The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-11-08
THE TRUE ISSUE.

In the coming contest for the Presidency, the
question is to be decided upon the principles
held and measures contended for by the Demo-
cratic Wings or their political opponents.
The true issue of the contest is-Shall the
laboring portion Of our citizens, farmers, and
mechanics, be protected by wise discrimina-
ton in our revenue system, and the country
rendered entirely independent, not merely In a
political sense, but in every other respect; OF
shall we remain the commercial subjects Of
Great Britain.
If the Wings succeed, and the Wing policy
prevail then will the United States become an
independent republic-the industry and enter
prize of its citizens will be encouraged and
strengthened by the guardian hand and fostering
care of Government home markets and home
manufactures will supersede the necessity Of
foreign markets and the purchase Of foreign
fabrics.
If the Locofoco party prevail, their policy will
of course become for the time being, that which
must control the destinies of the country, with
all its concurrent evils and the denominations of
free trade and British monopoly, filling the coun-
try with fabrics of British manufacture, to the
exclusion and suppression of our own, and per-
petuating the commercial slavery and vassalage
of the whole Union to the aristoracy of Great
Britain.
1t is tariff or no tariA-for the leading mem
bers of the Locofoco party (Mr. Van Buren, N
particular have over and over again declared
themselves the advocates of free trade and d.
rect TAXATION. There are other measures, to be
sure upon which the leading partizans of this
republic differ: such as the distribution of the
proceeds of the public landslide establishment
Of an institution for the regulation and infusion
of sound circulating medium for currency
equivalent and convertible at all times into gold
and silver, which shall serve to regulate the ex.
changes of the countryside, an abridgement Of
power-and various other important and salua-
ny reforms; but all these are questions of second
airy importance, considered with the main ques-
ton at issue.
So far as the question of National Bank il
involved in the issue of the contest, every one
we suppose, understands that Mr.. Clay is in
favor Of something of the kmd-but it is not te
be urged, nor can it be established, without re-
ference to the will and wants of the people. Il
the country can without detriment dispense with
such an institution, it will of course obviate the
necessity of its creation. Mr.. Clay has never
urged the adoption of such measure until a
general conviction should be felt for its neces-
sity. When the Sub-Treasury was under de-
bate in 1886, he said in the Senate, (" If Ma
llona Bank should be established, its stability
and utility will depend upon the general convic-
ton that is felt for its necessity. And until such
a conviction is deeply impressed upon the peo-
pie, and clearly manifested by them, it would
in my judgement be unwise even to propose a
Bank" He also, the same year, moved as a
substitute to resolution of Senator Wright
against Bank Of the United States, That ii
will be expedient to establish Bank of the
United States whenever it shall be manifest that
a clear majority of the people Of the United
States desire such an institution" This was
voted down by those sticklers for the will Of the
" dear people," falsely called Democrats-who
thus resolved that the people should not rule :
II is the game of the Locofocos to impress upon
the minds of the people the idea that the main
question to be settled in the coming contest is
" Bank or no Bank )" but we do not believe there
is Wing in the whole Union who desires the
existence Of such an institution, if the fiscal af
fairs Of the Government and the domestic ex-
changes Of the country can be equally well and
safely managed without it. But it IS our firm
conviction, that every succeeding year will de-
monstrate, more and more, the necessity of some
institution which shall furnish sound National
Currency. OF the utility and propriety Of adopt
ing the other Wing measures, the country must,
ere long, see the necessity and feel the import
ance. The operation of the present Wing tariff
is diffusing throughout the whole Union such a
renovatng influence, that it must lead to a
further experiment Of Wing measures under the
administration of HENRY CLAY in 1915