Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-07-27


II ;nterasts IN raise or lower tariffs Those in power,
n,ust ramove or alter tariff if was not created by
,bomse,vos The Wings must have "whig tariff"
and glorify it above all things. The Democrats must
curse the "whg tariff" make one OF their own and e&-
toll it to the SKIES The south must have tariff
which will protect slave produce. The wool growers
must have wool protected the manufacturers start up
with their interests and every interest which can
be affected rises up and demands protection All
that can be done is to make compromise" OF their
conflicting interests, just they can agree at the
time. These compromises result in jealousles and
disaAecGons. No one perhaps is satisfied with the
protection receives and the constant strife is to get
more. So fluctuation is the order of the day. We
have no settled policy and never can have under tar
i for the simple reasons that these conflicting inter-
ests cannot be made to harmonze, and because the
parties will not stop pulling down each otherswork.
s. says "If the scarcity Of home article tempt the
producer to demand extravagant price, lett foreign
supply be admitted under such regulations as will put
the price down to point of fairness" Now l think
little reflection will convince any one that no such
regulation can be put in force. How can it be ascer-
tanned tOhd regulations will do this? What IS the
pont Of fairness" and tcho to decide whom it 40
reached? Tho government cannot say how much or
how little shall be imported or exported. 1t cannot
know how many or what goods, or how much produce
will be thrown upon the market 1t cannot toresee
such an emergency as to provide temporary re9u-
laton for it. Those who are concerned In bringing
goods to our markets are scattered throughout the
world and every one is on the look out for the best
FUl lnovU aach Ofhprs nanS
can the government know theirs. The motto 'every
one for himself" All government can do is to pro-
vide general rate of duties, and that it has done.
did not think it necessary "notice" the "drain of
specie" from one country to another, or its redunden-
cy" because do not think they are at all dependent
upon tariffs has himself given their cause by say
ing "When exchanges of produce between two coun-
tries are unequal IN vaI,e one country suffers drain"
&C. Now, what makes exchanges unequal? Not a
tariff, or the want of it, as can see. Again, Dhen IS
the discovery made, that they are so? Not until the
disease is past remedy. tariff then, could not
edy the evil. 1t could not anticipate and serve to
restric" it, when it had already taken place. 1t may
be said that it would prevent recurrence ofa drain
in future. Why is it then that tariffs have not already
had this effect? 1t is perfectly idle to expect they
will do in FUTURE what they have hitherto failed to do.
Ifexchanges of produce between two countries are
unequal it is perfectly right that the specie should be
drawn off to balance the account; just correct as
that one individual should pay another the balance
due on a settlement of accounts. The balance of
trade between two countries depends very much upon
the amount Of production in each The producer will
intend to supply himself first and then sell his surplus.
This surplus seeks the best market in the world. In
the mean tme spectators crowd foreign surplus pro-
auctions upon our markets, and take our surplus a.
way. In doing this they have an eye solely to their
own individual interests and cannot act with a view
of keeping up the balance of trade, it is beyond
their control or knowledge The government cannot
do it for them 1t cannot say to A. you can export
such and such articles, and import others to specific
amount: and say the every other other lotter
in the alphabet nor can tariff, or rate of duties
stop or restrict supply from going to meet every 9th
er letter in the alphabet nor can tariff rate of du-
ties, stop, or restrict supply from going to meet its
demand The tariffs vote must be fixed by, and ap-
plicabe to all circumstances conditions of trade
There is one very important objection against tar
if which have not yet noticed directly. II tGre6
property as 1t is consumed instead of taxing as it Is
created or produced, or as surplus which yields a
profit to the owner. This is irrational as well as I'M
just. 1t is like taxing the dying and the dead instead
of the living who have the prospect life before them
The tariff depends entirely upon the consumption o.
property and therefore unjust and oppressive to the
poor who are never able to get more than they con
sumo. In states where the poor are not allowed tC
vote, for want ola property qualification, there is
nea1lneSs, as well injustice in a tariff which taxes
what they eat and wear when it is their all. Tht
ease of poor widows and unmarried ladies, orphan
children, &c. is similar, rs they have no voice IN thu
making Of laws.
Again it is partial in its operations Some pro
tected and some are not Carpenters, Joiners, Ma
sons, Wheelwrights, Mllwrights, Ministers, Physi
clans, LAWYERS School Teachers, Musicians and va
rious Others have to pay the tariff tax on what the
consume and from the nature of the they canno
jbe protected They do not receive the Quid pro Quo
but must contribute to the benefit of government an
and rich men.
The industrial interests of this country do not nee
protective tariffs to support them. If they ever did,
was when the country in its infancy, and tina
time has gone by. But if protection was needed a
any time, it should be afforded in other way be
sides tariffs. The internal prosperity of country de
ponds upon the enterprise and character of its citizens
All countries do not prosper alike, and would not
under the same system of tariffs, and laws in genera
The tariff is not panacea for all the fluctuations q
trade, nor specific for any.
have heard many who are friendly to the princi
pie object to free trade, the ground that it woul
not do for nation to adopt it alone, while other
tons keep up tariffs. This fear to my mind is one
the greatest difficulties in the way of free trade-fc
have no doubt that nations might make reciproct
treaties with each other so that free trade might
mutual. If the United States should adopt it alone
her influence would soon act upon other nations, an
national honor and magnanmity would triumph Owe
national selfshness and meanness. "I4ike produce
like" Good wall and kindness, and generous frent
ship will provoke return In kind. Other nation
would be too proud to receive favor and not reciprc
cate it. The story of the and his cloak is to Il
point The winds blew upon him, the rain and IL