The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-08-05

country. That we view the tariff OF lS42 as a
tariff of that character, and that should regard
It's repeal or any modification of it for the purpose
of changing its protective features as an act of
hostility TO all the great interests of Pennsylva-
mia. That mere revenue tariff without the dis.
trbution of the proceeds of the sales of the pub
lie lands. and adjusted to scale of horizontal du-
ties, that is to say an indlscrimnae levy of Is or
70 per centum upon all articles of foreign growth
or manufacturer would not afford /" reasonable
protection" to American industry, would be vr-
tual abandonment of the protective policy, would
make us dependant upon the labor of Europe for
the necessares of life, would effectually destroy
our home market, drain the country of specie,
and place us in war and in peace at the mercy of
foreign governments; that it would be practical
adoption of the theory of free trade on our part,
without any reciprocity from other nations, and de-
stroy the energy, industry, and wealth of our peo-
pie, TO enrich foreign and antagonistic nations.
RESOLVED, therefore, That the late letter of the
Hon. James K. Polk, taken in connexion with
his previous expressions of opinion, and with the
explanations of some of the presses of our party,
is not entirely satisfactory to the Democracy Of
Dickinson township, for these reasons:
LIST. Because Mr.. Polk declares in his last let
ter to Mr. Kane, "that he is opposed to tariff
for protection merely and not for revenue" This
language is ncomprehensible because in this
country at least, there never has been protec-
tive tariff which did not afford ample revenue, and
which was not tariff for revenue as we'll as
protection.
3D. Because Mr. Polk says in the same letter
that he is " i'll favor of tariff for revenue, such
one as will yield sufficient amount to the trea-
sury TO defray the expenses of the Government
economically administered"
In adjusting the details of revenue tariff, he
says he has "heretoforc sanctioned such mode
rate discriminating duties as would produce the
amount of revenue needed and at the same time
afford reasonable individual incidental protection
to our home industry" Acting upon these gene
raj principles, he adds, /" it is we'll known that
gave my support to the policy of Gen. Jackson's
Administration upon this subject"
Sd. Because this language, if it stood discon-
necled with all previous declarations might satisfy
such as are unacquainted with the history of the
tariff, and the policy of the different Admnstra-
tons in regard to it.
But in letter published in lS43 MIR. Polk
tells the people of Tennessee, that he is "opposed
to the tariff act of 1912 and in favor of repeating
il, and restoring the compromise act of le33-be-
lievng as do" says he, that the incidental
protection, afforded by the twenty per cent. duty,
will afford sufficient protection to the manufactu-
rers and all that they ought to desire or to " hich
they are entitled" He is, therefore, unless he
has since changed his opinions, clearly hostile to
the present tariff, regarding it, he says :" as SO
highly protective as to prohibit the importation of
some articles"
4th. Because he tells US that /" he has hereto
fore sanctioned moderate discriminating duties,'
and that he gave his support to the policy of
Gen. Jackson's Administration upon this subject
But in an address Of his to the people of Tennes-
see in 1889, he explains this very "pohcy' TO be
in direct hostility, not to protection only, but to
the whole tariff system. He says in an address
eulogistc Of Gen. Jacksons Administration, 9 in
repeated instances he (Gen. Jackson) recommend
ed notifications and reductions of the tariff, with
a view to the final abandonment of the odous
and unjust SYSTEM
9Th. Because if this is the "policy" hich Gov.
Polk supported in Congress, and if the revenue
tariff which he now processes to be in favor of is
to be gradually cut down by "repeated modfca-
tons and reductions with view to the final
abandonment Of the odious SYSTEM" then we say
that we cannot understand how he is in favor of
such tariff, on such "pocy" as the interests
of Pennsylvania aud the Unlon require; because
such tariff as he would sanction would be
" subsl antially based upon free trade principles"
Therefore
ResMped That we are in favor of the tariff
bill of 1912, which is tariff for protection aud
for revenue.
Resolued, That Montgomery Donaldson, Esq,
Henry Lynch, Gen. I. G.. Mil er, Francis Hutch-
son, John Moore, Joshua Sellers John Myers,
Esq. Jacob B yler, and Martin Snyder be ap.
pointed committee to address letter TO the
Hon. James X. Polk, asking hun to state explic-
lilly whether if elected he will sustain the tariff
of 1912, and If not, then to state in plain and une-
quvoca terms (wlthout reference to any past
letters or speeches or the measures of any other
person) what kind of tariff he would sustain,
and what extent of protection he would allow to
native industry.
ResoLued, That we will do all in our power to
preserve the honor Of our native State, and to
lessen the heavy load of debts that is now bear
ing down our laborng classes, and that while we
have debt of forty millions of dollars and annu-
ally increasing two millions more by the accumu-
latIon of interest, we are in favor and call upon
the people not to lose sight that almost the only
hope we have at present of paying even part OF
this enormous debt is by the immediate sale of
the public works, which we believe can be more
economically conducted by companies and which
are now not only Improbable, but a constant and