The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-09-25
THE BEGINNING OF LOCO FOCO
OPPOSITION TO PROTECTION.

In 1888 Gen Jackson was President;
his friends were the majority in Congress
Protective Tariff was in force: and
South Carolina had threatened disunion
and civil war, unless that Tariff was re-
pealed. Gen. Jackson, in his Message
had said
THAT Tariff designed for perpetual
protection had entered into tho minds Of
but few of our statesmen. and that the
most they had anticipated was tempo
rdry protection p and that those who
took an enlarged view Of she condition Of
our country, must be satisfied the policy
of protection must be ultimately limited to
those PARTICLES as domestic mdiratda fprr,
,rAieh are indispensable to eur safety in
time Of ,G0r."
Since the PRONUNCIATION of The above
sentiment by President Jackson senti-
ment al war with the policy of the Re-
publican party and Of the General Govern
ment up to that time-the Loco Foco
party has uniformly opposed the Ameri-
can System az it was established by
Washington, and maintained by Adams,
Jefferson, Madison, and every true patriot
! in the country.
! VerpIanek and Folks report and bin
for the destruction of the Tariff BENZ
under consideration in Congress, Sir.
Clay, seeing the fearful crisis, and know
ing the resistless power of Jackson's intlu-
ence over Congress, maj rity beth
Houses being his devoted supporters, in
troduced the Compromise Bill, in order
to save the principle of Protection, from
the instant and overwhelming destruction
with which it was mcnlced. That This
was the motive which governed him is
made evident by the following extract
from the speech which he made, in intro
ducing this bill, on the IL of February,
! 1898:
"1n presenting the modification of the
tariff laws which am about TO submit, |
have two great objects in view. My first
object looks to the tlrifi.-I am compelled
to express the opinion, formed after the
most deliberate reflection and on full sur
tey Of the whole country, that whether
righifuly or wrongiully, THE TARIFF
STANDS IN IMMINENT DANGER.
lift should even be preserved during this
session, it must fall at the next sessIcn>
BY what circumstances, and through what
causes, has arisen the necessity for this
change in the policy Of our country.
| will not now pretend to elucidate." 'Ow-
ing to a variety of concurrent cause, the
tariff, as it now exists, is in IMMINENT
DANGER and if the system can be pre-
served beyond the next session, it must be-
by some means not within the reach %
human sagacity. THE FALL OF
THAT POLICY, SIR. WOULD BIZ
PRODUCTIVE OF CONSEQUENCES
CALAMITOUS INDEED. When
look to the variety of interests which are
involved, to the number of individuals ill.,
terested, the amount Of capital invested,
the value Of buildings erected and the
whole arrangement of the business for
the prosecution Of the various branches Of
manufacturing arts which have sprung up
under the fostering care Of this govern
ment, cannot contemplate any evil equal
to the sudden overthrow of all those in
terests. History can produce no parallel
to the extent of the mischief which would
be produced by such disaster. The re-
peal OF the edict Of Nantes itselfwas moth
ing in comparison with it. That con-
demned to exile and brought to ruin a
great number Of persons. The most re-
spectacle portion of the population Of
France was condemned to exile and ruin
by that measure. But in my opinion, sir,
the sudden repeal of the tariff policy
would bring RUIN AND DESTRUC-
TON ON THE PEOPLE OF THIS
There is no evil, in my
opinion, equal to the consequences which
would result from such a catastrophe. -
Niles Registlr, rol. 43. p All.
In the same speech he afterwards said
ITO those who say that the bill aban-
,dons the power of protection, l would
reply that it does not touch that power"
The first Wing Congress there was. al
ter Mr.. Clay had thus saved the country
all the benefits ofProtection II was in bis
power to save, enacted the present Tdrlii
law. Over that Congress Mr.. c. waa Il
cused of acting the part Ct "pict1tcE.'