Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-08-08
ed as it was by the Weakness and perverscness

Of the new Executive, our country owes its
rescue from wide spread private ruin, aud ma.
tional bankruptcy and shame First and fore
most among the restorative and remedial acts
Of that ever memorable Congress, was the wise
and salutary tariff of lS42, a measure which in
its tangible and demonstrable results stands
wholly without a parallel in the history Of
American Legislation. Contrast the long nigh, |
of embarrassment, depression and gloom, which |
followed the feverish excitement Of 1886, en-
gendered and fostered by the policy OF the Jack.
son and Van Buren, administrations, with the
life, and hope and prosperity to which the tariff
OF lS42 gave birth, and whose smiles, we still
enjoy, Chough somewhat dimmed by the fear OF
change,) and you will allow, that our estimate
OF its value is by no means extravagant. So far
as any union and concentration Of opinion exists
among our opponents, il is principally directed
against this one measure, and there can be no
doubt that large majority at least Of the lead.
ers Of the admin istration party are decidedly
hostile 10 the general policy Of encouraging do
nestle industry, and particularly to the Tariff
OF lS42, and they aim at its repeal, both because
OF its protective character, and because it is EN-.
phatically wing measure. 1t is a matter OF
some doubt what precise course the admnstra-
ton, distracted as it is by SO many conflicting
influences, will pursue, but as far as can now
be judged, II may be considered certain that the
Tariff will be attacked; and though consdera-
tons OF party policy may induce the majority TO
spare those branches Of industry in which the
Southern and Middle states are particularly
interested, there can be no question that an in.
discriminate warfare will be.aonmenced against
all the peculiar interests Of New England
In the first session Of the last Congress, the
Tariff of 1912 was saved in tho House of Rep-
| resenta'ives, by majority of but five only
erery Wing member sustaining it, and nearly
four.fifths Of our opponents voting for McKay's
destructive subsitute.-The administration will
have nearly as large majority in the next Con-
gross as in the last, the Senate is VIGOROUSLY
against us, the Democratic journals, with scarce.
y dissenting voice, are calling upon the Pres.
dent to carry out the will of the faction by whom
and for whom he was nominated, and the leaders
Of the party in power are no longer restrained
by the fear of immediate retrbution a, the hands
of the people. Is there not then the strongest
reason to fear that the most important features
%! the Tariff of 1912 will be obteraied or es-
sentially modified, and do you not already feel the
effects OF this well grounded fear, in the decln.
ing price of your only great stapla
As matter, then, OF pride, of interest, and Of
patriotism, it is obvious, that The chief HOPE, the
chief DUTY, the PROPER VOCATION OF the Wing
party, is the defence and support of this child Of
their own. THE PROTECTIVE POLICY
AS EXEMPLIFlED IN THE TARIFF OF
1912. With proper eXer,ion on our part, there
is re reasonable ground of expectation, that this
great BULwARK OF OUR INTERESTS Will survive
the shock it is destined to encounter ; without
such effort, its overthrow is morally certain.
But there is still pending before the nation
ano her great question, less important, no doubt,
in it's immediate results, but Of far greater mo-
ment in its ultimate bearing on the great Bull.
wARK OF OUR LIBERTIES, the Federal Consilu~
ton. You will Of course understand that we
refer to the annexation OF Texas. The history
of our country has no age SO black as that
which records the story OF this nefarous scheme.
Never did our government SO openly set at def.
ance all law, human and divine, SO treacherous.
ly belray the rights OF friendly and confiding
nation, SO shameful!y disregard the rules of in.
lernaonal comfy, as in the conception and pro-.
motion of this crying and monstrous wrong
Never have men in high pac IS manifested such
weakness, regeneration and venality, as in this
fragrant outrage, which is destined to expose us
to the universal contem Of the christian world.
and if not to provoke the thunders of foreign
war, at least to excite and feed anew the flames
of yet more rancorous and destructive internal
dissensiOn amongst ourselves. What particular
shape this unhappy question will assume, cali
not now be foreseen. aud Of course the position
of Vermont in regard to it cannot at present be
determined; but this much is clear, it will be
her duty, and that Of all to whom her interests
are entrusted, to oppose the contamination of
this great mystery of nlqui'y, by every legal
and constitutional means Of resistance.
There Is another great subject to which, both
because Of its increasing and almost overshad-
owing Importance, and its near connection with
the principal topics to which we have already
referred, especially to that which we have just
dismissed, we think it our duty to call your al.
tention, though have no spec tic action to re.
commend concerning it. 1t is not here the place
| to discuss the ethics of slavery, the awfulness
of the relation Of master and slave, the extent oil
, the right which one human being may have owe
the labor or being of another or the moral OIL
even economical influences Of this system upon
+ the communities where it exists. Nor, howev
er well we are agreed with you in thinking sa
| very 10 be both morally and economically
, wron. and an evil, have we any word of nvec.
tive or rcproach for those who are blinlly stag.
I gering under a burden which they cannot bear
and neither will not dare shake off. II they are
too proud to desire oGr commiseration, at leas
we viii not envy their condition, and whenever
they shall be reused to a truer sense Of theil
duty and their better interests, they will receive
our most earnest sympathy, and most lhera
and energetic aid. But however unwise or un
just this constitution may be in lis essential fea,
/ lures, you are responsible neither for it's origin
nor for its continued existence within those
limits to which your constitutional power does
5 not extend. Nor is it our place to affirm or de.
ny that YOU are bound to moral influence up
Q on this subject 1t is only in reference to YOU
political duties, that we are at liberty to address.
b. you and thong h no grounds of political or pr
vate expedency can justify you in doing tina
which is morally wrong, yet your action as pol
@ iticianS ID hedged in by limits which you can