The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-02-12
MR. RIVEs' LETTER-VAN BUREN, CLAY
AND THE TARIFF.


Globe its MASTER uffirms that ''the thrown
into ecstacies Mr. Newsletter. II turns out how
ever,on examination, that perg small fraction of the
letter has served TO fiji the Patriot and the North Star
with such exceeding ecsiacy 10 transport them
entirely beyond the range OF common hence,
single paragraph is TO the whole OF Rves' letter.
is the brain OF a locofbco editor compared with
that Of "coon." But joking aside the Patriot
entreats to read this paragraph, and to emphasize
the more important words. We shall crafty our
neghbor by initiating him exactly in point of en-
phosiS
''On the subject OF the Tariff do not hesitate 10
say that MIR Clnys creed, developed in his RECENT
LEI lEkS, Is IN every respect as just as sound,
uncHcepiionnbe as that Of Mr. Van Bnren, and his
practice Infinitely better Mr. Clay did nor vote for or
approve the tariff Of lS2S, consigned TO an udious
celebrity, under the name ofthe Bill of denominations,
which Mr. Van Buren, and his friends carried 10y
their votes. 1t is rather an unfortunate coincidence
considering the professions OF Mr. Van Buren, THAT
ALL THE TARIFFS, WHICH HAVE BEEN
MOST COMPLAINED OF IN TIE SOUTH, owe
their existence upon the statute book the vote of
himself or his lTiends.''
Now what of ii Is il that Mr. Van Buren,
and many who his friends, voted for the
Tariff of 1928 Is it news that many of his friends
voted for that Of s24, and also that of 1892 We
have admitted all this; we have ever admitted
that fraction OF the locOfoco party has been in
fuvor Of protection, while the mass of the party has
been the other way, aud the fraction OF locofoco
proteconists has been growing less and less Does
IL follow that Mr. Van Buren, and his friends 10 whom
Mr. Rives alludes, are in faror Of protection?
That is the main question, and that we answer un-
qualifedly-NO. While MIR Van Buren, himself
Messrs, Benton, Woodbury., Wright and Buchanan,
Comprising the reader Sees the leaders of lpcorn-
coism, in former years voted for Protective Tariffs
they hare nor abandoned The doctrine 1chich Their
then prcfesssd. Van Buren, voted for the Tariff OF
1928, and then, IN southern tour, reconcile The
anti Tard South, he snealtei under the corcr of in
structiOns from the legislature of his state Benton
and Woodbury. haze been prntectionsts but they too
have repudialed the doctrine; while Buchanan and
Wright, who were FOR the high Turif of s2s could
not vote for the Turif OF AZ except under protest
against the doctrine OF protection and with pledge
10 their southern friends that they would 20 for re-
peal. We recall the remembrance Of the Patriot TO
1928. 1t was the year of Jackson's election; he
wanted votes, and he and his party, at the North, !
pretended TO be for ga judicous Tariff - while at the
South, they pulled the other string. How were thew
to reconcile this doubc-dealing when they came to
fered bill with duties arranged exceedingly high on
particular articles and for the express purpose dv-
ing the manufacturers to go against ii. They wish
ed 10 have the bill defeated satisfy the South and
they relied upon forcing the manufacturing interest 10
defeat It, Their game was dishonest one at the
North they intended to get the credit of reporting
high Tariff, while their Southern friends were TO un-
dersand that it reported thus for the very pur-
pose Of securing its defeat But the reckless DEM |!
agogues were caught in their own trap: the manu-
featuring interest took the bl-the South groaned out
their Northern allies, aud these in their turn
at once began to beg pardon, and secure it, too by
beeing Their pledges to the North and betravins its
interests From that time, the great mass of the To-
cofocos have always voted 10 reduce the Tariff |
At this period, the very Virgnians, TO whom Mr. |
Rives addressed his letter. have been urged to sup
port Mr.. Van Buren, as AN ENEMY OF PROTEC- |
TON, and the appeal is backed by the following let
ter from Mr.. Van Buren, himsefto a vnginian
"ALBANY, Feb. %, Is43
Mr. Dear Sri thark YOU kindly for your friend
ly letter. have at no time, anywhere hesitated
TO cypress my decided diSaPprobatioR of the Tariff
.fct Of the last Session. ICeH an respect TO The
PRINCIPLE upon Sciicb ii is formed, as TO its de-
tails In good time you will have my views in re-
spect 10 that and other subjects before the public In
the meantime, believe me 10 be,
Very sincerely, your friend and ob't servant
NJ. VAN BUREN,"
Mr. Rives then appropriately Virginia that
this very man has been at the other extreme oftbe
question other words, that his prove that he
has once betrayed the confidence reposed in him eth
er by the North or the South. And we think he as
appropriately points to MIR Clay better and safer
man; not, the Patriot 10 infer, because Mr.
Clay is opposed to protectionhis whole life and his
&c recent letters alike forbid such an inrerence,-
and Mr. Rives himself disclams it in another para
graph, which the Patriot takes not to quote MIR
Rives takes the ground that Mr. Clay favorable 10
an adjustment of the Tariff son terms just and salts
factory TO all sections Of the Union, harmonizing
their various interests by the golden rule of modera-
ton, which the only pledge Of psrmanence and sta