The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-07-19

NIX. POLk'S LATE ANTI-TARIFF LET
TER REVIEWED, AND HIS POSITION
DEFINED.
The following clear and distinct view of the
posltIons Of the two Presidential candidates on
the Tariff question was presented by the Hon
ANDREW STEWART in discussion which occur
red in the Court House on Friday evening:
Mr.. Stewart commenced by saying hal TO un-
derstand the subject, it was necessary in the irS'
place To ascertain what the PRESENT views and
npin ons Of Mr. Clay and Mr.. Polk were upon the
tariff; and then TO see what wond be the prac-
teal operation and effect of ihase principles upon
the interests Of The country, If carried out in the
adminisa ration of The G ,vernment. S&
MIR. Gays position. he SAID, was well under
stood-he Is for the Wing tariff of 1912, he has
SO declared himself repea ed in proof it is only
necessary to refer to his Harrisburg letter of the
|.llh of May, 1914, in which he says: SIS
"The tariff act of 1912 has been bitterly de-
nounced, aud gross epithets applied to it, It's
repeal was pronounced to be favorite object of
our political opponents. They have majority Of
some fifty or sixty in the House. A bill to repeal
that Tariff has been pending great part of the
present session of Congress. And yet, yester-
day, on test vote, majority of the House de-
cded against the repeating bill, leaving THE Ia
RIFF OF 1912 in full and sALUTARY operation
This decision was an involuntary concession of
our political opponents to the wisdom and benifi-
cence of Wing policy, produced by the returning
prosperity Of the country, and the enlightened
opinion Of the people," s54
Thus you see Mr.. Clay declares himself une-
quiyocally and decidedly for the wing tariff Of
1912. Fortunately within the last hour, said Mr.
s., have been furnished with Mr.. Folks late
letter to Mr.. Kane, Of Philadelphia, on the sub
ject of the tariff; he pronounced it by far the most
Imr or:ant document that had appeared since the
Presidential ominations--inportant because it
DEFINES and FIXES Mr. Folks position, heretofore
SO equivocal, on the tariff question: fixes him
now and at all times distinctly for the repeal of
the tariff of 1912, and for the adoption Of hori-
zontal tariff of 20 per cent ad vaorem, discrimi-
mating below that amount for revenue. In a pub
lie discussion in Tennessee, as late as April,
1843, Mr.. Polk says:
/" am in favor Of repeating the act Of the last
Congress, Qhe act of 1922 and restoring the
compromise tariff of March 2, 1S43."
cient protection to the manufacturers, and is all
they ought to desire, or to which they are emit
ted"-thns 20 per cent is what Mr.. Polk, in the
language Of his letter to Mr.. Kane, considers
fair and just protection to all the great interests
of the whole Union--embracing agriculture, man.
ufactures, and the mechanic arts, commerce and
navigation" In this letter, Mr.. Polk says ex-
pressIy, "my opinions upon the tariff have often
been given to the public they are to be found in
my public acts and the public discussions in
which have participated" And here they are
~ am in favor Of the repeal of the tariff of 1912,
and Of restoring the Compromise act of Cd March,
1888" This is Mr.. Folks present position as
defined by himself--there can be no dispute about
it. This letter settles the matter. Mr.. Clay is
then for the tariff Of; 1912 Mr.. Polk denounces it
as ruinous, and says he is for restoring the CON-
promise act of 20 per cent, the highest rate Of
duty.
To remove all doubt as TO Mr.. Folks position,
here is his letter, word for word The loose and
unmeaning slang in the concluding paragraph
about just and fair projections" can humbug no.
body-the first paragraph, referring to his public
acts and public discussions for his PREsENT opin-
ions, settles the question. Hear him -
COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE,
June 18th, lS44. {
DEAR Sir: have recently received several letters
in reference to my opinions the subject of the Ia
r'f, and among others, yours of the 30th ult My
opinions this subject have been often given TO the
public. They are to be found in my public acts and
in the public discussions in which have participated
an in favor of a. Tariff for revenue, such one
as will yield sufficient amount to the Treasury to
defray the expenses fthe Government economically
administered. In adjusting the details of revenue
Tariff, have heretofore sanctioned such moderate
discriminating duties, as would produce the amount
of needed, and at the same time afford rea.
sonable incidental protection to home industry.
am opposed to Tariff for protectionmerely and not
for revenue.
Acting upon these general principles, it is well
known that gave my support to the policy of Gen.
Jackson's administration on this subject | voted
against the Tariff act of 1923. voted for the act
of 1882, which contained notifications of some
of the Objectionable provisions Of the act Of 1928.
AS member of the Committee of Ways and Means
of the House of Representatives, gave my assent
to bill reported by that Committee in December,
1892 making further notifications Of the act Of 1928,
and making also determinations in the imposition Of
the duties which il proposed That bill did pass,
but superseded by the bill commonly called the
Compromise Bill, for which voted
In my judgment it is the duty of the government to
EXTEND as far as it may be practicable to do so by
its revenue laws and all other means within its pow
err fair and just protection to all the great interests of
the whole Union, embracing agriculture, manufac. |
lures, the mechanic arts, commerce, and navigation
heartily approve the resolutions upon this subject
passed by the Democratic National Convention late.