Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-01-16

an oppression 10 get nails al penny a pound!
Surely the "poor man " was likely 10 be
utterly crushed and ruined.
Mr.. s. said he had wished to point on,
some other Of the extraordinary doctrines
contained IN this paper Of the Secretary, and
there was one which would slarile the co,,n.
try; il was covered up in cautious language,
but when the veil was drawn aside, and the
truth exposed, he again warned gentlemen
that it would starile the country. This free
trade Secretary had recommended an EXCISE
on American manufactures. Yes, that was
the protection he had provided for Ameri.
can industry; it was to. take of the duty
from foreign manufactures, and put it on
our own. Hear him:
"ln accordance with these principles il Is believed
that the largest practicable portion of the aggregate
| revenue should he raised by maximum revenue duties
| upon Injuries, whether grown produced, or manu-
featured at home or abroad
Let mechanics and manufacturers hear
that. Every American artzan should hear.
it. The duty was to be on articles, &C.,
whether grown, produced, or manufactured
at home or abroad. Here was 40 American
Secretary distinctly recommending TO le, y
the highest rate of revenue duties on goods
manufactured at home. What was this but
an excise? What else was an excise than a
tax on the manufactured goods of this conn-
try? Yet this was the Secretary's recon-.
mcndalion. How would American people
like IT
Both in the message and in tho report, the
administration had given its own definition
Of what, according TO its understanding, was
revenue standard of duty and this was
The language of the Presidents message:
"Thc precise point in the ascending scale of duties
at which It is ascertained from experience that the
revenue il Creates, is the maximum rate of dut y
which be al for the bona fdc purpose of collect
ing money for the support OF Government. To raise
| the duties higher Than that point and thereby dmn-
sh the amount collected, is ~ levy them for protec
ton merely and not fol revenue. AS long, then. ns
Congress may gradually increase the rate of duty on
a given article, and the revenue is increased ly such
increase Of duty they within The revenue standard
Wien they 90 beyond that point, and, as they in
crease the duties, the revenue ia diminished or de
s,royed the act ceases 10 have for lis object the rails
ing OF money 10 support the Government but it i.
Tor protection merely.
Here was the rule by which, duties were
to be laid. The moment an American man.
ufacturer had succeeded in supplying ouI
own market, and began TO thrive in his bust
ness, that would be "A proof that the duty
was too high for revenue it was no Longer
revenue duty but protective duty, and i
must forthwith be reduced. AS the Amer
can furnished more goods to the country
less foreign goods would be imported, reve'
nue. would be diminished, and the duty mus
come down: that was the rule. And nov
Mr.. S. would ask, under such a rule as this
what man in his senses would vest a dolla
in manufactures What was the prospec
before him! TheApoment when, by in
dustry and enterprise, he should succeed il
getting the better Of his foreign competitor
down with the duty. If a shoemaker or
halter, by making better or cheaper hats o
shoes, had got possession of the market, The
eye of this free trade system was fastened OF
him like vul,ure. The Secretary fount
he was doing well, and the duty must be re
duced 10 let in the foreigner. Such wa
the plan of this administration. The me
chanic, finding his protection thus diminish
ed, and having no other resource but hi
business, would go on to work longer and Il
work harder than before, and when, by work
f ing out of hours, he had conIrived to get owe
the opposition of his own Government, an,
his foreign competitor, and began TO get TO
| gelher little profit, the same doctrine wou
, repeat the process the duty would evident
J be too high-down with it! The "poo
man" would now take his children from
, school and bring then, into the shop. The
T too, would now work, while the man him
, self worked harder and harder. But VIVA
, would be the reruItl II would only brin
8 HIM under the Presidents rule the dul
. must be again lowered, and still 60 on to b
D lowered, more and more I'LL at last this fire.
t. born American must be ground down b
/, the action of his own Government to the de
. graded aud wrciched condition Of an Englis
q pauper or Russian serl. The moment
. American lahorer succeeded by his exer
d. tons in shutting out foreign competition, Il,
4 foreigner must be let in and pn, over hln
n VIVA, son of rule was this 7 For who,
e would one suppose il to I've madel For til
d American manufacturer or the European
v Clearly il was IA rule for the benefit of III
S foreigner. And could an independent an
Intelligent American consent TO live und.
). such IA rule The moment the America
q rises to his feet, in this struggle with foregr
r ers for the American market, lie is to b
!, knocked down by this Executive poker, an
"a Dalsed over by bis Secretary Walker.
!, laugh. And Ibis was their American sy
d TEN. 1t was just such a system as Sir Robe
II Peel would have recommended, could |
.. have spoken through President Polk as h
!, trumpet; its practical, its universal oper
"a ton, would be what no had just now DESERT
. ed. And would the House endorse sysie
:. like ,l.is2 This was the far. famed % fire.
IS trade system" now for time promulgated
an American fiscal officer.
T.; Since tho improvements in steam, the ca
'e of transportation was comparatively noihin
a Take OF the duty, and the BRUSH workshop
W would be brought to our doors. Suppo
I'd these British laborers were in Alcxandri
Id working at twenty-five cents, was any mi
~ SO blind AS not to see that they must SOC
IL break down the workmen of Washngio
a who were receiving rs cents dayl TT
r employer would soon begin to talk to the
or in very Ineligible language, my cor
c. peiiors in Alexandria get labor for tweni
Is, five cents day, and you must take same
H. quit" Now, where was the dillerenc
er whether the distance was little greater or
VI little less 7 The practical operation of I,
~ system would be just the same. And Il
p. was the blessed system of free. trade! T
to workmen of England and France could wo
a cheaper than ours, and free.irade doctri
lila hall that tvp n,ust hnu ... -.