Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-06-13
COL. ]. X. POLK AND THE TARIFF


To The Hon. James Hrin, Of Pennsylvania.
SIR Upon the announcement Of James X Poll
on Yesterday the nominee Of the Baltimore Con.
venion for President, which equally astoui,hed
Wings and Locos. you inquringly asked, "Jyba
ave has opinions tie Tar1Br'
According 10 the promise then given proceed II
answer your inquiry. Mr. Polk is, and GLAZING TO be
consistent opponent Of a Protective Tariff: ba,
advocated the principle of free trade subs,an,allv
IN 1873 was Tor restoring the tariff TO the rates nrc
scrbed by the tariff Of 1916; and has been bite,
rever OF the tariff of 1912; is for its rerea and i
in favor OF returning 10 the horizontal 90 per cent
rates Of duty which prevailed at the time of the mas
sage OF the tariff of 1912.
In the session of 1928, Mr. Polk was n mem
Der of the Committee o[ways and means which re-
ported bill (Which did not pass) greatly REDUCING
the duties below those adopted by the tariff ac, %
the preceding session, (Tariff of 1927 lie made
lengthy speech in favor Of the proposed bill ant
against the protective system, which will be found
IN congressional Debates, vol pages ll62 to IFS
AS specimen of the views presented in that speech
will quote few short extracts
ut appears from this testimony that the duties M
on woolens (how fifty per cent? NAV not only be re-
duced, but that Twenty-Five per cent ,oiH be a suG
cient profechoh, provided there be n corresponding
reduction on the raw material and the duty be fully
and ialry collected; and that the manufacturers OF
cottons would be able to continue their business
prcffa6ly at tie reduced duty Of hceire and halj
per cent on the rival foreign article"
II propose next 10 establish, by testimony equally
entitled to credit, the third proposition which IS thai
the manufactures of the United States were in n
prosperous condition. under the act of 1916 and for
eight years intervening, between the years 1916 and
1924; and also that the act Of 1916 afforded he,
ample incidental protscton."-[ Debates vol. O.
page ITO
1.-The wool-erowers consider the duty upon for.
elgn woo! as Important to their prosperity. This
omn'on, Iapprehend IS founded IN error Very lit.
tie wool OF the middling quality such as we produce
is imported. The kinds chiefly imported are either
the coarse South American WOOL costing eiph,
cents and under the pound, or fine Saxony wool
costing more than a dollar the pound, neither o,
eh'eh do ~e produce, or if we do, very limited
NJ! "My opn opinion is that ,eool should be duty
free; but as wool growers think otherwise, we have
retained duty OF fifteen per cent. upon the import
cd article. Icon. Debates, vol. 0, page lI74.l
In relation to the tariff of l842, we are not at n
loss for his opinions. Mr. Polk was candidate 70,
Governor in Tennessee in ls43 lin which race, YOU
Know, he was second time defeated by a large
majotiy,) and during the canvass he permitted nc
opportunity 10 escape him to denounce that tariff in
The most bitter terms. In response 10 an INQUIRY
whether he approved OF such tariff as would Give
protection TO home Industry against foreign industry
ne answered, as am Informed by gentlemen who
are perfectly familiar with his views, as given or
the stump and in his circulars that he was oDposed
10 he pr'ne'pie Of protection His answers to this
and other in'errogatories, will be published as soon
as they can be procured from Tennessee
Fortunately, however, am at no loss for an an.
'hentic document which presents Colonel polk,s
views Of the tariff of 1912 | have before me the
Synopsis Of Cor. Polk's speech 10 the neoole .,
Madison and tie adjoining counties, derered nj ck.
son, on Monday, the Sd Of April, ls43," printed in
pamphlet form, and written out for pubcation nv
Gov. Polk. From IT quote the following extracts
ne TOOK other views, briefly presented, of the
subject, and proceeded to the discussion of the pro-
'ec'lve tariff act passed by the last Congress He
showed that 1t was highly protective tariff, and
not one tor revenue. He show ed that. by the COM
promise 'arlff act of 1893, the tax on no imported
atuc'e was 70 exceed 90 per cent. upon its value
AMER the 3oth OF June, 1912. No higher tax than
30 per cent ,cos imposed on any article after The
Both OF June, 1912, until the Both of August 1912
on which latte: day the present tariff law was pass
ed by the Wing Congress. The Whig Congress-
laid violent hands on the compromise act Of 1893
and broke il up"
III was clear, therefore, that the late tariff act
was not revenue measure. Ii had raised the rates
OF duty so high as 10 shut out imports, and conse-
quently to cut off and diminish revenue"
Judging from the amount of revenue received az
the Treasury, under the operations OF the presen,
aim act for The last q lareI OF 1919, as already
shown, 1t will not produce annually hall the amour,
OF revenue which would have been produced by the
lower rates Of the compromise act had thai act been
left undstured."
lie was opposed TO direct taxes, and to prohbi.
tory and protective duties, and in favor of such
moderate duties as would not cut of importa,ions
IN OTHER WORDS, HE WAS IN FAVOR OF
REDUCING THE DUTIES TO THE RATES
OF THE COMPROMISE ACT, WHERE THE
WIG CONGRESS FOUND THEM on THE
BOTH OF JUNE, 1912"
"The South, and he with them, had voted for the
act of 1882 because il was reduction Of the rate,
OF the act Of 1928. though by means so slow a.
he would have desired it to be stl il was ia,
greatest reduction which could be attained at tn,
time OF its passage"
"THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
COURSE OFTHE POLITICAL PARTY WITH
WHICH HE (MR. MiLTos BRwoN) ACTS AM
MYSELF, Is. WHILST THEY ARE THE AID
NOCATES OF DISTRIBUTION AND A PRO
TECrIyE TARIFF-MEASURES WHICH
CONSIDER RUINOUS TO THE INTERESTS
or THE CONFTRY, AND ESPECIALLY re
THE INTERESTS OF THE PLANTING
STATES-I HAVE STEADILY AND AT ALI
TIMES OPPOSED BOTH"
Those ex,rac,S conr lusival,, nro.o IL TT,