Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-01-02

time, when we are making excessive importa-
TONS mt only without IN equivalent extra de-
mand. but on the contrary. with diminished one
from Europe, far below what she took from us
when our importdtions were so much less than
they now are
The foregoing statements show that the farm
ing population of the country. without any cX-
! traordnary stimulus. can produce a supply equal
to S6s,90l l2l 10 meet an urgent demand of a
foreign market an amount more than equal Ia
the average value of the export of cotton from
this country.
But we find this sum of nearly sixty nine mil
lions. which rewarded the toll of the farmer OF
the country in S47, dwaried down in 1850 to
the comparatively insignificant amount Of S26,-
05l ,373-a falling off in the rewards Of labor OF
the iarmer alone in two years Of S4l650,5S.
When it is remembered that a very large pro.
portion of the citizens Of this country are onga.
ged in the business Of farming. and how much
of the permanent veal h and true glory Of the
Republic depends ON their well-being and pros
perity IT would seem TO be the dictate of onlght-
ened selfishness, rs well az duty of patriot sm
so to mold. If possible. the laws regulating trade
and revenue. as to furnish for them. at home, a
permanent market with remunerotiug prccs.-
As no such market can be found abroad, 1t may
well suggest the inquiry whether legislation, m
providing, of necessity for revenue. shall not
by encouraging diversity of employment IN oul
own country secure the only safe and sure
market for our farming productions which can be
obtained.
The policy hero suggested is strengthened by
! a comparison uf 81. salue and amount of the
home as compared with the foreign market Il
has been cstinated thtt eur consumption Of food
aimeut furniture. &C., is about : 100 for eacl
individual OF this sum from SO TO 81, are oil
D ftrntf-n f,rrfus4rn.a ktltah NJ MOI
head would require an importation Of about
: ijO,OG00O9 1t viii at once appear how insig-
niiicant this amount is when compared with the
amount of homc products consumed. Upon the
basis of 500 per head the foreign production
furnishes 81 80 per head, or IN the aggregate
Sl5O.Ou0 COO; the residue, or s. 80 each re-
quircs annually the sum of about S2lOO,OOoO tt
to be supplied by our own industry. Our aver
age consumption OF imports. per head for thirty
years. has been 50 -. Any material excess
over that average, as IN the years ls35-- 70 and
1889. has been surely followed by the most dis
astfous results. The imports OF the past ycaI
have been exceeded in amount only by the yeoi
/ 1896 and # the official figures could be made
+ 10 represent the true cost OF the imports OF the
former year. even lc}G would it IS believed. not
/ be au exception The imports Of iie hrsl quar-
/ ter of the present wear show an increase OF more
than $ Il O0O.C0O over the corresponding quar-
ter Of last year, indicating an Importation for
I the current year, greater by many millions, than
/ the Imports OF any previous one. and consump-
ton per head proporttonaby larger, while the
markets abroad Indicate 10 prospect OF an IN
creased demand fer our exports.
Thcsa exports, as already stated, consist prln-
cipalIy Of articles Of ueco sity and nearly aA Of
them of uw 1ltoruis boo their cfudest siitc h
We therefore wish To- occupy the place Wnong
commercial nations ll1t our advantage ol posi-