The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-08-05
The Tariff and Distribution
Bill.

Bill.
The Eve. Journal not only undertakes the intel
ligence ofthe community, but is entirely too hasty
in Its attempts to extract party capital from the f.
nal vote upon the Tariff Bill. 1t should have re-
membered that the send is not yeti" and that the
conclusion Off matter not un(requently furnishes
far more convincing test of motives and princi-
Piles of action, than any development which may
mark its inception. With characteristic eilronte-
ry, however, the Journal, while it carefully ex-
cludes from view the controlling feature in the
case, sezes upon the occasion of the final passage
of the bill in the House Of Representatives TO in
dulge in the following aspersons upon the course
of those who were, unwilling TO swallow disribu-
ton as concomant upon the collection of leye-
nue. for the support of government 1t says
GA glance at this list will show that, except a.
mong the Southern wings, party lines were drawn
with great striclness on the final vote. Orihe ZIG
yeas, one hundred and fifteen were wings and only
one Loco Foco. While of the ll2 nays, ninety
eigh, were Loco Focos, and The remainder South
ern or Southwestern Wings. Thus the whole
Loco Foco strength was cast against the Tar.
iif.
Whatever ground may exist for the imposition
of protective duty in behalf of some species of
domestic manufactures, certain it is that mpudence
will require no governmental Interference in its be-
half so long as the editor of the Journal is permit
ted to supply the home market; Even " London
assurance" at its best estate, can furnish nothing
half as "cool'' as the foregoing, The Clay wings
in and out of Congress know fall well that this
tariff bill, with its odious distribution feature, can
never so into effect With full conviction tina,
the President is pledged to veto such measure,
and with an equaully well grounded assurance
that without such an annexation he would sign
tariff bill equitable in its provisions, they yet insist
upon ENGRAVING this obnoxious clause upon the
bill, and then with consumatc elIrontery censure
their opponents for refusing TO yield principle to
which they are unaerably opposed, and join in
the farce of passing measure which carries feio
dc Sc upon its face.
The truth is the conduct of the Clay parlizans
in reference to the tariff bill is governed by The
shcerest hypocricy, as the event will show. They
have no desire to see the question settled, howcv-
er advantageous such course might be to the in-
terests of the country at large. Their sole object ia
to keep. the subject open ms source of future po-
litical capital, and as means of embarrassing the
existing administration. Hence. with loud profess
sions Of regard for the manufacturing and produ-
cling classes of the country, joined to urgent prot
,C a., Joli r
tive tariff, they persist in loading with exraneous
weights for no other purpose than that of insuring
its defeat. If it be necessary or proper 10 insist
upon the distribution policy, why not do so in
separate b'-Why place it as rider upon an
act with which i has necessarily no connections
when ITS presence can only operate TO defeat
measure conlessedly necessary low infinitely
obliged should the advocates Of the tariff system
be, for friendship so disinierested and consistent,
IA friendship which defeats the very end which
il is prolessedly striving 10 attain! But depend
upon it this sinister policy will yet return TO plague
its inventors This shallow effort on the part of
tho federal organ to extract political capital from
The vote upon this bill can deceive no one Whilst
we have never pretended n willingness on the part
Of the democratic representatives in Congress to
sacrifice their opposition to the distribution princi
pie to secure the enactment of tariff Of any des-
criplion, we are willing to leave the vindica,on Of
their friendship or hostility to American interests,
to be tested by the ultimate proceedings in refer
cuce 10 this subject For the present, we yield TO
the federal CONDUCTORS of the Journal in Congress
all the credit Of having voted for bill which they
knew would never be carried into effect; in the
fullest confidence that before the close Of the ses-
sion the public will become perfectly satisfied not
only of the proprie;y of the course taken by the
democratic representatives, but Of the nsincerity
of those parlizans who, under the mask Of seeming
friendship, are prepared to sacrifice the interests Of
the government and country to their reckless
schemes Of personal and political aggrandzemeni.
Albany Argus.