The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-03-14
A DIALOGUE.

Suppose Mr.. Walker calls to settle with his hat
ter on the Avenue, Mr. Tod, saving, "sr, am sor-
nv 10 leave You, but must get my hats from Eng
land hereafter, 10 enable her TO pay me Lish
price for cotton but remember, sir, am great
friend TO the mechanics and wcrkingmcn," and
particularly TO the voters" would not Mr.. Tod
he very apt to tell him that he would vote for
those who supported American industry and A.
merican mechanics, instead of foreigners, and he
would be very likely TO receive the same kind OF
comfort from his tailor, shoemaker, blacksmith
and all.
Suppose Mr.. Walker next addresses the iron,
the wollen, the cotton, the paper. the glass, ard
other manufacturers Of the United States, saving.
gentlemen YOU must cease TO substitute Your do
nestle products for foreign goods; and 10 compel
YOU to do so, have taken off more than half the
duty levied by the tariff of l642 on the foreign
rival produces" But why, they may say, Mr..
Walker thus destroy AmC r:caE capii;. and Amer
lean labor, giving our money and our market to
foreigners Why send millions ofmOncy abroad
to purchase foreign wool. and other agricultural
produce-brcad>tulls, and raw materials IN dis
glisc-flshioned into goods. which VIC can better
supply Al home, made Of American agricultural
produce and saving millions and hundreds Of mill
ions Of dollars to I'LL up the channels OF eircula-
ton at home making our own, instead OF foreign
countries prosperous! "Ncll there IS some force
in this. But gentlemen" says Mir. Walker, Il re
ducc the duties 10 increase tire revenue low viii
Won answer this. centlcmen!@ The answer Is
plain these low duties never did and never will
increase revenue. The revenue has always gone
up and down with tie duties. they Icing the
source of revenue w this country, where the
revenue is Il voluntary, and not compulsory.
contribution by the people 10 the Government,
the way to make rich Treasury is 10 make
rich and prosperous people. Send your money
abroad, break down and InpOvcrish your own cit
liens and YOU of course impovcrish your Treas
urv. When do peonlc purchase and consume
rich goods, paying high dutiesl When they have
the ability, wien they are prosperous When dc
they abstain7 When they are poor, and without
money If YOU wish: sir. TO enrich your ezchcq-
uer, give protection and prosperity TO your own
people and the one is always the consequence Of
the other. But, gentlemen" says Mr. Walker,
Il have another reason for reducing duties, 1t IS TO
favor the 'poor-the toiling millons'-by reducing
the price Of their goods Well sir how is this.
Have you done III You tell that you have,
by the tariff Of 1876, reduced the duties on iron,
coal, salt, and many other leading articles, more
than one-haf, and yet you yoursclftell US IN your
late official report that the prices Of these articles
are now higher under the tariff Of SAC, than they
were before the repeal Of the tariff Of s42l Can
YOU explain this! "Well. gentlemen, not exact
iv-not at this moment" We'll, sir, viii you al
low US to DO II Certainty, gentlemen. cerIalh-
", if YOU please" Well, sir, by destroying pro-
lection, and opening our ports to foreigners, you
alarm capiial-you cheek imvestments-you break
down competition, and you Of course diminish
supply aud increase price. Demand and supply
regulate price" Give protection, increase your
machinery start new factories, stimulate compe-
tition, increase supply, and You reduce price.
This sir, is law of trade certain in its opera
tons the ebbing and flowing of the tides "Well.
gentlemen, am not practically acquainted with
these matters. am cotton-grower, wish 10
make money plenty, and prices high abroad where
| sell, and make it scarce and prices low at home
where l buy; | want to sell in high and buy in
4 low market ] have not now time to discuss
this question farther. l am very busy, must 60
10 the Treasury, but beg You to believe that am
the special friend of the American mechani' 5
workingmen, and particularly the voiers-Good
bye mnst be off"
But Mr.. Walker has not only reduced the du-
ties on the productions Of American mechanics,
but he has reduced still more the duties on the
Injuries of the rich Among the rest, he has re-
duced the duty on foreign brandy and spirits dis
tiled from grain nearly one-hali; and this, too IS
done to increase the revenue We must therefore