Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-02-01

sources, aud directing ingenuity and labor,
under the auspices of an enlightened and
enlarged policy"
Again; Gov. Van Ness, in his message
of October, 1923, says {" The manufacture
ing interest of the United States has been
left to struggle with obstacles which it can
never overpower until the encouragement
afforded to the importation of foreign goods
shall be withdrawn, by sufficient increase of
duties or by prohibtory regulations. On
the success Of our manufacturing industry
depends essentially the prosperity Of agri-
culture, as by the establishing of manufac-
tories is created market for the articles
necessary for manufacturing and for subsis-
tencc. And there is good reasopto Justify
the opinion that by cherishing the resources
of our own country, and protecting the in
dustry of our own citizens, we might soon
be able, without going abroad, to obtain u
ready and comfortable supply for our own
wants and to find profitable and steady
market for our own produce. But if, on
the other hand, we should pursue the course
we have been pursulng-and if no barrier
is erected to the vast importatons of for
eign merchandise, by which the exertions
/ of our manufacturers have been systematic-
ally paralyzed, and the debts, as well as the
habits of extravaganza of our citizens, con-
stantly increased, it would seem that a peri
cd cannot be far distant which will over
whelm us with difficulties of a most serious
and alarming nature. Agriculture is our
leading employment and principal support,
and deserves every attention and encourage
| ment that can i'll any manner tend to the adj
/ vancement OF its permanent prosperity. AS
/ it is the most ancient and the most useful,
so it should be viewed the most honorable
of all employments. And the general DIFF
fusion Of this sentiment, and the cultivation
of an habitual regard for it, will be sure to
conduce to the welfare of the State.
On the subject of manufactures have al
ready expressed myself, but l would add
that deem it important to afford every IA
ciity to manufacturing establishments, by
acts of incorporation, by reasonable eXemp-
ton from taxes, and by whatever other
means may be within our proper sphere OF
action"
| have not made these extracts with any
particular preference. No Governor Of this
State has at any time, in his message to the
General Assembly, put forth any sentiment;
other than in favor of industry, economy
and the protection of the agricultural, me-
chanical and manufacturing interest. You
may search the archives of every Stale o
this Union, and you will find no better les
sons of wisdom in favor of the great anC
leading interests of the State, of this Union
than you will find recorded in the archive!
of the Green Mountain State hope tn,
time will come when every freeman will be
furnished with the annua! messages Of .ou1
, past Governors, the answers on the part o
the Assembly, and the reports of Commit
tees, relating to agricultural, mechanical
J manufacturing and other leading interest.
, Of the State and country.
Shall we who love to laud the deeds of on
ancestors, and who live by the result o
e their toll, be content with less intelligenc,
y or patriotism A State exists in its history
5 Take away the memory of the past, ant
= what remains "a name, and only a name
t Take away the example and recorded wis
a dom of the past, and what ray of light woult
0 be left for our guidance! What could w
a do but grope in darkness and ineXperience
n and wander in the mazes OF perpetual child
j hood If we are bound to respect tn
, claims of posterily, we likewise owe deb
d to our ancestors.
5 Vermont has stood alone on the floor G
f Congress, at a time when every State il
: New England was opposed to the protecting
C system.
e The people of this State have thus ia
;, been employed in agriculture, having bu
r little surplus capital, and unacquainted wit
d the art Of manufacturing by machinery
r They have thus far been under the necessi
y ty of transporting their production to mar
o ket, selling it for what they could get, an,
obliged to pay the price demanded for sucl
;, necessaries as they needed to purchase
u Yet under these disadvantages we hay
o prospered. We have contributed to tn
S oyergrown capitalists on the seaboard, VIII
have by means of traffic and exchange, accu
r cumuated wealth to that extent that the
d have vested large amounts of money in tn
i manufacturing and mechanical business
t Many of them have employed hundreds {
G worthy laborers, and yet have failed io
: want Of skill. So rapid has been the in
y proyement of machinery for manuiacturn
d cotton and wool, that the manufacturer
! constantly on the watch to secure every i'm
IS proyement in machinery which aids in les
z, sening the expense of manufacturing; otf
erwlse, he is undersold in the market. S
iNiuNHt idNG pCSi tllC SlIullHCS III IldCllll'
y ry, the manufacturer possessed of moderat
e means has not been able to keep up wit
Is the improvements, and been obliged to di.
If continue business or fail
1t Notwithstanding the great sacrifice mad
: by individuals and companies engaged i
d the manufacturing business, our commo
$ country has been greatly benefited by tn
l. eXertions of the artizan, mechanic and mar
n uiacturer, | have reason to believe thi
= the improvements in machinery for mani
It featuring cotton and wool, since 1885,
, as far beyond that in common use previou
Is to 1885, as that was beyond the manulaC
IS turing of cotton and wool by means of han
II cards, wheels and hand LOOMS as practice
n by our mothers. | do not believe that
IS the present perfected machinery for tn
), purpose of manufacturing cotton and woo
IS were in common use throughout our cour
e try, we could compete with the manulaC
= turer of either England, France or HOLLAND
p Our cotton machinery is so far periecte
e that the manufacturer possessed of this ms
chinery, does now manufacture cotton int
% cloth for less than three and half cents pc
d pound. Our wooden manufacturers posses