The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-08-16
tivW ne Rasfon dtsfS.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.


We nrc clad that tic qiiesiina aC IlzaiaGiiaR
10 Ampican industry is beginning 10 attract
once more the attention of the peoplc. Dur
ing the last two wears, questions relating to
slavery, and 20 tho annexation Of now tcrri-
tory, have been so generally discussed, that
the great Interests Of labor have, in, great
measure, hccn neglected. The tariff of sac
has operated dislstrously upon tho true in
tcrcsts of tire country, and although the dis
coycry of gold in California has contributed
to Put or the evil day, or rather to modify
the had effects Of tho free trado system, vet
VIC are now beginning 10 feel the pressure in
the various departments Of trade.
The alarming fact il now disclosed that we
have been importing some fifty millions moro
products annually than We have exported
The consequence is that the balance has TO
bo made up by the expectation Of specie, the
evil effects Of which aro set forth at considc-
rable length in our paper Of Saturday in
connection with this question, we have re-
ceivcd two communications from merchants
OF the irst standing in this city, from which
we beg leave TO make an extract OF two
! One gentleman writos that
at is high time demonstration be made
to reduce the consumption Of the products of
foreign labor, 50 copiously poured in upon
us; and to do this a'iGague, signed by few
at first, agreeing not to buy these foreign ar
ticlcs which so disastronsly levy "black mali
upon us, and in all cases to give a preference
10 our owu manufacture, viii call attention TO
the subicct,aud in the end awaken an interest
among OR whole people that the true policy
fthis community is 70 encourage our oicn Ia
! bor." -.
That the true policy Of this country is to
encourage our own labor, no one who has ex-
amined the question, can for a moment hest
/ fat 20 afI, arI - kn srNNI old Inxsa oF
'76, when our home products were of a vastly
inferior description, to what they arc now, II
was considered distinctive mark of patriot
ism, 10 eschew the wearing Of foreign fabrics,
and TO be clothed in our own hnsey-woolscy.
But we presume il so be rather late in the
day to undertake 20 form combination, in
order to prevent the consumption of foreign
goods; the spirit of tho age is opposed 20 it.
The only real remedy which is at all practi-
cable, isa revision of the tariff laws, and this
should be done at the next session of Con-
gross but we have little hope that any reyis-
ion will take place. when we consider the POI
litical complexion of that body. Nor can we
of Massachusetts, ask for it with so good grace
rs formerly, when we find the second district
OF our State, the people of which have vast
interest in tho prosperity of our manufactures
represented by gentleman who has become
notorious for his opposition to the protective
policy, and by his ardent advocacy of Free
Trade. We think, however, that the sober
se~f,.i TIRE f,eer,i -tseea-ti time
show itself eto ,..
II We cannot effect the modification of the
tariff laws al present, and thus stay the i'm
portaton Of foreign goods which are now
flooding the country, and taking the place Of
articles which should DO made by our own ar
tizans, and keepat home our specie which
shuutr be paid ont to our own workmen m
stead Of being sent abroad to enrich others,
We can at least. hold what trade wp have
We can. by u pepper spirit Of combination,
make use Of our own market for the Nalr OF