The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-02
THE TARIFF QUESTION.

THE TARIFF QUESTION
The Tariff is question the discussion and
settlement of which are fraught with difficulty,
even if they are not attended by danger. Not
many wears have elapsed since it drove the
country to the verge of civil war. Such a
crisis we trust will never again occur. We
confidently indulge the expectation that the con-
fict of opinions and interests will not again
reach the extreme Of evaporation, which was
finally terminated in an amicable adjustment
of differences by the Compromise act. We
yet look forward to the discussion of this ques-
ton in Congress with some apprehension. The
leading advocates of protection and their proml-
nent opponents still hold their former position ;
each party retains unchanged its conviction of
the correctness of its respective opinions on this
subject; and, unless spirit of mutual conces-
sion is felt ON both sides, the settlement Of this
complicated question will be impossible. We
have already observed strong indications of this
spirit in Congress, and we trust its influence
will spread.
In the mean time, demagogues, without re-
gard to consequences, as is natural with them,
are endeavoling TO make political capital in adj
vance ont of this perplexing and dangerous
theme. Already they have sounded the alarm,
and the friends of the respective systems have
already proved TO their own satisfaction that the
revenue act must and will be graduated accord
ing to their views. That the Tariff will be dis
cussed in Congress at the present session, there
is, we believe, no doubt. But that it must be
discussed and settled in the same spirit which
framed the act of 1888, is, we should think,
equally unquestionabe. In no other way can
it be settled. We speak only of the disposition
which must be brought to the discussion of the
question, not of the specific character of the law
which will be framed. We are aware that ma
ny friends of the Compromise act wish that il
should remain unatered /; but all know that their
wishes will not be grati6ed,. and that new
revenue law will be enacted. All we urge Is
that, in the discussion of principles and Details
a disposition for Cancellation should be mani
tested
We are not the friends of High
Protective Tariff So we have said re-
peatedly; and we repeat our assertion, for
the benefit of those whose ingenuity has
been tasked in misrepresenling our opin-
ions and distor ing our views. We ad-
vocate the imposition Of no greater amount OF
duties than will be sufficient to meet the econo-
mical expenditures of the Government. But
within this limit, we think that such discrimina-
ton may be made as to extend protection, Incl
dentally to such branches of industry as may
T., III
renegades to no principle of the old Republi-
can school of politics, which recognises Jeffer-
son as its founder and father.
We regard this principle not only as abstract
edly correct; but we look upon it as the rule by
which the friends of peace and union must be
guided in settling amcably the difficult question
of the tariff at the present juncture.
That ours is the sound Republican doctrine is
not difficult of proof But no matter what
weight of authority we might adduce in support
of the truth of our assertion, there are some, we
are aware whose minds would remain impervi-
Gus to conviction. We mean certain minds so
constituted that they always adhere to the ex-
tremes of doctrine. One class of these politi-
clans, who are now so Mortified at the idea of
protection, even so limited as we have made it,
we refer to the authority of General Jackson.
His authority was to them once almost law
and he, they may perhaps remember advocated
the constitutionaty of protection in the widest
sense of the term, with a strength and novelty
of argument that elected, we have heard, the
eulogies of the warmest friends of free trade.
We do not refer to General Jackson's messages
to sustain our own opinion. We do not even
assert that we agree with him in the extent Of
his advocacy of protective tariff; but those
who haze agreed with him on this subject, and
net profess to agree with him in every particu-
stead of disappearing others.