Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-10-24

during the canvass for Governor OF Tennessee,
so late as the summer Of l843, Mr.. Polk, after
giving as many arguments as he could gather
together in favor Of Free Trade, replies:
II am opposed to the tariff act Of the late Con-
greSs, considering j, 10 be in many respects of
this protective character, and, indeed, SO high.
Iy protective upon articles as TO prohibit their
Importation into The country altogether. l am
in fduor of repeating that act, and restoring the
compromise tariff act of March Cd, 1888, beiev-
ing as | do that would produce more revenue
than the presen, law, and iha, the incidental
protection afforded by The twenty per cent. do
~, especially when This would be paid in cash,
and on The home valuation will afford sufficient
protection 10 the manufacturers, and all they
ough, to desire. or 10 which they are entitled"
We find that this is the Sufficient and "rea-
sonabIe" protection that Mr.. Polk alludes TO in
his e,er to Mr.. Kane.
In his speech of April Sd, ls43,--in Madi-
son county, he remarked that He was opposed
to prohibilory and protective duties, and In IA
vor of such moderate duties. would not cut
off mporlalions" or that she was in favor OF re-
ducing the duties to the rates of the compromise
act, where the ~hig congress found them, on
the 30lh of June 1872" In the same speech,
he says, lha, .'lhe south, and he with them, had
voted for The acl Of 1888, because i, was re-
duction Of the rates of the act Of 1923, though
bv no means so low, as he ioould haue desired 1t
to be; still il was The greatest reduction he says
(which could be attained at the time of its pas
sage"
This bill reduced the duties so low, that
it swept our manufactures away, like wide
spreading tornado; but Mr.. Polk says they were
sll not low enough. In the same speech he
further remarks: 1.-The difference between The
whg parry and myself is, whilst they are the
advocates of distribution and protective tariff
measures which consider ruinous TO The in
leresIs of The country. and especially to the m
tereSt of the planting states, haze steadily and
at all tunes opposed both"
In his address 10 the people of Tennessee,
dated May 9Th, lS43. MIR. Polk says, 81 have
steadily, during the period | was a representa-
tive in Congress. been opposed TO protective
policy, as my recorded votes and public speech
es prove. Since retired from Congress. had
held The same opinions In The present canvass
for Governor / had auowed my opposition to the
tariff act of the late Wig Congress, as being
highly proiect,ue in its character, and not de-
signed by its authors as revenue measure. /
had avowed my opinion 10 my public speeches
that the interests of The country and especially
of The producing and exporting states, required
its repeal and the restoration of the principles
of ihe compromise tariff aci Of 1893. In his
speech OF April 3, 1899. Mr.. Polk remarks ::
"In repeated instances he (Gen Jackson1 re-
commended notifications and reductions of the
tariff, ,ith uieU to a final abandonment OF the
odious and unjus, system" which policy Mr..
Polk in his lelier TO Mr.. Kane. says he sup
ported So effec,ual he continues, "were these
recommendations. and so rapid the change of
public opinion, tha, the friends of the tariff, and
even Mr.. Clay. us imputed father. seized on a
favorable moment 10 save the whole from de-
srruclion, by timely compromise. 1t was the
defence of Mr. Clay with his friends al the
north, that by yielding part he prevented the
destruction of The whole, and in their continued
and devoted support Of him, The Northern cap
ralists have shown, that they are grateful for
the fortunate rescue"
II we examine his votes in Congress we find
that in 1927 he voted against the blll and join
ed Mr.. Camberling. (who ayowed free trade
docirnes,) in opposition 10 the bill. for The bet
Ter protection OF wool and woolens.
In 1923. he opposed and voted agains, the
famous tariff bill reported by Mallory.
In $50, he voted against the bill 10 prevent
frauds in the importation Of foreign products,
and to enforce the tariff of 1923, reported by
Mr.. Mallory
In 1880, Mr. Barringer introduced aresou-
lion, 10 reduce the duty on coarse wool, wool
lens, &c-Mr P-,lk voIed for il. sl
In December 1892, he was member Of the
Committee Of Ways and Means. and reported
and gaze has earnest support TO bill, to repeal
the erasting tcriF Of 1923, and in lieu thereof
TO collecl revenue of bu, $l2. 500 900, all by
lmposts on foreign merchandise, a, an average
duty Of IS per cent. and iha, 100 10 be assessed
on The foreign valuation, which would probably
have brought ii down 10 10 per cent. and lower.
On the 23d ofJune 1888, he voted for the
molon of Mr.. McDuffie, of South Carolina, to
reduce The duty on cotton goods, costing not
exceeding $ cents the square yard, 10 IL l-2
per cent, ad valorum. On the same day he vo-
ted for Mr. McDnffie's motion to abolish The
duty on rolled iron. "a a
On the previous day, he voted against the
duv nm boofc and hootees m ahinet ares hats