Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-05
Free Trade.


Free Trade.
In tunes gone 10y, when New England was
mainly dependent upon the profits Of com
merce for its prosperity, free trade was the
popular doctrine Of this section, while the
South was, to a considerable extent, pro
tectionist. subsequently, as manufactures
were introduced among us, and became
leading industry OF the people, a protection
isi party arose and although the mercantile
and ship-buildng interest adhered to free
trade protective tariff became a favorite
measure with the majority. Daniel Web
ster, the representative New England states
man for many years, began life as a free
trader and became a protectionist with the
development of the cotton industry of Mas
sachusetts aud Rhode Island. The Southern
states, seeing that New England was pros
pering under protection, and noticing a de
cline in their own prosperity which they pre-
ferred TO attribute to a protective tariff,
rather than admit the defects Of their indus
trial system, began to agitate for free trade.
Henry Clay of Kentucky, by temperament
and locality the natural mediator and com.
promsor between the North and South, sue
ceeded for many years in adjusting the diff
ferences on this point more or less satisiac-
torily to the sections. But even then the
North, and even New England, were not
unanimously protective. Maine especially,
with its great lumber trade, is ship-build-
ing and fishery interests, and its limited
manufactures, was for free trade, and New
Hampshire said ditto to Maine.
Even in Massachusetts,, .the free traders
had strength aud Abbott Lawrence, when
representative in Congress from that state
said, on the floor of the House, that settled
policy was more important to Massachusett,
than either free trade or protection. For,
said he, under the one We shall put oul
capital into shipping, aud under the other
into factories"
The civil war caused an immense develop
ment of our manufacturing industry, Will
it almost annihilated our commerce, aud |
was supposed that New England would CONF
out Of it more iiercely protectionist than
ever But this result has not been realized
The vast flow Of capital into manufacture
has so developed them that New Englan,
finds herself able to stand up against an.
foreign competition in nearly every branch O
mechanical industry. She is now not onl
meeting England on equal terms in the mai
kets Of the world, but is actually shipping
her cotton goods to Manchester, and sellin
them at a profit under the very noses Of tn
English manufacturers.
Our WOODEN manufacturers having bee
compelled by the farming interest to submit
to duty on wool rs the price of protectio
upon cloths, are now becoming sick of tn
bargain, and are calling for free trade, to say
them from destruction, by giving them FIRE
raw material and foreign outlet for thei
surplus product.
Meanwhile, the South and the West al
becoming the rivals of New England in III
manufacture OF coarse cottons, cotton yarr
and woolens, and are actually receiving Ii
chief benefits Of the tariff, which is bull,
ing up these new industries to compel
with us successfully, ON our chosen ground
All this is rapidly changing the current {
opinion among our intelligent manulactu
ers. They see that now they are too stron
to need protection. They see that free trad
while it would not iniure them, will reyi'
our shipping interest and check the growt
of the Western and Southern factories.
would also give them the benefit of Ii
foreign markets for raw material, which
especially important TO the wooden aud sill
manufacturers, and 10 all who use timber
lumber or any agricultural products, as ra
material. 1t also gives them cheap food f
their operatives, which means lower wage
The manufacturing interest of New En-
land is therefore being rapidly converted
free trade.
Vermont has always been the humble fo
lower Of Massachusetts, in regard to Tia
question. The argument that the prospe
ity Of her manufactures would give us
profitable market for our wool and our 9th,
farm products, has been entirely conyincir
TO our people, and we have remained in II
same mind, Notwithstanding the fact tn
Massachusetts capital has built railroa'
across our territory to bring in Western pr
duce to compete with ours. and has ey,
compelled us to pay double tolls to the
roads on our own crops, in order that Yves
ern crops might be carried for less than cos
We have stood all this with great hum
lily. Wehave swallowed protective doctIin,
from the Massachusetts, spoon without winl
ing are we going to open our mouths vii
the same docility when she proceeds
change the treatment, having adopted a ne
system for her own benefit
Vermont is not very powerful in nation
affairs, still she has an influence there be Il
same more Or less; and is she bound alwa,
10 be hung as tag TO the tail Of Massach
sets coat 2 II seems 10 us that il is tin
for Senator'S and Representatives to tai
an independent position on this subject,
least, and TO remember that the interests
Vermont are mainly the Interests of h
farmers. II is true that we, farmers as
are, choose lawyers TO represent us but '
ought 10 insist that these lawyers should a
for our interests in national legislation, al
not TO suppose that because, geographical
we belong to New England, the interests
this farming state are identical with the
terests Of the manufacturing communiti
that lie south Of us. II may be, on the &C
trary, that yermont's prosperity may be
be promoted by such legislation as shall Z
velop home market for part, at least,
the crops Of the West. II is certain