Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-07-04
MIR POLK AND THE TARIFF.

NH. 1OIh AMI I'LL AhAAiA
If any friend Of the Tariff Policy, OF
the principle of protection, is disposed TO
doubt the hostile position OF Mr.. Polk,
their doubts must be removed, once and
forever, by the facts and authentic quo
taiions which follow.
During the canvass for Governor In
Tennessee in the summer of ls44,
number Of respectable citizens of Men,
phis, oil both parties, addressed series of
interrogatories 10 Gov. Polk and Gov
Jones. touching their opinions upoK the
leading political questions of the day.
Their answers were published at length,
at the time the respective candidates
resting their chances OF success upon the
opinions and sentiments therein express
! ed. The result is known to the country.
The answer Of Gov. Polk has recently
been incorporated, in biographicse sketch
Of his life, prepared for and published by
his hand organ, the Nashville Union. and
his opinions endorsed and reaflirmed after
this fashion 81 Philadelphia u. s. Gazette.
ellis answer was written in the midst
Of the conflict and with great haste, BUT
1T WILL BE FOUND TO BEAR
ALL THE MARKS OF A STATES
MAN who has nothing to conceal from
the public eye-WHO HAS HIS OPlN-
IONS WELL MATJRED, and whose
reliance, ct all times, is upon the virtue
and intelligence of the people"
The fifth and sixth in,errogatories thus
republished in the Nashville Union Of the
18th June, instant relate to the TAR
ilFF. We copy the questions with Mr..
Folks answer:
! "5th. Are you in favor Of a tariff or di-
rect tares for the support Of the General
Government ?"
sch If a tariff, do you aprrore Of such
tariff as ,eould gre protection 10 home IN.
dustry against foreign industry 2
81 answer that ] am opposed to a
system OF direct taxation, and am in ia
vor Of moderate scale of duties, laid by
tariff on imported goods for the purpose
Of raising the revenue which may be need.
ed for the economical administration OF
the Government. In fixing the rates Of
tariff, my opinion is, that the object in
view shoald be 10 raise the revenue need
ed by government, LEAVING THE
! INTERESTS ENGAGED IN MAN
UFACTURES TO ENJOY THE IN
ICIDENTAL ADVANTAGE WHICH
THE. LEVY OF SUCH DUTIES
WILL AFFORD TO THEM. II by
giving protection to home industry
you mean to assert the distinct priaci.
Pile, that tariff is to be laid SOLELY
OR IN ANY EXTENT NOT FOR
REVENUE, BUT FOR THE PRO-
LECTION OF CAPITALISTS WHO
HAVE MADE THEIR INVEST
MENTS IN MANUFACTURING ES-
TABLISHMENTS so as to compel the
consumers of their articles, the agrcultu.
rists, mechanics, persons employed in
commerce and all other pursuits TO pay
higher prices for them. THEN | SAY
II AN OPPOSED TO SUCH A PRIN-
'CIpLE, AND TO ANY TARIFF
WHICH RECOGNISES 1T. Home
industry term so often used by the adj
vocaies of the protective tariff system, is
comprehensive in its meaning, and by q
Just legislation should be made 10 embrace |
the industry employed in agriculture, in
the mechanic arts, in commerce and all
other pursuits, as well as the industry
employed in manufactures. | HAVE
AT ALL TINES BEEN OPPOSED
TO PROHIBfTORY OR HIGH PRO-
TECTIVE TARIFF LAWS, designed
not for revenue, but to advance the inter-
ests of one portion Of the people employ.
ed IN manufactures, by taxing another
and much the larger portion, thus making
the many tributary to the increased
wealth of the few. AM OPPOSED
TO THE TARIFF ACT OF THE
LATE CONGRESS-, considering it to
be in many respects Of this character
AMI, indeed so highly protective upon
some articles as to prohibit their importa-
ton into the country altogether. Am
IN FAVOR OF REPEATING THAT
ACT, AND RESTORING THE CON-
PROMISE TARIFF ACT OF MARCH
I'D, 1888; believing as | do, that it would
produce more revenue than the present
law, and that THE INCIDENTAL
AFFORDED BY THE
TWENTY PER CENT DUTY, espec-
tally when this would be paid in cash,
and on the home valuation, will at.
ford SUFFICIENT PROTECTION TO
THE MANUFACTURERS, AND ALL
THAT THEY OUGHT TO DESIRE,
OR TO WHICH THEY ARE ENTI-
TIED"
STAND by THE TARIFF.--Whiie a
81 IL.