Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-10-26
JAMES *. POLK.
Protection OF American Industry.
ENCOURAGEMENT OF The MANUFACTURE
OF IRON.

FELLOW CITIZENS -
Efforts of the most determined nature-most
widely and secretly extended-and especially
IN this Commonwealth, are making to msrep.
resent the opinions ard conduct of JAMES \.
POLK, the Democratic candidate for Prpsi.
dent, on the subject of AID AND PROTEC-
TlON TO AMERICAN INDUSTRY. The
recent triumph of Democracy in Pennsylvania
causes these efforts to he reloubled. We warn
you against them. To expose them, nothing
is needed but the diffusion of TRUTH.
The OPINIONS OF James X Polk on this sub.
Ject are not equivocal They have not been
concealed. We give them TO you IN HIS OWN
WORDS. They are as follows:
o. IN MY JUDGMENT, IT IS THE
DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO EN.
TEND, AS FAR AS IT MAY BE PRAC.
TICABLE TO DO so BY IT'S REVENUE
LAW SAND ALL OTHER MEANS WITH.
IN IT'S POWER, FAIR AND JUST PRO.
TECTION TO ALL TIE GREAT INTER
ESTS OF THE WHOLE UNION. EN-
BRACING AGRICULTURE, MANUFAC.
TURES, THE MECHANIC ARTS, COM.
MERGE AND NAVIGATION.
His ACTIONS are not less eQuivocal Soon
atcr his very first entry into public life, in Ten
ncssec, James X. Polk devoted himsclfeflicient-
ly to the support of American Industry, so far
as his legislative aborU in that State enabled
him to do so. lie was especially the PRO
TECFOR and promoter of the MANUFAC-
TURE OF IRON-a branch of industry in
which Tennessee, like PENNSYLVANIA, has u wide
interest. We have collected from the official
records of the Legislature Of Tennessee the
proof on the subject We submit it to YOU. 1t
shows that his sentiments IN FAVOR OF A.
MERICAN INDUSTRY, as now declared,
ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS AC.
TIONS, as thus exhibited and OFFICIALLY
PROVED.
The Journal of the Legislature of Tennessee
for the session Of l-23-'2I contains the follow.
ing, to wit;
"A bill supplemental to an act entitled IAN
act 10 ENCOURAGE THE BUILDING OF
IRON WORKS, passed November %, 1909,
was read the third and last time, and ordered to
be engrossed."
On the same day November 27th, ls23) it
was signed by the Speaker of both houses and
bccamea law.
The object of this law was TO GRANT to the
OWNERS OF IRON WORKS and those
who would erect them, LARGE TRACTS OF
LAND adjacent to them, for ore, timber 4 c.,
upon condition that they would keep them in
operation. The law therefore provided that "a
preference as occupants to obtain grants for said
lands should be granted to the owners ofIron
Works, on their paying twelve and halt cents
an acre"
Mr.. Polk, who entered the Legislature in
that year, supported this law on the ground that
II was The manifest policy of the State 10 EN-
TEND SUCH ENCOURAGEMENT TO
THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON.-Therc
were many Iron Works established in the State,
and he considered such course of legislation,
by making such grants for their encouragement,
ns matter OF public policy which ough, to be
steady and uniform The lands thus granted,
though not Of good quality for cultivation, were
valuable and indeed Indispensable to the own
crs of Iron Works. Other persons were thus
prevented from taking them up and eX.orting
high prices for them
AT the next session ofthe Legislature when
Mr.. Polk was again member, he again sup
ported the same course Of legislation for the en-