Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-06-24
l)olititol.
Modification of the Tariff.
Speech of Hon. J. Meacham,

IN the House of Representatives, June 9
and 10, 1852
The House being in the Committee Of
she Whole on the State OF the Union on
the Indian appropriation bill
Mr. MEAcuAM said
Nr. Chairman, Other members have
taken occasion to discuss the opinions Of
their sections or parties, real or prospec-
uye-opiuious that have nothing to do
with the legislation of the country Believ-
ing that | have no commission to make
nuolic opinion, or candidates, or Presidents
take the liberty of introducing subject
which demands immediate action by this
House. have sought an earlier occasion,
and supposed It would be granted on the
Presidents Message. But siX months Of
ihe session have passed and the ruling
power, with controlling majority, have
mot seen fit Ia give the weighty matters IN
die message of our excellent President the
co'd courtesy Of consideration or reference
Many weeks since, gentleman from
Massachusetts,, Mr.. RantoGl,) while advo-
eating a grant OF land 20 Missouri rail-
road, ID ok occasion to lecture on the duties
Of Northeast men. The speaker held a
peculiar position The last Congress gram
I'd to Illinois , 100. 900 acres of land To
bui.d a railroad The State freed the land
Il ir,m taxation uil the time Of sale, and then
gave it into the hands of company IA Bos-
ton and Newly York to build the road. The
company Is a small one; the gentleman IS
one OF the number, aud leading director.
There j. his letter (holdlng It up showing
ile value Of these lands, granted 10 be the
best ia the Union, and Lying along the
greatest thoroughire on the continent -
lie has fixed the minimum puce, but has
eii the maximum unsettled
He has put the prce at $40 per acre,
81 SIS per acre, aud Us 'iutrlnsic value,
from ITS power of production at S29 81
per acre If sold At the first price, those
and, wall weld the company 81 300 600 ;
q sold at the second puce, they VIII gave
sl0950 GOO; # sold at the third puce,
they wall afford $50 $50 900. Senator
Dawson has stated the cost of the whole
road at so 800 ,000 that being true, the
road can be built aud leave a prOtf TO tie
company, at the lowest estimate OF the gen
aemau, Of $50 400, 600 has second esli'
mate will give them profit OF S3I 600
10 thirteen members of The company Of
s73 ,635 900 No wonder this company
can afford to employ an eminent eablnel
oiicer (Hou. r. J. Walker to feast wltt
tie Barngs aud Rothchilds OF London
while making loan for his employers
The Democrats have stoutly warTed agans
internal Improvements by the General Gov
eminent; against diyertlug the pubic lands
from the National Treasury aud agalns
ali monopoies IN the hands OF corporations
1t was, therefore, strange TO see the gentle
man, seli-proyed so long aud so conslstan
a Democrat, striking off IN tangent ifon
the doctrines of his party, and advocating
local internal Improvement tributary TO In
own, at the expense of the nation; hlmsel
ri aptospeclwe sharer IN the most enornou
1 grant OF public land; and himself Demo
cratic member and director ia one OF u
most overwhelming aud oyeTshadowiu
monopoiies that ever existed on this cont
neat.
While occupying a position, cerlalnl
pecular-some would have considered
dehcate--the gentleman volunteers his Ia
ton to Northeast men. He predicts, aye
threatens, that If they do not follow h
counses, the manufactures of wool, an
cotton, and iron, shall take to themselv'
wings aud fly westward towards the settin
sun. shrewd observer asked. why /
CID not include the manu- .acture of lealh'
and shoes, aud make the treachery TO h
constituents complete Shall we now st
The gentleman, after abandoning New En
land for his Western interests, move rour
The political zodiac to the sign of the pa
melIo, and sit costly down with the gent
man from 5. c.. (Mr. orr who has Ju
delivered SO able free trade eulogy on Il
Democratic nominee After the delve
oil that speech, turned to the facts relat'I
10 that subject | had already gathered.
carefully collated the reports OF CONNER
and naWgatlon,-l can only gather Tact
cannot make them, and feel warranted
declaring that the facts do not sustain
genlleman's assertions. While waiting
proper time, | have been instructed by
statistics of Henry G. Carey, one OF the
o'esl writer's on political economy IN Il
Iandi by the able memorial from Ne
LngIand by ]. q. Hayes, Esq OF this CT
oy correspondence with men of leading
eiiigence engaged IN manufactures. /
much of tins | am indebted to the able /
Preventative from Boston. Mr.. Appleto
aud especially by an able letter from V
mont farmer, (llon. " IN. Jaryis,) who h
III retirement on the banks of the Comes
cut More than half a century since,
ah olhcer of this Government, he travel
through England aud Spain. lie mari
lhe Contrast in the condition OF those co
ues. In one, was industry, activity
progress; in the other, indolence, inaci
y and poverty. lie looked for the eau