Litchfield enquirer., 1844-10-17
H. IERIGHTnS SPEECH
Ar wArERTowN.


anon him bv the Kindness. .Ot his teiiOw-
ci,izens-often called npofby citizens and
subjects of foreign governments to con-
verse about our popular Institutions. And
when he had undertaken to tell them that
with US the people were not mere subjects
to be governed, but we're part OF the
government itsclf-ave, that all the gov
eminent we had rested on them as its basis
and received its direction from their will
!, was a statement which they seldom fall
ed 10 receive with incrcdulity. The prou-
deSt moment of his life would be this, It
now he could have an intelligent citizen OF
one of the governments of the old world
standing by his side, and could point INN
to this vast assemblage and ask him whelh-
er he did not think that the American
people felt that they were a part OF the
government Of the country. Look. ICON
,inucd Mr.. w. as il, in this imaginary po-
si,ion, aud speaking TO foreign subject
hv his side)took at this sky (Which was still
lowering( and a, this. assembled multitude,
and tell me, according to- your notions OF
government, what bus brought this great
mass here. Would he not believe that it is
because in your breasts rests the deep. abb
ding consciousness that crisis has come
in the affairs of our government demand
ing YOUR earnest, patriotic attention, with
out reference to the character Of the
weather or the comfort of your position.
Ave, it would be a demonstration TO such
man beyond the powcr Of Argument; and
Ccllow- citizens, would that you had one
more competent than | am to aid you in
the discharge of your duty as freemen OF
this country. Yet called on as have been,
with the utmost cheerfulness, as but a
speck in the debt Of gratitude 1 owe to
the democracy Of this State, and most es-
pecially.to the democracy of Jefferson,
Lewis, q Oswego and St. Lawrence, will
Idevote the strength of my voice and the
best exertions Of my feeble mind. ~
Every election, Mr.. w. went on) brings
whit 10 us, issues Of vast Importance d.
yidiug the two parties Of our country.
This election has brought along with IT.,
with many others much discussed before
YOU four years ago, one of peryading and
universal interest. refer to the question
ola Tariff. II is vast qnestion-a ques-
ton Of great complications; but l believe,
with little Of your calm dispassionate re-
Election, ard fair draft on our candor, we
can arrive at conclusions clear and unques
toned even upon this intricate subject.
What fcontinued hey is the difference be-
tween the two parties on this subject! Our
opnonsnts tell Us they are in favor Of a
protective tariff, and that a protective tar
in, as they understand II, is source Of al
mos, every blessing. individually and col
lcctively,to every portion OF the whole
country. That we may understand each
other perfectly, let us first ascertain, If we
can, what we should properly understand
by a protective tariff; for believe brief
examination will satisfy us that confusion
and misapplicaion Of terms has produced
as much difficulty on this great question as
uny other cause. But, first, to remove
from our way as democrats, stumbling
block which ouringenious opponents place
therc-let us look at what they mean and
how We should understand them wien they
iell US that We are the free-trade party OF
the country, and refer US to portion OF
our brethren at the south who assume that
name. 1T is misapplication of terms TO
US. We know aud feel it. We arc not in
favor Of free trade in the proper, fair and
legitimate sense Of these terms. Are our
Southern brethren 50? Do they desire a
repeal Of all duties, and that the necessary
revenue shall be raised by direct tax or
~property2 / cannot answer any further
than am Informed; but 1 will givo you in
candor and frankncss the Information
have. admit when saw this name as
suaed BY those who acted politically with
me, at the South, II startled and alarmed
me. ~. could not conceive that men Of
sense and information, of extensive prac-
tical experience should have adopted no.
tionsfof that stamp, as, practicable under
our government. On repairing TO WASH
inp,on at the commencement Of the last
session, finding that this subject must be
messed on Us for discussion and action ]
went TO some Of these Southern members
of Congress whom I had known many
wears. men of truth and candor, and whom,
/ had thought men of tsound views, aud
said u beg you 10 tellmc. IT You have sat-
isfed yourself that our revenue system is
all wrong-that we should no longer tax
foreign imports to raise revenue to sup.
po.t government, but have direct taxvup-
on the property Of tho country j mo,
said The first man / asked,'i entertain no
such opinion-neycr have, and know Of
none who do Well then will you be
good enough to tell me, what you mean.
You call yourselfa lree-trade man i do
so. and | mean this. / am friendly to
having tho trade of the country kept as
free as it Gamble kept, and raise the reye-
nue. necessary for the support Of govern