Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-01-01
Public Meeting.

Agreeable 70 previous notice, the citizens of
Fairfield, without distinction of party, met at the
Town Hall, on the 10Th inst, for the purpose of
considering the. subject OF the proposed Reel
procrts FNee %fade," 30 called, between the
United States and the British Provinces.
The meeting was called to order by Bradley
Barlow, Esq, and organized by appointing Ben.
| jamn 6. Bingham, Esq, chairman, II. Northrop
and A. P. Hodges. secretaries.
On motion Of Mr.. Northrop, the chair ap-
pointed Bradley Barlow, Esq, Jonathan Sher-
wood, Esq, Daniel Morse, Esq. and Salmon
Soule, I'd Esq, a committee 10 prepare and pre-
sent business for the action of the meeting.
Whereupon the committee retired and upon
their return presented the following Memorial
and resolutions, which after being fully, and
very ably discussed by Messrs. Sherwood. Nor
throp, Morse |. H. Northrop, Hodges, Payne and
others, were unanimously adopted.
TO the Senate and House Of Representatives. in
Congress assembled:
The undersigned citizens Of Fairfield, in the
County of Franklin, and state OF Vermont, be-
ing mostly persons engaged in agricultural pur-
suits, respectfully represent, that we view with
alarm, the proposed scheme of " Reciprocal Free
Trade (so called between the United States
and the British Provinces-that the effect of the
proposed Reciprocity" so called, would be dis
asrous to the agricultural interests of the State
of Vt, and disastrous in greater or less degree
to the agricultural interests of all the northern
and northwestern States-that although Gamma
dian produce is now charged with duty OF
twenty per cent; we feel the effects of precipi.
tating the surplus productions of Canada upon
our markets, already oversupplied as they are
now, with our own produce
That the farmers of the northern States, pro-
duce in great abundance, all the agriculture
products, common to the latitude of Canada
and with such productions supply the consumer
at prices scarcely remunerating to the producer
and we ask to be spared from competitor
which is not necessary for the welfare of any
class, and which would be ruinous to u.s.
That we pay duty of from twenty to thirty
per cent, upon such articles Of foreign growtl
and manufacture as we consume, for the protec
ton of other interests, and for revenue purposes
and we ask that we shall not be made the OBJ
ects of an invidious and unjust discrimination
That the existing tariff was recommends
as settlement of the qnestion-as a measure
of permssence--Sea having so recorded it, W
have made our arrangement for pursuing i
quiet and contentment, business which at hes
yields but moderate return, but satisfied wit
the protection il afforded, and the taxation it In
posed, we had hoped that in future, we shout
be saved from the fckeness and variability
which has heretofore characterized the Leglsla
ton of this country upon the subject; and tha
each and every interest, should be permitted
pursue their respective callings, without the fea
that by some act of Government, they would
compelled to abandon the business that the
were in, and seek some new mode OF obtalnin
a livelihood.
= The undersigned therefore hope that you wi
f refuse to grant the British Provinces access
our markets free Of duty--lor while, no doub
it would be of considerable benefit to he PEE
pie of those Provinces it must be correspond
ing, if not greater injury to us, fo to the exleI
which they supply us with agricultural produces
70 that extent they must snpPlant ours.
/ The undersigned would respectfully call yol
l attention to the following paragraph, from tn
. Presidents Message, which is pregnant vii
truth, and truth which has long been apprecla
ted by the agricultural community -
2 agriculture may Justly be regarded as Il
, great interest of our people. Four.titths of OF
active population are employed in the cultlv
ton oil the soil, and the rapid expansion of OF
settlements over new territory Is daily adding
the number of those engaged in that vocatlo
: Justice and sound policy, therefore, alike r
i qulre that the Government should use all Il
e means authorized by the Constitution to pr
i mote tho interests and welfare Of that lmporta
:. class of our fellow citizens. And yet 1t Is
!. singular fact that, whilst the manufacturing al
n commercial interests have engaged the altentl'
OF Congress during large portion OF eve
!, !, session, and our statutes abound in proYlslo
q tor their Protection and encouragement, little h
yet been done directly for the advancement