Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-09-17

hundred and fifty millions which they will require,
before an adequate revenue is obtained? The
whole argument proceeds upon the assumption,
well founded, admit, THAT the additional import is
TO dlsplace and drive out an equal amount of do
nestle production. The Secretary of the Treasu-
ry says that "the true question is, whether the far
mer and planter shall, to great extent supply our
people with cheap manufactures purchased abroad"
&C, or whether 1t shall be thrown into the hqnds
OF our own manufacturers, to furnish the supply
Tins Is The questionable great question involved
in this matter The bill is framed, and the whole
policy OF the measure is, and all she arguments
which sustain are, founded upon the expectati IN
Of substituting large amount of foreign nanufac-
lures Tor those now supplied at home. doubt not
mat ths VIII be the first effect of the bill as it is
avowedy It's aim and object But what will be the
end OF 1t? Who is TO consume your increased for
e'gn Imports? When ten thousand or twenty thou.
sand laborers, with fifty hundred thousand per-
sons dependent upon them, are driven by this meas
ure from the iron and coal mines in PenEsylvania,
-whcn other tens of thousands are driven from
other pursuits and employmcuts-whe the wool of
Tue farmer Tails one halt in prce-and the markets
Tor his agricultural products at home are closed or
over supplied, how much of dutiable merchandise
10 you expect these persons TO consumed? Gentle
men do not sufficiently appreciate the importance of
nome INDUSTRY and home productions to enable the
American aborer TO purchase and consume arti.
cies OF Joreign origin. Any thing which arrests or
lmpalrs the profitable employment of our people, at
eace affects their ability to supply themselves with
luXuries or comforts which their tastes or their
wants require from abroad, and of course, affects
the revenue TO be derived from foreign imports.
GIVE your people employment, and they will earn.
And IT they earn they spend portion, often no
small portion OF their earnings for articles not pro-
duced at home. Whatever affects the labor of the
country IN but small degree, will often affect the
revenue IN very large degree. The whole con.
sumption oil the country Of all articles, has been
estimated ps high as two thousand millions. OF
this, only about one hundred millions or one TWEEN.
tleth part, is OF foreign production. Now, suppose
that the profits of labor-7the rate of wages the
industry OF The people, should be impaired as to
call Tor reduction generally in the consumption
of the counry-that by reason of Strengthened cir
cumsances, men will be obliged to cur,a their ex-
penses. dmlnutlon Of two and a half per cent
would be deemed small That would be q rednc-
ton Of only fifty millions of the who.e consump-
ton; but where ON what articles, would this re-
ducton be likely to fall? Certainly on articles of
luxury on articles not produced at home-on ar
ucles OF great cost and cxtravagant expense-on
foreign imports, on silks and linens, rich carpets
and clothing, wines and splces-artcles not of alb
solute necessity. OF the fifty millions supposed to
be saved by the greater economy of the people, it
is safe to say that at least forty millions would be
OF articles of foreign production. And hence
1t Is, look at any period you please, that your reve
nue. has been most abundant when the duties are
hlgh-when protection to our own labor is afforded
when the earnings Of our-people are greatest, and
OF course, their ability to consme is greatest
When duties are ow-when protection is not af-
lorded- when labor is not well employed nor well
rewarded, your revenue invariably falls off. The
reason is manifest. The people not able to buy.
If you expect large consumption Of imported mer-
chandise, you must take care TO secure to your cit
liens good employment and good wages-good pr-
nQ tAr uI.ntt l.fN1 hat al
out this your imports must fall off, and your treas.
ury anguish