The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-08-06
Hear the Fathers.

Hear the Fathers.
In the Vermont Waterman, we have foun
extracts from an address of Henry Stevens
Esq. Of Barnet, which we have read wit
much interest. We copy the following, t
show that the Wing doctrine Of Protection
the doctrine of our Fathers,-a doctrine pre-
eminently dear to Vermonters. Read, ant
think for ourselvcs-Beilo,CS Falls Gazette.
Since Vermont was admitted into tn
Federal Union, her delegates in Congress
have been the fast and firm friends in tavo
of encouraging industry and promoting do
mestic manufactures. AS a people, we have
from the time our fathers declared the New
Hampshire Grants free and Independent
State, 18th January A. d. 1777, pursued THU
policy. 1t was the pursuing of this policy
that enabled our fathers to meet the expense!
| of the Revolutionary War, to redeem the
J then paper issue at par, and the only State
that ever did redeem their paper issues were
! at discount of $40 for one. Not single bill
of purchase of wooden blankets or wooden gar
ments out of the State for our brave soldiers
during the Revolutionary War has yet been
discovered.
Our mothers manufactured cloth for gar
mentS and blankets for their husbands and
sons, when at home or in the field of action.
Our mothers would say to their husbands and
sons, on their leaving for the army, My dear,
if any thing should happen that you DO not
return, you will direct that my blanket be
sent back"
" Soon after the close of the Revolutionary
War, our country was flooded with goods Of
the manufacture of foreign countries, which
soon drained the country of most of the solid
coin. Paper currency, State and Govern
ment securities became nearly worthless
Tender laws and appraisement laws became
the order of the day, throughout the Union
The General Assembly of this State, as early
as 17S6, passed law saying that for the en-
couragement of domestic manufactures, the
owner of sheep should be credited on his list,
two shillings for every pound of wool shorn,
and one shilling for every yard of linen or
tow cloth manufactured. This policy soon
caused the balance oftrade to become in favor
of the State, paper issues redeemed, private
debts paid, and the State Treasurer soon re-
ported balance in the Treasury of $4,000
in silver and gold. In addition to the debt in
Cured by the Revolutionary War, our fathers,
DESTROYS of having this commonwealth admit
ted into the Union, and for the sake of peace,
paid the State of New York further sum of
$4,000.
We may with propriety speak Of the pat
riotism and heroic acts of Chittenden, Allen
and Warner, and others ofour citizens, in the
cabinet and in the field of action. We also
must remember, that at that period our moth
erS and sisters were cultivating the fields, har-
vesting the crops, and by hand manufacturing
for their household. That spirit of enterprise
and perseverance on the part ofour mothers,
yet runs in the veins of many of those who
are termed the better half. Their workman
ship exhibited to Us this day. is sufficient to
satisfy us that they are yet willing to contyi-
butte their proportion in rendering Old Gale
1onia Independent Of our sister States or for
eign countries"
That ever to be remembered patriot, Gov.
GaluSha, in his message Oct. 1909, says-"As
it is the great object of Legislation to promote
the highest happiness ofthe people,I presume
you will never lose sight of the two most
important interests of this State, the agricul-
tural and manufacturing Whether any thing
can be done for the encouragement of the lat
ter, during the continuation of the cmbarrass-
ments of commerce, will be q subject worthy
of your consideration"
"Gov. Galusha, in his message, 1910, says
- Was every American heart barred against
foreign influence, and suitably attached to the
government and interest of his own country,
we might put the powers Of Europe at def
ance, We have the means of wealth and i'm
proyement within our own territory; and
were we to turn our attention to our internal
resources and foster our infant manufactures,
the bellgercnt nations of Europe would soon
seek our friendship, court our trade, and rem
der just rctribution for the injuries they have
lone us. The manufactures in various parts
of the country are increasing with a rapidty
and the pride Of every Ameri-
can begins to be gratiiied with dress of our
own manufacturing. And | trust the time is
not far distant when the citizens of these Uni
red States, instead ofrelying on foreign coun-
tries for their clothing, will be able not only
to supply their own wants, but to export every
kind Of cotton, if not wooden goods, and re-
store to the Union that portion Of specie which
has been drawn from us by the excessive use
of toreign manufactured goods
The only safe remedy against embarrass-
nents or poverty is a retrenchment of family !
expenses and lessening the consumption Of ar
icies of foreign growth and manufacturer
Much may be done by encouraging home |
by legislative provisions, but |
ihe most powerful or all means is that of eX- |
mple. Let but one influential citizen from
Zach town in this State return from the Leg
stature to his constituents, with a rigid deter
nination to abandon the unnecessary use of |
oregn articles, and while he enjoys all the |
cal comforts and actual convenienccs of life, |
eject every thing that is superfuous, his fell
ow citizens will soon initiate his example and |
Exhibit an improved state Of society. Gene
al information is indispensably necessary to
he preservation ola free republican Govern
nent; but this cannot be retained if the great
'ody of the people, through want of economy,
indulge their propensities in the use of super
luities, and become poor and unable to cdu-
ate their children, The patronage of the
Wealthy will never be indiscriminately extern
led to the children of the whole"
The common remark, that the farmer who
makes his own clothes, beverage and sugar,