Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-06
For the Green Mountain Freema
The Vermont Waterman,
J. S. GREEN.

see by the following which friend has kindly
sent me, that the Waterman has condscended to no.
tce my recent article on the "Tarif" "Free trade"
&C.. as follows:
"The last Green Mountain Freeman contains rab-
id AntTaritf and Free Trade article, just such as
Bob Walker and the Slaveocrats would like tG sac
published weekly in every paper in New Erc,ana :
1t certainly odd to the extreme nnboIders Of
Slavery at the South, and the eyreoe haters of il in
the North, standing or Common ground. For more
t9h twenty yeas ,ne Slavocacy have regarded Tar
ms az i3 rost abominable of all thngs-building up
lie worth at the expense of the South. Ifthey
right, their ally is of course wrong. Wecertainy
would not presume far as to say that he to
sustain slave labor against free labor"
The above is about as near the truth as l should
expect to in paper bindly devoted to the inter
ests of whiggery.
Now have not so good an opinion of "Bob Walk
err to suppose he is in favor of having iSt such"
articles, by long shot, published in New England or
elsewhere | should like to see the evidence of it, if
it can be produced, and then shall think hun much
better abotonist and better man than now think
him.
1t is an admirable specimen of wing logic to speak
of the eXteme upholders of slavery at the South and
the extreme haters of it in the North as standing on
common ground" and Immediately after to say that
if they right, their ally is of course wrong"
How can be right and the other wrong, when they
both agree; as the Waterman says they do? Thank
him however for CHASING with the ertreme haters
Of slavery" 1t honest admission for one to make
who contends that the wings are as much opposed to
slavery as any body
Your readers will also notice that the terms "Slave-
ocracy" and "Slayeocrats" embrace both wings and
democrats, and the Waterman thus puts them just
where they are, on the same level. Give him credit
for this truth, h,u2 perhaps h did It unintentcnally
But it is not true, unless have been asleep 'for
the last 20 years. that the "Saveocacy have regard
ed tariffs" as the Waterman says They have oppo-
sed high protective tariffs but have always been in IA
vor of some kind of tariff, such as would protect
the produce of slave labor, and have opposed direct
taxation, They have wanted just such tariff as
would raise sufficient revenue to support the govern
ment and clear them from taxes In adjusting the de-
tails of such tariff, they might differ in opinion,
though they would not differ as to the object Now
go against all tariffs.
r know not which to admire most, the charity or
= the modesty of the Waterman in saying that Che
would not presume far as to say that he means tc
sustain slave lobor' &c. And as "charity covereth
multitude of sins" freely forgive him for the
nsnuaton that dit not know the tendency of my
e sentiments.
Q When was in the habit of viewing every thing
relating to our state and national policy through wing
spectacles, could swallow cords of wing moonshnC
c and think it all the light needed. But have
found such spectacles injurious to the eyes and there
u fore cast them away.
q 1t takes some little time for one who is accustone,
to walk in darkness and to view objects through
false medium, which disorts and dscolors and thu
decieves The mind to reconcile his eyes to the light
so clearly. therefore can have charity 70
those who are honestly blind, though confess hav
little for those who keep back the light of truth 70
fear honest will and act inteigenty and fee
l compelled to leave the party
If it was in accordance with wing policy, SHOULD
expect the Waterman would let his readers see my
article and thus be enabled to Judge of its TRUTH a:
well as the justice Of his own comments. Homes
men will hear both sides before they Judge, and hon
est editors will not withhold truth from their readers
If my positions are erroneous the shrewd editor car
|
- ever cost to party.
Now while wings and other party leaders are advo-
eating tariffs, why do they not state clearly in plair
English to their followers the exact nature of tariffs
and explain their operation that none will have tc
Ego it blind" Then those who choose to support then
5 will do it intellgenty
: Now we expect that rich men will hold on to the
the tariff which Laws +bo
= But there some poor who need and claim our sym
e pathy in preference to the rich, The tariff canno
benefit them If it benefits any man it does so at the
Immediate expense Of those who consume his surplus
s productions When an article is imported and pays
c duties, the price is raised the same the duty
s Government gets the extra price. But if the same
l. article is also produced and sold at home, the tariff
raises the price in the same RATIO and the producer
gets it This is his protection" and this is all there
e is of protection. But where does the money come
n from which thus enriches the man who has enough
and to spare? From the poor hard laborng classes
t of community who are citizens under the same gov
eminent with them, and eventually, believe from no
t ether source.
o To make this plain we will suppose that property
was so equally distributed that every individual under
our government should have or produce enough for
his wants, that he would not buy any thing at all
No goods would be imported or sold and therefore nc
duties would be paid. Those who had surplus
# would have to dispose of it in foreign Market where
home tariff would not affect prices. In this state Of
things tariff would have no effect. None could be
e protected or impoverished by it The whole ex-
pense of retailing goods would be saved to the con-
g sumner, Hordes of professional men who now
supported by money drawn directly indirectly from
the aboring poor, could be dispensed with No debts
v need be incurred nor the expenses of collection.
1t will be SEEM then that in order to have tariff
# take any effect there must be purchasers who con-
sumo al home more than they produce and in order