The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-04-11

| Mr.. Van Buren, is supporter Of the pro.
tectiye policy: We say impruGenee, be-
cause we cannot believe that the editors OF
those whig presses have never read the
letters of the president in reply to direct
questions made to him in regard to the
leading topics of the day, as well as his
messages to Congress, in which he defines
his position in relation to protective Ia
riff. abolitionism, and a national system of
internal Improvements. If those editors
acknowledge that they have never read
those letters and messages, we will then
take the trouble to select from them such
passages as will answer complete refuta.
tion of the idle charges alleged against
Mr.. Van Buren. In the meantime we call
the attention of the Recorder 10 an edi.
torial article which appeared in the Boston
Courier Of the 18th instant, under lhe head
of "The Protective Policy" as an intro
duction into that paper ofa address adop-
ted by the Convention of Mechanics and
Manufacturers of Connecticut, lately held
at Middletown. In the remarks of the
Courier, the editors OF the Recorder will
find these significant passages: the editor
of the Courier is whig, jealous and
warm friend of Mr.. Webster, and devot-
edly attached to the protective policy:
The Protective Policy.-Annexed is
the Address, adopted by the Convention
of Mechanics and Manufacturers of Con-
necticut, lately held at Middletown.
With its sentiments, in the main, we hear
tily concur, but we see no reason for the
extraordinary caution which pervades it in
relation 10 political action. Whence this
remarkable delicacy towards a political
party, the measures Of which have pro-
duced the very state of things deplored by
the Convention, and to seek redress from
which the Convention was assembled!
The mechanics and manufacturers of Con-
necticut sure y cannot be ignorant that the
party which sustains the national admin
istration are the opponents of a protective
tariff; and if any of them are so blinded by
their admiration Of certain political men,
who affect to be the Democrats ana yet
support all the Tory principles of the ad-
ministration, their intellectual slavery GER
tainly entities them to compassion.
There is but one way for farmers, and
mechanics, and manufacturers, to proceed,
in order to regain their lost prosperity and
to obtain security for the future-and that
is to dismiss from the Offices and powers
Of the government, the men who have rob-
bed them of the profits of their labor, and
who are now straining with all their
might to promote the prosperity of for
eigners to the injury of the American
citizen. Who denies the constitutional
right to protection" but Messrs. Van Bu-
rem, Buchanan, Benton, Calhoun, and the
leading journals which enjoy exclusively
the confidence and support of the admins
tration? Our friends in Connecticut, we
apprehend, might as we'll take their stand
at once, boldly and distinctly. The reso.
lutions of the Middletown Convention in
themselves involve, virtually, an act Of
treason against the ''powers that be-" why
then attempt, in an address, 10 ''salve and
film the ulcerous core" II is impossible
to serve two masters. God and mammon
are not more distinctly opposed, in char
acter and attributes, than the advocates
and apologists of the present administra.
ton are to Protective Policy; and this
our Connecticut friends do not seem to be
aware of. The day, we hope, is not far
distant, when the scales will be removed
from their eyes.