The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-01-27

I ~~f~sAsAsSuS ~ UIOveO
and the problem is vindicated. And | stand
mere to assert fearlessly and proudly to-,ay,
'ne real elements of Vermont vieor, Vermont
neai'n' vermont and New England greatness
n'as oe named in two calabastic words. and
these words are:
FROST AND FREEDOM,
FREEDOM AND FROST,
In the middle of the great medium zone
the "Compromise Line" between the pole and
the equator, We enjoy the harmonious round
OF four seasons in year. The laziness and
lansuor that predominant over body and
mind in the sunny and southern ATTITUDES,
find no favor here. No scorching heat of a
vertical sun to excuse the inactivity of the
white race, and shirk off the luxury of labor
upon the copper colored and sable skinned
native Of the tropics intrude the double curse
Of slavery upon our soil, with neither alIiga-
tors, snakes, yellow fever or slavery-free la
Dor rules the dav.
Legislative snactments may repeal Com
promise Lines" but thank God, they cannot
repeal the "Temperate Zone" and before the
footsteps Of the peculiar institution" can
move an inch in this direction, some miracu-
lous aid must he invoked to remove the equa-
tor few degrees farther to the "northard,"
to borrow the geographical term Of Capt. Lott
Hudson.
And the West, the great and growing
West, our young America, may boast itself
to its hearts content of the prairie and mes-
dow, but We can prove it on them for Bible
fact
The wise men came from the East"
Contrast for moment the condition Of
the Vermont farmer in $4,000, with that Of
the farmer Of 1850.
When spring came you found him dodg-
ing between May showers to get burn, his
sole reliance for bread,-failing in this in
time to clear, he scatters grain among the
logs and waits in patient, confident expecta-
ton Of a harvest. His building materials
for the shelter Of his family from a stern
winter. he took as they grew and put hearth
ly together without nails or even glass, be-
yond one or two four-lighted windows, be-
ing usually his own carpenter and joiner. At
the approach of winter he snaked up his
wood, rolled in four foot backlog to the
wide stone fireplace, left his guide wife to
sweep up with the cedar broom, while he
was Oft into the forest to make few dollars
in cash to get his "boughten stuff" with, at
that most doleful of all cupations-making
salts
With an abundant water power all around
him there was no capital to set machinery in
motion, and the business CT going to mill
was often several days journey.
! In rare and difficult communication with
the port towns and marts Of trade, if he did
transdort his surplus products to market,
the profits were chiefly absorbed in the ex-
pense, and if he dealt with the speculator, he
did it in utter ignorance Of the true state Of
the markets. Did favorable change occur
in the price Of an article at Boston or in for
eign ports, the operator was on the wing
the country was swept-the trade and profit
monopolized. and month or two afterwards
the farmer found out by some stray newspa-
per that he had sold out fifty per cent. too
cheap.
Did some bank stop ra.ment at the coast
the cattle and horses of Vermont were at
once bought up with its bills and they con-
tlnued to circulate as currency on the from
tier for weeks after they had become worth.
less paper.
! The prices too which he was obliged to
pay for the necessaries of life, and which
constituted his store bills, would startle the
purchaser of the present day.
Here is olumn of charge taken at ran
dom from an old "Blotter" of a leading mer-
chant of leading town of this state in the
year 1921:
Sheeting, per yard, "a
Gingham. .46
Striped Calico, 80
Shirting. .34
Cotton Cloth. Factory Stripe, 80
Salt. per bushel, l.SS $50
Loaf Sugar, per lb., &c
!. IL. Tea, l.2j
Tobacco, common, "a
". l. Rum, per gallon. l.34
(Supposed to be not sold at all at the present
day)
Cotton Thread. per skein, "a
Cut Nails, per To-, Ii
White Lead, 30
Pins. per paper, 30
Glass. per box. 80
Iron. bar English, per h.. .OS
+, The average price for freight from Boston
being $50 per ton.
This remarkable diminution of price in the
staple articles required for daily consump-
ton is to be attributed to the corresponding
growth and improvement in mechanics and
manufactures.
Prior to the revolution it was the policy Of
the mother country to discourage and sup
press every attempt of these colonies to man
ufacture for their own consumption and
use.
Lord Chatham once said during the debate
IN Parliament "he would not have the Amer.
icaus make hob nail"