Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-03-05
TARIFF PROSPECTS


be cxerted to break down the Protective policy is
maest that its efforts will be aided by recent de.
veopements in Great Britain is equally true but
that those efforts will succeed, with all their adven-
titous aids is not yet certain. One great impede
men thereto is the general and spontaneous convic-
ton of our peope-tho great mass who are but oc.
casionally and partially drawn into the absorbing
whirl Of politlcs-that we are well as we are, and
are not likely to improve our condition by a radical
change in our Commercial and industrial politics.
All do know-even the speeches of the enemies of
Protection in Congress proclaim the fGct--that the
country is now enjoying, and has for sometime en-
Joyed a more than average pro0sperity-that its
labor is as generally employed and fairly rewarded
as at almost any former period, its caDital is at no
loss for advantageous investment, its credit sound
It's revenue ample, and its currency as reliable and
benlhcent as currency so constituted is ever like
" ever to be. All know that the country has NOV
ed rapidly forward for two years past that its ac.
tua wealth has been Increased by the erection of
houses, mills, factories, &C., the clearing away of
forests and the Improvement Of lands and that its
capacity OF production has increased in proportion
and Is still rapidly increasing. The now probable
revolution IN British policy gives u.s. at length, a
chance for fair and equal tade with Great Britain,
If on our part we let well alone" Always hith-
erto the advantage has been largely in her fovor-
Now let her take from us much Cotton, Grain,
Wheat, &c, as she wants, and we will buy Of her
IN turn whatever she produces which we cannot
readily produce. If her projected Free Trade in
cludes fdr trade with her Colonies we will large
y extend our intercourse with them; but if it mean
only that we may be allowed to ship Food as well
Cotton to Great Britain, alone, let Us accept the
change and make the best OF it, without putting
faith in any more Of her professions than are just
fed by her acts. II the conversion of Sir Robert
Peel to Free Trade be sincere and thorourh he
will not extend it 10 twentieth part of the British
domnions, but extend it TO the whole
! We do not anticipate such blessings from the
new British policy as do many. We do not think
Indian Corn, for example, will be likely to com
mand, IN The average, one dollar per bushel in G.
Britain, in any considerable quantities, and at that
rate 1t VIII not bear exporting, unless cheaper with
us than at present. We do not believe that the
freest trade IN Wheat with Great Britain can. in
the absence of very large Home Market, keep
the price OF Flour at this port, up to five dollars
per barrel. Transportation, with the competition
OF Russia and Germany will blight the sangune
hopes OF large advantage now cherished by many
among us. But considerable quantity of grain
will go to England when the price is moderate in
the U. s., while pork, beef, lard, &C., will doubt
less be shipped under almost any circumstances
The British market will be worth something to our
farmers, though not near so much as home mari,
ct, passed on the a0rcatlon among u.s. Of the rood,
and wares, whose producers they are eypecfed IN
feed IN Great Britain. But let our Tariff be brok-
en- down, our Manufactures arrested if not subver.
S'' "hu Jul luiIIeIs VIII lose Immensely bv tho
change. Our safety cur advantage, lie in stand.
ing where we If Great Britain. npd,,r Ler
new Tariff shall buy of US more than she can sell
us, so much the hetter; we can thus redeem ar
Two Hundred Millions worth OF Public Stocks and
other evidences of debt now held bv Engian6 -
How are we ever really to pay them uoess we sell
more than we buy? Let US stand bv our Tariff
and we may soon cease to be debtor and become
a creditor Nation, US Great Britain is. When we
have thus accumulated capital, perfected macbin-
ery and made ready to produce nearly every thing
las do many things) at the lowest possible
rates, then we, too, if we choose, may make p,r.
ade of throwing off our duties and expatiate 70 n
admiring world on the blessings of universal Free
Trade.
We near that Mr.. Walkers Tariff Bill sticks in
the throat of the Committee Of Ways and Means.
in consequence of decided remonstrance bv the
Locofoco Members from the North and East
against the shape given to that bill, whereby Sugar
Iron, Coal, &C., vouchsafed an efficient Protec
ton of 30 per cent, while Wool is allowed but 90
and Manufactures of Cotton, Wool Silk and IRON
from less than nothing up to 10 and at most 30 per
cent. above the duty the raw materials We
cannot believe that the bill of Mr.. Walker can he
forced through any American Congress, without
essential changes. The vote on General McKay's
kindred, but less exceponabe measure, IN the last
House-que as strongly Locofoco as the present
-justifes this conviction.-.N Y Tribune.