Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-03-12
WATCHMAN & JOURNAL.
E.P. WALTON, JR., EDITOR.
MONTPELIER, THURSDAY, MARCH 70,
TIE ENGLISH CORN LAWS.

Baker OF Illinois, to his constituents, on the sub
icct of the English Corn Laws. The purpose is
to show that the proposed reduction Of duties by
Great Britain will not be of advantage to the wheat
growers of the West; and this he does pretty sat
sfactorily, by statistical tables and other facts
The main fact, however, is that the wheat grow
ers of this country cannot compete in the English
market with the producers on the Mediterranean
and in the North of Europe territories much near
er Great Britain than is America, ind which pro-
duce a surplus more than equal TO supply the guam
tty required by Great Britain. In the year 1S1 II,
America had the advantage of a much less rate Of
duty than any other nation-yet in that year she
sent only 100000 bushels to Great Britain, while
New England purchased more than 100000
bushels of the West--more than twice the amount
exported to Great Britain ! In that same year,
other nations, subject to higher duties, supplied
Great Britain with 100000 bushels. Mr. Da-
ker justly urges the farmers of the West to cherish
the home market instead of sacrificing that in the
vain hope Of feeding the manufacturers of Great
Britain -
While upon this subject let the reader reflect
upon the annexed passages recently uttered by two
distinguished British statesmen.
The first is taken from a speech delivered at
Glasgow, 10Th Jan. last, by Lord John Russcll-the
same nobleman who had Just been selected by the
Queen Prime Minister in place of Sir Robert
Peel Notwithstanding the pretended disavowals
Of the Polk organ at Washington, it will be seen
that Lord John Russell distinctly puts forth the re-
duction of the Tariffs of the two nations as the eff
fcient means of settling the Oregon question.
"Thcre is another advantage which | think
would arise from the total abolition of the duties
on the importation of grain: it would bind this
country much more closely in the bonds of peace
and amtv with foreign States, and more especially
with the United States of America. think moth.
ing OF the questions which at present in dispute
questions of territory, in which as we now stand
the honor Of neither country is engaged and re-
garding which think calm men, representing the
government of Her Majesty and the United States.
might by fair and dspassonate discussion come
10 an ainlcab!e settlement ! see no prospect of
war or serious difference arising out of the circun,
stances. II ace are determined on his site IN %,
port the products of the United ,Stafes, and If The
United States are equally satisfied 10 do The same tcih
the manufactures Of this kingdom hat then should
Jeed us, and Ye should clothe hem-if an unhallow-
cd legislation could not stand in the way of these de-
elrable results, then we should see two nations OF
the same race, and speaking the same language
unlted in manner calculated to remain for ceutu-
RES unbroken, in the bonds of amlty and peace
united in family compact; not such compacts as
those of France and Spain, arising out of a mere
relationship of families and courts but MS benr of
one great family OF the same blood. and admirers
OF the same free institutions. They admire the
freedom Of our monarchial government and we no
Jess value their free institutions and friendship
founded on such bases these will secure last
ing peace and prosperity to the world"
Let the United States .fced Great Brain-that
means, down with the British corn laws: let Great
Britain cioihe the United States that means. down
With the American Tariff and American lnanufac-
tures--then shall there be no war about Oregon
then shall there be peace for centuries unbroken
That is Lord John Rusell's opinion-Lord John.
who declares that the Americans "admire the free
dom of monarchial government" Is That the bar
gain between Polk and Peel? and is it Polk and
company who "admire the .treedom Of raona,chial
governments" Alas what company hath modern
democracy got into. But the opponents of protec-
ton to American Manufactures may very well be
ranked among the admirers of the British govern
mental least of British capital and British man
uiactures. In this speech Lord John Russell makes
the appeal to the wheat growers of the West which
Mr.. Baker has well met by facts, the most material
hvered by Lord Ashburton, who seems to think
that the Yankees may not after all be wheeded in
to British Free Trade trap at any rate he gives
the West fair warning as TO the wheat trade:
Lord John Russell had drawn charming pic
ture OF two nations of the same kindred-Enrland
and Amerlca-the former clothing the latter, and
the latter feeding the former. Now he lord Ash
burton) was far from saying anything against tbe
people of America, with whom he had had the adj
vantage OF negotiation on the part of this country
lie believed there were many most honorable men
amongst them, and for himself he saw no ground
Tor experimenting that there was the least likelihood
OF a disturbance between the two countries. lie !
believed that the good sense of the country would
overpower any disposition of the kind but we must
not forget that there two parties TO an agree
ment and what if America should refuse to take
our clothing, well knowing at the time they did so
that we were compelled by the circumstances of
our position, to take their corn? This was an il
lusration Of the case, which had been so often mt
Of the danger of depending on foreign countries
for the supply of food. Why, the very last time
we had differences with America, she laid an en-
Dargo upon and shut her ports against British ship
ping; and It was clearthat in the event of a recur
renee OF difficulties, her first step would be again
10 smut her ports against us, in which the sup
ply from America would undoubtedly fail But the |
supply must not be expected from America: and
we could not have better proof of this than the
TACT that at this moment American corn could come
through Canada, at duty of four Shiiiings; and
yet II the returns were examined, ii troud be found
That nine-tenhs of the foreign corn in England uas
from The Baltic, though The duty on corn from its
shores ~ds FIFTEEN SHILLINGs a quarter. This
was entirely owing to the low price of labor in Eu-
rope" - -''-
-, me tact last mentioned by Lord Ashburon (says
me IN \. Courier seems conclusive as to the prob
abe expectation OF grain from this country to Eng
land. Under existing laws American grain is ad-
United into British ports at duty of four shiilings
per quarter while gram from the Baltic pays NJ
alton of eteren shngs in favor of American Grain
and III spite Of this, nine tenths of the entire i'm,
portaton comes from the Baltic What folly, then.
to anticipate from the free admission of all ioreign
grams, peculiar advantages to the United States.