Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-07-04

Here, then, are facts on which to say conclu-
sivsly 70 the Ffes Trader, that We CANNOT zig
dis nee traie gune "a Ergiusk Our capital
il not equal to hers, to begin With; and then A.
merican working men cannot, viii M, and should
not come down to British wages. Never! The
American laborer is the American freeman: be
must have time and money to educate himself
and his children to perform their duties to the
country and to society as freemen: our system
Of government stands upon that-our independ-
snce, our liberty, our greatness a. a nation,
all stand upon that 1t is safe to say, they soill
not come to British wages. They are the ma
jority, and this is 4 county where working men
cast the votes. They will not long vote to
shave down the pay for their daily toll. The
free traders-aye, the politicians of every pro-
fession-may be sure Of that Let the big folks
at Washington think OF that fact, and bestir
themselves. We commend that fact, and the
Times facts herein contained, to tine Hon. LU-
Gus B. PECK, chairman of the committee on
manufactures, and ask him to try again and see
if his committee on manufactures won't meet,
at least ONCE!
Now we advise the peopIc-the real wcrkies
in particular-not to wait till the British grind
stone cuts TO the quick. Let ue move mo,o, and
move in earnest, for redress of grievances
for blow at British free trade in sheer self.de-
fence. Here is a moderate petition to Congress.
Let it be circulated in every town. There
should be no delay. We will undertake to for
ward to safe source all that may be sent to US.
Friends, this is proper subject for reflection
on the 4th Of July-and proper work for the day.
Circulate the petition, which is as follows:
"To the Honorable the Senate and House of
Representatives in Congress assembled:
Your petitioners, citizens of the United States,
and inhabitants of -@, State of -
would respectfully represent that by the most
severe as well as most true of all lessons. that
OF experience, they have found the operation OF
the revenue law passed in 1876, most disastrous
to their industrial pursuits. The system of lev
ying uniform duty according to the invoice or
price OF an article In the foreign country, has
proved fatal to all those pursuits 10 this country
In which labor constitutes the major cost of the
product Believing that the Congress of the u
nited States would not sustain for a prolonged
period, system which prostrates the great pro-
duclng interests Of the country, we, the farmers,
mechanics, manufacturers laborers, and citizens,
without distinction Of party, pray your honorable
body to alter and amend The revenue law of
lS46, In such manner as to enable us to pursue
our vacations with no other obstacles than the
vlcIssltude Of domestic trade, healthful competi-
tion and the hazards of the seasons. Your DE-
titioners believe that no injustice can arise from
the adoption of specific Duties upon all those
articles which come in competition with Ameri
can products, of an amount equal at least to the
dd rdtorem duties which would have been COL
lected under the present law, if foreign manu.
factures we're al the same prices which prevail
ed when that law was passed. We therefore
pray your honorable body SO to amend the rev.
enue law OF ls46, that the material prosperity
Of the country and the dignity of labor my be
preserved and perpetualed.