Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-03-25

In his Circular, "thu the amount Of new machinery
started in the United States since July 1862 exceeds
thousand sets and could be kept in operation BY
quantity Of wool equivalent 10 the entire imports u last
year, large they were. When we consider without
extra pressure Of machinery before that time, We
obliged TO Import third Of the wool manufactured.
we cannot duub, the future demand Thus we are In
the precise position England was in 1879 and
only escape the dilemma BY adopting similar policy.
We imported in New York and Bos on in 1858, sixty.
five millions lbs " wool nearly. and when all our
machinery comes into operation this year we shahave
depend on England and other foreign nations for
about one hundred and Atty million lbs Of wool for
there not stock Of foreign wool on hand worthy Of
uce. II IL required a the domestic imported wool last
year TO Keep the Old machinery going the neto will re-
quire this year about seventy million pounds now
Behold our dependence and the dangers thereof when
with better than England 1r rising WOOL we
might have been as Independent England is to-day
IN this respect had Congress but taken comprehensive
view Of this great subject and not sold out the wool
growers 70 the woocn manufactures, or sacrificed the
vast wool growing interest Of the country the crude
political economy Of adverse interests VINO know no fu-
ture and act Tor the greatest profit Of the present
ment.
In 1870 we had about 10 900 sheen in 1852 about
twenty-onc millons-no increase worthy Of note--in
| 1860 the samo--fcw sheep in New England. In New
York Tennessee and Kentucky, Aocks decreased when
from our past resources OF wool grown in the Middle
southern aud Western States, might have had, TO-
day in the United States seventy five millions of Sheep
and clip in sixtyfour Of two hundred aud forty million
pounds, andom two to three hundred millions Of
agricultural wealth in the country. How and mo-
mentous arc the cquenoes Of short sighted and par
ual legislation, in relation 10 single interest Of great
people
The clip Of 90 but half supplied the old machinery
and the next spring clip will half supply the demand
ply similar means TO accomplish ike end, OF else in
day we know not Of by events beyond CONTROL all
the capital invested In woolleu manufactures, may be
endangered aud the daily bread Of thousands cndsuge
ed aud cut OIL ill., by doubling clip every five years
like England, by wise policy, we can grow wool enough
To supply our mills
! We clamorous woollcn manufacturers and importers
OF WOOL IN your eager grasp Of present gain, be-
ware lest in your opposition toa just revenue duty
wool such a. the treasury now demands you crush To-
death the object you would cherish and preserve Take
warning bY the condition Of cotton manufactures in Eng
land, aud like them raise heaven and EARTH TO build W
an abundant supply Of the domestic material which
will be regular and permanent As the sunshine before
vars and tlvi connections interrupt your foreign SUI
plies.
Hence we say in settling this question let it not be
nined out Of sight, that eghtytwo 0nehundredths Of
tue whole population Of the United States are agrcu-
tufists, and that no class dutable and
taxable articles, according TO their number and the a.
noun, Of their individual business than they they
the principal consumers Of all the protected products u
our manufactures and the articles subject direct taxa
uen whether sugar. molasses cotton cloth any thing
ese the tax in the end is paid by Tire consumer the pro-
Queer merely advances the and only ooscs the use
Of his money, TIL his oduci sold, yet no class on
account Of the superabundance Of the products
agriculture, receive little advantage aid from
the tarid. Then say, let Congress do all can fr
:hem in this vital natter II o. wool lin fatal compe
utOn with the Souk American) and go beyond the
enue standard say ~ cents per b. clothing woods and
| nominal duty on coarse hairy woos.) Even the
setupulous Tor Justices sake need not hesitate they will
still labor hc shortest end Of the yoke aud receive
mete pit,ance nom the government compared with the
payment OF full thee quaters o. the direct and indirect
taxes Levied for the support Of the government.
The wool Of the United States is eminently telling
aud clothing WOOL adapted TO the manufacture Of an
kinds Of wooens from broadcloth to the coarsest fab
RIGS They sell as high ia the English market the
best woods Of the world The Vermont sheep, the
late World Fair took the prizes and sold
breederf to German wool growers for about $500 head
and further il has been proved by the soicn
hc investigation the world has yet witnessed the sub
ject that United States woos in length and 6neness OF
the fibre and the number Of spiral cutls seraons
the main stem, hese establish the telling properties
q wool and its ad ptaion 90 be made into broad eoth
have beat the wool Of the best sheep imported from
Germany and samples Of the finest wool sent home by
our Consus from abroad.
Hence, conclude that the permanent prosperity u
our woocn manufactures the sheep husbandry Of the
country TO be developed, and the urgent necessities N
the treasury, all. impeHousls demand duty Of fifteen
cents per ID. cl thing woods and nominal duty on
coarse hairy woCls
am respectfully your obedient servant,
II. g. MERRIAM.
Tewksbury, Mass. Feb. 2O,h. 1864