The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-05-29
Protection to Homo Industry,


II IS some time since the good old doctrine
Of protection 60 American manufacture has
had many active advocates in this county
The influence ol The Sou.h WAS known 10 be
opposed to H. because The cotton growers Of
the Slave States conceived that free trade
was favorable 20 lhci. interests, According
ly, as the dominant party IN thc country Is
controlled hy the cotton growers, the manu-
featuring aud agricultural interests have been
allowed 10 contend against the workhousc
prices Of the on World, The want Of prop
or restrictions on foreign goods led 10 o dan
gcrous and excessive importation Of costly
fabrics and merchandise that might have
been much better produced at hojnc-and
this excessive importation was the cause, in
no small degree, Of the recent financial and
commercial rcvusion This is conceded on
all hands as0i 7ycfo Il not for the controlling
power Of the cotton lords, a suitable discrim-
mating tariff would be enacted before the adj
journmcnt Of Congress
As it is, We can hope for no such measure
Of rclcG-for relief il would undoubtedly
prove. Without system Of protection the
country will Inevitably run into the very
same excuses as produced the late reyusion.
The same suobbish and cxtrayogant pencha,d
for foreign goods viii continue. we shall
continue 20 lool, to Europe for our supplies
Of iron, cloth, silks, ard other materials and
fabrics and shall continue TO pay for the
same in the specie that we so much need 10
develop the resources, and TO condact our
business enterprises AID commercial ventures
to safe and prosperous issue Until we
can keep our specie at homo, paying in our
own produce and merchandise for the articles
.-.- '--..;--'. H.---'.l "o~'ra." ";l o--''
NcN and ruin MS.
This whole question may be reduced to the
simple one Of income ycrsus Expenditure
&c tAa- gat!as-glag.s ia-,!4A.- faster than eaa
pay, the time will come to wipe out the oil
score ia rcyulsion is then inevitable. Il is
the cid story OF the prodi-al Son on Il broad
scale. It has been proved time and again
that the American people cW nat stop over
trading, over-impor,otion, and excessive cx-
rr-rrtiiturr, uf ti7riir own ucrurt. II Is Z ma
iouDl rharac;e.isiic - guA i4.i..- .is.iss ~ tar
and as often as we can. 1t is to meet aud
check this tendency that we desire tariff
for protection. If we get in debt to each
other, its all in the family; the money is
amongst us, TO be used MS the basis Of husi-
ness and enterprise. But il all our specie is
sent abroad, and heavy debt due across
the ocean. presses upon US, the case is entire
ly different. Our energies are crippled;
"panIc' oycrtakcs u.s. the crash comes down.
and months and years clapso before the cqui.
lihrium is restored
1t does seem ns,ir so pair case as this
might unite in some plan Of relief all, except
they who are bound over to the South root
and branch. 1t does seem that the interests
of the American people ought to oyer-balanco
the interests Of few thousand Shareholders.
We believe, however, there is only secming
antngonism between these interests, and that
an enlightened policy would conserve both
alike, In our opinion, a iudiciously discrm-
mating tariff would meet the exigcncies Of the
present hour, and tend powerfully to avert
these periodical seasons of bankruptcy that
PROSTATE the business Of the the country
We ask our readers to think of this matter
in the light of common sense, and ask them
selves if the cotton growers do not press us
to the wall itle too closely?