Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-07-17

all participation In the concerns ne national
government. On the other hand, the ingenious
Northern casuist, who found in the notorious letter
| to Kane professions Of great devotion to the in
| terests OF domestic industry, require a rescrpt
confirming their Interpretation of that most Jesuit
cal and most shallow epistle, while yet another
great section of the party, whose fortunes depend
upon tho ascendency Of the Van Buren, influence,
and who are alike Indifferent to all measures of
public concern, except the disposition Of the good
| gifts at the disposal of the Executive demand the
control of all important northern appointments, as
indispensable condition of their support to the
measures of the administration 1t is obvious that
| such incongruous elements can neither be harmo-
nzed nor controlled by an Executive destitute a
like of manly and original independence of thought
| and action, and of all great and imposing traits Of
character. We may therefore look forward to a
vascillating and unstable administration driven a
bout by every wind Of doctrine, as the different
rival factions shall from time to time luctuate aud
! predominant.
The Wing party, on the other hand though de-
feated never more harmonious or more deter
| mined than at the present moment 1t is entirely
| united as 10 measures, entirely unpledged as TO
men. Though represented by many Of our wisest
statesmen and truest patriots in the National Leg
islaure 1t is yet both there, and in most Of the
States, in decided minority, aud can of course
expect little share in guiding the movements di
recting the policy of the National Government. 1t
must for the present he content with exerng
simply conservative influence, and if it shall sue
coed in preventing the abandonment Of the emf
nently wise revenue policy devised aud adopted
by the twcnty-scvcn,h Congress, its utmost aJors
will have been abundantly rewarded. AT the
cesson Of General Harrison in lS4l, almost every
branch OF domestic Industry was PROSTATE, the Ma
tiona Treasury was empty, the General Govern
ment involved in debt, and almost without credit or
resources. The Wings, dishchrtened by the sud
den providentla removal of the Chief Executive,
nnIl IL
tiona! SUCCESSOR we're able to retain their ascen-
dcncy but for single Congress. TO that brief
period of Wing power craupcd and thwarted as
1t was by the weakness CT the new Executive, our
country owes its rescue from wide spread private
ruin and national bankruptcy and shame. First
and foremost among the restorative and remedial
acts of that memorable Congress, was the
wise and sanitary tariff of lS42, measure which
in its tangible and demonstrate results stands
wholly without parallel in the history OF Amer
can Legislation. Contrast the long night of en-
bLrrassment, depression and gloom, which followed
the feverish excitement Of 1885, engcndercd and
iostered by the policy of the Jackson and Van
Buren, administrations, with the life and hope and
prosperity to which the tariff of ~ gave BIRTH
and whose smiles we still enjoy, Enough somewhat
dlmned by the fear of change) and you will allow,
that our estimate of its value is by means en-
travagant. So far as any union aud concentration
OF opinion exists among our opponents, 1t is prin
CIpully directed hEhlISl lHl5 one measure, ana
there can be no doubt that large majority at
least Of the leaders of the administration party,
are decidedly hostile to the general policy of Ell
cou!aging domestic industry, and particularly to
the Tariff of 40, and they ain at its repeal both
because of its protective character, and because it
is cmphatically Wing measure. 1t is matter of
some DOUBT what precise course the administration
distracted as 1t is by so many conflicting infuen-
ces, will pursue but as far can now be Judged
1t may be considered certain, that the tariff will be
attacked, and though considerations of party poll
cy may induce the majority to spare those branch
es of industry, in which the Southern and middle
States are particularly interested there be no
question that an indiscrminate warfare will be
recommended against all the peculiar interests of
New England. In the first session of the last
Congress, the Tariff of lS42 was saved in the |
House OF Representatives, by majority of but
five only, erTy Wing member sustaining it, and
nearly four tflhs of our opponents voting for NJ r.
Nc Kay destructive substitute. The Adminstra-
ton will have nearly as large majority in the next
Congress "a in the last the Senate is VIGOROUSLY
against us, the Democratic journals, with scarcely
q dissenting voice, calling upon the President
TO carry out tic will Of the faction by whom ard for
whom he was nominated, and the leaders of the par
ty power longer restrained by the fear of i'm
mediate retribution at the hands of the people. Is
there not then the strongest to fear that the
most important features of the Tariff of 1912 will
be oLllterated or essentially modified and dc YOU
not already feel the effects of this well grounded
lear IN the declining price of your only great sta
pie?
As matter of pride, of interest and Of patriotism,
it is obvious, that the chief HOPE the chief DUTY,
the rRoPER VOCATION of the Wing party, is the |
defence and support of this child of their own
TIE PROTECTIVE POLICY AS EXEMPII- !
FLED IN THE TARIFF OF 1912. With prop
er eXerton on our part, there is reasonable ground
OF expectation, that this great guLwARK OF ORR
sur the CHI he II, Is
encounter; without such effort, its overthrow is |
morally certain,
But there is still pending before the nation an
other great question less important no doubt in its
immediate results, but of far greater moment in !
Its ultimate bearing on the great BuLwARk OF OUR
LIBERTIES, the Federal Constitution. You will of
course understand that we refer TO the Annexation
of Texas. The history of our country has no page
so black as that which records the story OF this ne
fartus scheme. Never did our government So o.
penly set at defiance all law, both human and d.
vine, and so treachcrously beray the rights If
friendly and confiding nation, shamefully disre-
gard the rules of international comfy as in the
conception and promotion of this crying and mon
strous wong. Never have men in high places
manifested such weakness, regeneration and We,
nality as Iii this fragrant outrage, which is destined
to expose Us to the universal contempt OF the chris
tan world: and if not TO provoke the thunders of
foreign war, at least 20 excite and feed anew the
names OF yet more rancorous and destructive inter-
nal dissenson amongst ourselves. What particu-
lar shape this unhappy question will assume cannot
now be foreseen, and of course the position of Yer
mont in regard to it cannot at present be defer
mined; but tins much is clear it will be her duty
and that OF oil to whom her interests are intrused
TO oppose the consuunation ofthis great mystery of
inquiry, by every'lcgal and constitutional means of
There is another great sub jet 10 which, both he $
cause OF its increasing ana almost over shadow. ,
ing Importance, and lis near connection with the (
principal topics to which we have already referred
especially TO that which we have just dismissed /
we thIk 1t our duty to call your attention. although
We have no specific action to recommend concern
ng H. 1t is not here the place to discuss the eth. f
les of slavery, the lawfnlncss of the relation of !