The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-09
THE PRESIDENTS VETO OF THE DISTRI-
BUTTON FEATURE OF THE TARIFF BILL

THE PRESIDENTS VETO OF The DlSIRl-
BUTTON FEATURE OF THE TARIFF BILL.
The following excellent remarks on Mr.. Tyler's
Veto of the Distribution Tariff Bill, from the
Albany Argus. The President will have justice
done him, though withheld by his nominal
friends:
C II is due to President Tyler to say that he has
again met the responsibilities Of his station with
frmness and honesty and that his course in this
respect is entitled to the appreciation of his coun-
trymen.
When President Tyler signed the Distribution law,
it was with the explicit acknowledgements
into the act itself, with view to meet the Execu-
tives objectonsthat its provisions must to be
operative whenever after the climax of the Compro-
mise act, the duties on mposts should any article
exceed 20 per cent Opposed to the principle of
Distribution he nevertheless yielded SO much to the
wishes and expectations and appeals Of those who
claimed to be his political friends.
In his annual message, the President frankly avow-
ed his convictions of the necessity and expedency Of
Tariff for revenue so discriminating in its applica-
ton to afford incidental protection to the industry
| of the country. To any such measure, it well
understood he would yield willing approval; pro-
vided the principle of distribution abandoned,
if the tariff rates exceeded 20 per cent.
| Under these circumstances, the Wing OF Clay ma
| orty of the two Houses-a majority of great and
decided preponderance-whilc they claimed the Ia
riff question peculiarly their own, and insisted that
us passage was indispensable 10 the welfare ana
pendence of the country-delayed postponed avoided
the question, until Congress had reached the very
Threshold of the day, the 3Oth June, when the reduc
tons under the Compromise act fell to their minimum.
Then-six months of the session having been lite
rally thrown away-they found the time insufficient
for the discussion of this grave question: and the set
Element Of the details of the bill-a temporary tariff
that should retain the existing position of things
and furnish another month for discussion and for the
discussion of details. All this machinery part
of the tactics of the protested Executive friends OF
a Tariff, the Clay Wings to head" the President
| and by postponng definite action on the Tariff bill
to the last moment, compel him, under the pressing
exigencies of the Government and Treasury to pre-
sent himself in the inconsistent attitude of approving
the Distribution law, regardless of the Compromise
act.
The President, with equal frmness and consisten-
cy, has met the contingency, and foied the sinister
designs Of his enemies and the enemies of the public
interests.
And now the question arises, will the friends o
Mr.. Clay-the professed exclusive friends of Tia
rf-sacrfce that great and essential measure Of reuenue
because they cannot conric John Tyler ofnconsistency
and compel him to approve unconditional Distribution
Lmc
With all their professions Of regard for the man
ufacuring interest" for &C domestic industry" fo
{" American labor and capital" they are mere par
tsans caring nothing for any of those interests,
less they be made subservlen to their schemes
ready to throw them overheard at the first momen
they imagire such performance conducive to thei
party designs Hence the sacrifice Of the Tariff, ichc
ther for protection at the shrine Of Dst'1bu
lion and at the dct,um Of Mr.. Clay.