Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-05-07

The following article from the Middlebury Gal.
axy, confirms the positions which we have hereto
fore taken on the Wool question. The Editor of
the Galaxy is himself wool grower, we under
stand, to a pretty large extent.
1t is well known by every reading man, that the
Wings in Congress made use of every possible eff
fort to make the Tariff of 1912 cffectua pos.
sibe for the protection Of Wool growers. All
wool except such as really coarse, was subjec-
ted to the highest rate of duties-3 cents per h.,
and 80 rer cent. ad loren, while the 5 per cent.
was limited TO coarse wool only, which could not
compete with the domestic production, and costing
under cents per pound in the South American
market Several provisions were made to prevent
under valuations by mixing foreign substances and
charging upon bales according to the finest wool
which each contained, &c. And yet il is fact a
vowed by the Locofocos themselves, that nine
tenths of all the wool imported from South Ameri-
lea pays the lowest rate of duties, although it is
well understood that of the five or six different
grades of wool imported from that quarter three or
four are finer grades which come in competition
with ours, and should be charged with 3 cents per
pound and SO cents ad Valorem, which would a.
mount TO IS cents ad valorem.
In consequence of this abominabe fraud upon
the ool-growers suffered to be practlced by the
Executive, the importation of South American
wool has increased from about millions in lS45
TO % millions in lc46.
And look at the manner IN which these hypo-
critical friends of Protection to the wool grower
propose to remedy the evil Of which they complain.
Instead of carrying out the present Tariff, which
would fairly allow duty Of Is per cent. ad valo-
rem on at least half Of the wool imported from s..
America, Mr. Walkers Bill proposes % c cent.
ad valorem upon mportations of wool of every des-
cription. Yes, to remedy what they pronounce the
outrageous humbuggery of the present Wing Ia
riff upon wool growers, and which has brought ir.
retrievable ruin upon them two cents Il pound is
the only prescription of these empty pretenders for
Protection to the farmer" But such has been the
duplicity of Locofocoism in relation to protection,
from beginning to end. They have ever declared
themselves OPP osed to Tariff for Protection on
any branch Of domestic industry. They objected
to the Tariff Of 1912 on the ground that il aimed
at Protection, and in every stage of its progress
through Congress they attempted to reduce it on
wooden goods which is even worse for the wool
grower than to reduce on wool itself. They arc
this moment eagerly empl Dyed in Congress in re-
ducing the Tariff from an average Of 40 to % per
cent. Imprudence and hypocrisy can 90 no far
ther than these men have made them in cheating
the people out Of protection to domestic industry.
One would think they could not open their heads
on protection without being chokcd with confusion
in view of the disgracelul tricks they have PLAYED
before the people on this subject. The collectors
in assessing duties have regarded nothing but the
price Of the wool at the place whence imported. -
They have utterly neglected the distinction be.
tween coarse wool and .fne which was intended
by the friends of the Tariff as SO conservative Of
the interests Of the Wool-grower. Nothing Is ca
ser than to execute the law according to its intent
Let the Secretary Of the Treasury procure sam.
plies of coarse and fine WOOL and send them to the
Custom House officers, as their guide in the assess
ment of duties, This plan was pointed out b,
Gov Slade to Mr. Forward in 1913, then Secretary
of the Treasury; and would have been carried in
to effect had he not been Tylerized out of office
and a Free Trade Locofoco substituted in his stead