Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-09-05
through which it runs. We do not know Of q
more pleasant excursion that can be had in this
Letter to the Editor.
WAsHrKsroN, Aug. %. l,

you at this time, is to give you and your readers
some idea of what is doing in the city of mag
niicent distances-that is, what is doing by
Congress for the benefit of the people at large.
To make my letter interesting 10 you and your
readers, must talk about those subjects in
which the people Of Vermont take an interest.
And what are the subjects now before Congress
in which they feel peculiar interest? Slavery
is one, and that as they well know has absorbed
nearly the whole time of Congress, to the ex-
clusion Of almost everything else. Each of their
senators and representatives has spoken at
large upon it, and their speeches have been pub
lished. They are all known to be sound on
that subject and all opposed to slavery. No I'M
pnjudiced person can say that the subject of
slavery has not been discussed thoroughly dur
ing this session, and the interests of the domee-
tic institution cared for. But have all other in
terests been equally discussed and equally pro-
vided for? The people of Vermont, | think,
were once somewhat interested in the protection
of American Industry. In 1874, if | mistake
not, all parties declared themselves in favor Of
|
tered in 1876, they were opposed to its alteration
and preferred specific to ad valorem duties. The
opinion of the people then was that more ample
protection ought to be afforded both to the agri-
culurist and the manufacturer. And has that
feeling changed? Are they now opposed to
protection? These questions Of course you are
able to answer better than myself Believing
however, that they still take an interest in these
subjects, will proceed now TO tell what has
been done by Congress upon this subject.
| The Tariff question has been,durInG the nine
months Of this session, but seldom agitated.-
Numerous petitions have been sent in from the
people in different sections of the country, but
as general thing, they were merely presented
received and laid upon the table Enacted upon.
Upon the presentation of petitions occasionally
members would take lively interest and speak
in favor of specific duties; but aside from that
nothing has been done. Even Committees who
might have maurcd bills for the alteration of the
Tariff, have done nothing. The Speaker of the
House, Southern man, aud Locofoco, and of
course hostile to high tariff, appointed every
chairman of each of the standing committees
from among the Locoiocos; and it was not to be
expected that any Committee would make a re-
port favorable TO protection to hume industry.
The Committee on Manufactures, (of which
Mr. Peck is Chairnan.) whose duty it is TO take
care of the interests OF the manufacturers, and
which would, if the Chairman and majority of
the Committee had been favorable to a protec-
tive tariff, made report iii favor of protection to
, Home Industry. has moi, have been credibly
informed, been even called together. And yet
the Chairman is called goud Tariff man at
home Well, perhaps he vii. be when he re-
turns from the communicating air of Washington
TO the bracing breezes OF the Green Mountain
State.
Last Saturday, an effort was mat de in Commit
Tee of the Whole on the state OF The Union, 10
amend the General Appropriation Bill so as TO
give more adequate protection to the dropping
interests OF the country. The amendment was,
however, decided out of order, by the Chairman.
Mr.. BURT, from s. C.) and on an appeal from his
decision, he was sustained 81 toi77. Those who
voted to sustain his decision were mostly from
the South and anti-tarIif men. All the Wing
members from Vermont voted with the friends of
protection, aud against the decision of the
Chair Mr.. PECK, however, the democratic
member, voted with the South to sustain the
Chair.
The amendment was offered by MIR. HAMPTON
of Peuusy ivania, as follows:
| D. - o.. e l..
from the passage of this act, the duties imposed
by the act entitled An act to reduce the duties
on imports and for other purposes, approved June
30, 1896" shall be levied en- goods, wares, and
merchandise, imported into the United States,
agreeaby 10 the average value which the same
articles bore in the principal markets Of the u
nlted States, during the year ending June 80,
1876, to be ascertained, and fixed under the oi-
rection of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
In the Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation
Bill of 1886, there was a clause of similar
character to this which ives cited as a precedent
to this; aud consequently the friends of prorec-
ton considered this amendment to be in order.
As soon as the amendment was read Mr.Toombs
rose and declared the amendment out of order,
because the object was to raise revenue, where
as the bill was to make appropriations.
The CHAIRMAN decided the amendment out
of order, as not germane to the bill.
Mr.. STEVENS of Fem. appealed from the &C.
csion of the Chair.
Mr.. AsHMuN thought the Chair was in error.
! Ir. STEVENS desired to have the clause read
in the appropriation bill of 1886.
The CHAIRMAN decided that it could not be
read without unanimous consent of the House.
This not being granted,
Mr.. STEVENS called for telcrs to count the
ayes and noes on his appeal.
The decision of the Chair was sustained, 81
ayes, II noes.
Nearly all the Wings from the North, friends
of protection, and among them the Vermont
Wings, voted aye, and the Locolocos, and among
them Mr.. Peck, from the North, with few ex-
ceptions, voted No.
This vote was regarded by the friends of pro-
lection vote :or or against increasing pro-
lection to Home Industry. Mr.. Peck's voting
with the enemies of protection cannot be con-
strued as favorable to him proiectionist.