Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-12-10

this subject to the consideration of Congress.
His masters will not permit him to do it.
Although he is nominally the President Of
the United States, he can hardly be held to
the responsibilities of that eminent position.
He is not permitted to do, or to recommend
to be done, many things which he would like
very well to do, or to have done. Let us be
charitable towards the old gentleman, and
have some bowels Of compassion for him in
his present condition. IL is understood that
he is in the close keeping Of few gentlemen
from the extreme south, and of extreme views
on the subject Of slavery free trade and fill
busterism, who give direction TO, and shape
the policy Of his administration. As they di-
rect his course. in that way he feels obliged
to go. If it has been truly said of other dis
tinguishod and patriotic men, that they knew
no North, no South, no East, no West, it can
be said of Mr.. Buchanan with equal truth
and with equal emphasis, he knows North
But let us not deal hardly or harshly with the
old gentleman. In his behalf we are to con-
slider his advanced age. the infrmities Of his
temper, and the trying ordeal Of his ward
ship. He is said to maniesta becoming sub
mission to the guardianship which has been
appointed over him. But under the circum-
stances you have no reason. right to ex-
!
with a Wow to promote the industrial pursuits
of the county. IL is true that much was ex-
pected Of the administration of Mr.. Buchanan,
and great deal was promised. But now |
believe it is very generally admitted that no
administration of this government ever before
so sadly disappointed the hopes and expecta-
tions of the American people. No adminis-
tration ever before at this early period of its
term, fell into so general and deep disfavor,
not to use the stronger term of indignation,
or disgust. Both in reference to its foreign
and its domestic policy, its whole course has
been emphatically marked by duplicity, vaci-
laton and imbecility This is strong lang
uage, but it is the language and the sentiment
of a vast ma ority of the American people to-
day. 1t is already doomed by the stern and
irrevocable judgment of deceived. disap-
pointed and betrayed people. Pennsylvania
herself will be among the foremost to pro-
nounce this Judgment.
Depend upon it, Mr.. President and fellow
citizens, that this question of fostering our
own industry through the government agency
must henceforth become a prominent issue
before the great Areopagus of the American
people. However parties or politicians, from
any quarter, or from any motive, may attempt
to keep it down-however they may attempt
to keep it in the background, out of sight, or
however they may attempt to keep it from
the public consideration, the exigences, ne
cessities of the country, will enforce it upon
us. 1t will not down." any more than Ban
quo's ghost would down. The laboring peo-
pie of this great State, and of the surround
ing States, with strength and unanimity Of
voice that cannot be unheeded, will demand
! the consideration and care of the government
to those material and practical interests which
lie at the foundation of the national prosperi-
ty. They will not longer tolerate a system
of government policy which paralyzes the en-
ergies and dries up the life-blood of the ma
tion. They will not longer tolerate a system
of government policy which compels them to
be mere hewors of wood and drawers of wa
ter to the manufacturers, and artizans and
monopolists of Europe. They will not long
er tolerate policy which enervates the arm
and strikes down the hand of domestic indus
try; which compels them to be clothed, if
clothed at all, with the fabrics of foreign art
and manufacture. How long will you, men
OF Pennsylvania, tolerate policy which COM
pels you to take your iron rails from the mills
of Wales and Yorkshire, and bring them A.
cross the Atlantic to be laid down on your
own roads, which run right along over your
own exhaustless beds of iron ore, and right
along by the very doors of your own rolling
mills, which are now closed and standing
still for want of this very patronage-for want
of this very work How long will you up
hold--aye. how long will you tolerate sys-
tenn of policy which forces an annual drain of
fifty millions of gold and silver from our own
shores into foreign lands to square the bal
ance sheet of trade against us, and which
takes Just so much from the basis of our cir
culating medium, How much longer, need
ask you, will you tolerate policy which
takes employment from your own hands, and
bread from the mouths of our own wives and
children, and bestows it upon the operatives
and upon the prncely capitalists Of Great Br-
tain, France and Germany? say no longer.
Let the response of every laboring man be, no
longer! The people too clearly see the folly,
and too severely feel the pressure of this idi-
otto and suicidal policy, any longer to submit
to it in silence They will demonstrate a
gainst it. They will protest against it. They
will rise with united voice and with resistess
power against it. They will no longer toler-
ate this unjust and oppressive system, nor
the men who advocate and sustain it. And
what is still more, they will no longer be
tampered and trihed with about it.
| will say then in conclusion of these brief
and desutory remarks, that this question of
protection To " American products and Amo-
rcan labor" must and will, henceforth, con-
stitute large plank in your political plat
forms. And this may be done without at all
detracting from, lessening the considera-
tion and importance Of, other great and vital
questions. Upon this plank we can all stand,
whether Republicans, or Americans, or indie
pendent Democrats. No man can in truth
say there is anything narrow or local sec
tional in it. 1t is as broad, and as compre-
hensive the Republic ITSELF and embraces
all interests and all sections. Upon this
question honest and patriotic men of all par
ties and from all sections can unite. Upon
this question, Vermont and kentucky can
stand side by side, as in days gone by, when
we stood shoulder to shoulder doing battle
for this American doctrine under the lead of
" gallant old Harry Clay Upon this ques-
ton Pennsylvania and Maryland can strike
hands and stand united as in $40 and in
1913 doing valiant battle for the cause of
American labor and Of American enterprise
and of American genius. Go ON then fellow
citizens of Pennsylvania, in this great move
ment which you have so auspicously begun;