Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-07-20
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
FREE TRADE.
[REPLY TO "s.," BY ABB.
"COme and let as reason together"
NUMBER 3

"COme and let us reason together"
NUMBER g.
s. admits that protection 'makes rich men richer"
and states that have "seized this circumstance to
raise prejudice against tariffs, &C." Not so. seize
it as fact, which ought to be understood as the Sc
cret which lies at the foundation of tariffs and which
prompts rich men to support them; fact which should
/ be viewed in connection with another fact viz Mon
ey or the love of it, has tremendous influence po
itcal economy and the poor man has very little of
this or any kind influence over political movements
1t needs no Solomon to show that "Wealh makes many
friends" and that 'the poor hated Of his neigh
Dor" My sympathies somehow are with the poor vic
tins of oppression and iniquity The rich do not need
sympathy in the sense that the poor need it. If they
are wronged they have money enough to procure re-
Dress The poor have not. Few sympathise with
them-few help them--few care for them except to
USE them. This is a cold, selfish, unfeelIng world,
and money is its principal God. And when see the
blind devotion of its worshppers, cannot but be re-
minded of that memorable sayng-"How hardly shall
they who have riches enter into the Kingdom of God
1t is easier" &c.
But if protection snakes rich men richer" as we
both agree it is evident that very much of what the
rich gain in this way must be somebody's loss. Some
body must pay it to them pay for what they buy
than what 1t cost the seller. The rich fleece one an
other, and illustrate the doctrine that 'two cheats
make an even bargain" But property must be pro-
duced or created before it be used basis for
speculation. do not forget that there often fancy
stocks in the market, which burst like soap bubbles
but consider these as exceptions which prove the
rule. Now those who produce create capital, the
y poor aborers; and these cannot speculate grow
richer at the expense of others for want of capital,
: Let them be comforted then with employment" The
capitalist hires them and must insist that
rect in the general rule that 'the rich regulate the
> price of labor" No one rich man has this power, but
it the result of the whole collective influence Of the
: rich, dffused and combined. might refer for one
proof to the fact that society" unon" of labor
+ ers who combine together for the purpose of raising
the price of labor is put down in many places by laws
l. enacted by the influence of rich men, and is denom
mated "a conspiracy" and the members of such assoc
atoms are called "consprators and punished as SUCH
f But to return If the rich cannot make much
profit as he Wishes he invests his capital in 9TH
v err quarter and the aborers may hunt for employment
al where they can get it.
c. But wish to call the attention of those who, with
s. fear that free trade will drive many poor la.
g. borers out of employ, and feelingy ask 'How will
in these unfortunate people obtain employment again"
to the cases Of thousands who have been turned out of
n employ by tariffs, and by great variety of causes
" which have been put in operations such science
e. invention, and the various advances of the age. A
d. few weeks ago there in Chelsea distant from
Boston about 10 minutes ride, by steamboat) large
r. establishment owned and kept in operation, by rich
men, called "Laundry" In this, many females and
VI some males, with steam engine, were kept in en-
ploy, in the very important operation of washing ant
re ironing the linen &c. of large circle of customers ii
IT, Boston and elsewhere This establishment took fire
IT,. and burned down. and the consequence was a grea
NJ loss the part of the popreors and others, and thu
,s- aborers being turned out of employ A few day
r. Size, while visiting friend at Chelsea, walked OH
a. to view the ruins and informed that "many wer
of rejoicing because it was burnt" "Why SOP" "Be
cause it took the business aoay from many poor ,cash
"a er,Uomen" All! thought I, this is illustration
human nature, human sympathy, and human selfish
o ness; from which we may learn an instructive lesson
1t shows how much charity there is in capital for tn
poor laborer. The rich do not to turn the poo
out of employ if they enrich themselves still NOR
r. by the means. 1t is no regard for the poor which
duces them to support tariffs, or build factories Sell
interest governs.
w. Look at our wooden factories. Did they not tax
the business of carding, spinning and weaving, out
'nu the hands of thousands, and how did they "fnd en-
eir ployment?" Look at our Railroads. Locomotives, an
JIG the application of Steam power in general Look
ILL a, b,,,ao 4lo
la sciences, and how many have been turned out
rn- employ by the onward march of mind. Was it NJ
MS their "rghtfu privilege to obtain living in those en-
ly Payments" which have been superseded and crowde
up off the track? But shall man remain in his prmitiv
ev simplicity because these changes cannot be mad
rv without some inconvenience? or because some will
OF obliged to leave old, and seek employments?
his This consideration certainly offers yet no serou
ree obstacle to these changes. They march onward wit
ess giant strides and will continue to do SO. Nor does
life follow that when the poor turned out of empo
hall by these they could not find other fields for
p Dor equally profitable.
Id But S. says, "By essening the number of depar
IN ments for labor you increase the proportion of lahore
alto to each department" This idea is based on the
oil sumption that free trade oW lessen the departments
which certainly lacks proof. The whole experienC
gs of the past and present ages proves that the depar
heir ments for labor" instead of being essened are actua
arty y increasing Change-change is the order of IL
ice day. One department supersedes another and leac
ons, onward to new Some discovery is made, machir
ory, got up, and forthwith here is new department
les, labor" to supply the demand And so department
ebts are continually multiplying.
and But in to this part of the argument, we wi
we suppose wars to be abolished-armies disbanded-
the trade which is one department of labor" given
can and the soldiers e. aborers" thrown out of en-
lee ploy." We leave them on the hands of s. for Il
and application of his argument. Will not these solde
and abe obliged go into empoyments for which the
will genius, skill or MEANS are not suitedT' They a