Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-10-11

era Government would not assume the payment o
Them more wicked, malignant, Danon.li like prop
oston was never Offered to the consideration OF any
deli eraiive assembly. II was negative proposition,
not negative of any affirmative resolution presented
IL the Senate; for no such affirmative resolution was
ever offered by any one. When, where, by whom,
was the extravagan idea ever entertained OF an as
sumption Of the state debts by the General Govern.
nent! There was not solitary voice raised IN favor
Of such measure in this Senate.
"Would II not have been time enough to have de-
nounccd assumption whc,, il was seriously proro' ed
Yet, ut moment when the States were generally
embarrassed when ihtir credit was sinking, nj this
critical moment, was measure brought forward I'M
nece' sally wanionly and graiousy made the SUB.
ect OF sn elaborate report and exciting protractcd
debate the inevitable effect of nil which must have
been Ia create abroad dsirust IN the ability and good
faith of the debtor States. Can it he doubted that n
serious injury inflicted upon them by thi>tnnpre-
ceden,ed proceeding Nothing is more delicate than
credit character. Their credit cannot fail 10 have
suffered IN the only place where capital could be OBJ
famed and when at that very time some OF the agents
OF the states were negotiating with foreign bankers
About that period Of the Senators Of this body had
in person gore abroad for the purpose Of obtaining
advances Of money on Illinois stock.
My friends and | made The mos, strenuous orpo
sllion to the resolution, but it was all va,ns, and
majority Of the Senate adopted the report oi The COM
mtlee 10 whom the resolution had been referred We
urged the npOlicy and injustice of the proceeding
that no man in his senses would ever propose the as
sumption of the State debts; that NJ such proposal
were unequal in amount contracted by States func.
quail population, and that some States weic not IN
debt nj all. How then was il possible to think of n
general assumption of Stnte debts 7 Who could con
crlye # such n proposal But there is vast differ
cnce between our paving their debts for them and
paying debts 10 them in conformity with the
trusts arising out Of the public domain which The
General Government is bon,id 10 execute"
MIR. Clay and Mr.. Polk OIL the Tariff.
The Locofucos Of Cumberland County
Pennsylvania, who wrote to Mr.. Polk some
Two months since, to ascertain his views il
relation to the present Tariff, have as we,
received no answer Drspairing Of getting
any expression of opinion from this mum
candidate, they addressed to Mr.. Clay the
same inquiries which they had previously
proposed to Mr.. PoLK. We have already
published Mr.. GAYS frank reply. But we
republish it to-day and ask the reader TO con-
,ras with i, Mr.. PoLK's determined but pro-.
dent silence on the same suhject:-
Mr.. CLAWS ANSWER.
ASHLAND, 9th Sept, 1911
GENrLEmrN-I this day received your letter, ad
dress NC two inquiries 10 ,nc-"ls, Are YOU in favor
of the Tariff act of 1872 ?n--and "2d. Would vou il
elected, support that act as it is, without modilica
ton would you be in favor OF modifying 7?
have so often gentlemen, expressed my opinion
in favor OF the Tariff Of lS42 that the only regret
feel is that you should deem il q, all necessary to re-
quest my renewed expression of IT, Nevertheless,
take pleasure in complying with your request in say
ing that | am of opinion thai the TART! of 1872 has
been emincnilv sautarv; That lam decidedly opposed
10 lis repeal that should regard its repeal grea
ma ipnnl calamiv; and that an unaware of the ne
ccssiiy of any modification Of IT, fixed and sinh.,
policy is what the country now most needs, and sin
cerrlv hope that the Tariff nf 1912 may be maintained
and thus afr ,rd a security for thu, drsidrranm.
am, respectfully. your obedlen, servant
II. CLAY.