moreover standing excitement to war-per(otm-
ing The double Office of provoking aggression and
prompting inconsderate and rash resistance to it.
The state OF society in the Southern and South
Western portions Of our Union is an illustration, in
private life, of the practical results of this maxim
SO apparently just, and yet really questiona-
Bile.
There is, however, preparation for war, which
does rot invite it. 1t is the preparation of simple
open-hearted, uniform fairness and Justice, the ex-
hibition of stronger solicitude to do right than
TO exact it from others and sensibiIity, which
habituay feels that the stain Of dishonor is inAct-
ed, not by suffering wrong, but by doing it. The
nation who shall cultivate this spril-who shall
fairly gain the reputation of The Just, will pos
sess defence, in an age ruled, as this is beginning
to be, by enlightened public sentiment, more sure
and effective than the power Of Notifications, and
armies, and navies, combined, can give.
But while the spirit of peace and a scrupuous re-
gard 10 justice, WILL by their silent influence, check
if they do not entirely subdue, the spirit of aggres
sion, they will not, necessarily, prevent the oc-
curance Of international differences, nor, in the
present, if in any future state of the world, super
sede the necessity of some formal provision for
their adjustment. This necessity suggests re-
sort to the principle Of Arbitration, and the intro
duction into treaties between nations, of stipua-
tons TO that effect.
1t IS the furtheranco of this object, by acting on
the public sentiment of our own country and the
world, that the American Peace Society soicits
the action of the General Assembly of this State
and | could hardly be invited to the performance of
more grateful duty than TO become the medium
of asking your attention to it, and recommending
as do, such action as may, in your wisdom, most
eHGCludlly leuu lnC nnuenCe OF tilS stale IN flr-
therance OF this great movement Of peace on earth
and GOOD will towards men. The government of
the United States has already, in three memorable
instances, submitted matters of difference with 9TH
or nations to the arbitrament of friendly powers
in two of them, with results which have been ohoc-
tua to the settlement of the differences submitted
must be permitted to add an expression of the
sense entertain oftho great value Of the efforts of
the friends Of peace, through tho organization of
peace societies, in dispelling the delusion SO long
prevalent in regard to war,-exp0sng tho anti
Christian principles on which it has so long rested,
and showing the extent to which it has para wed
the industry, wasted the wealth, corrupted the
morals, brutalized the passions, blasted the hopes,
and vitality injured the highest interests of men,
The results thus far, oflhe quiet and persovering
efforts of these associations, has furnished a most
gratifying illustration of the silent power of truth
in the hands Of Christian benoyoencc, TO reform
and save the world,
1t only remains for me TO tender to the General
Assembly my hearty cooperation in every wise and
well directed effort to promote the public good
trusting that We shall all feel how much we need
the wisdom that comes from above, to enable us to
comprehend the truo character of that good and
direct US to the adoption of measures hest adapted
10 ensure its successful accomplishment.