The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-08-16
Col. Jas. TX. Polk and the Tariff.

TO The Hon. James Irrin of Ptaasylpania
SIR-upon The announcement of james
X. Polk on yesterday as the nominee o
The Baltimore Convention for President
which equally asionished the Wings anC
Locos, you inquiringy asked, " hat ar,
his opinions on The Tariff"
According TO the promise then given
proceed 10 answer your enquiry. Mr.
Polk is, and claims TO be, consistent op
ponent of protective tariff; has advoca
ted the principle of free trade, substantial
y; in 1888 was for restoring Tie tariff Il
the rates prescribed BY The tariff of 1910
and has been bitter reyiler Of the Whil
tariff of 1912; is 70. lis repeal; and is il
favor Of returning to the horizontal TWEEN,
~ per cent. rates Of duty which prevailed
at the time Of the passage Of the tariff OF
1912.
In the session Of 1882. '33, Mr.. Polk
was a member of the Committee Of Ways
and Means, which reported bill (Which
did not pass greatly reducing The duties
below those adopted by the tariff nc, Of the
preceding session, (tariff Of 1882 lie
made lengthy speech, 10 favor Of the
proposed Jill, and against the protective
system, which will be found IN Congress.
sional Debates, vol. 8, pages ll62 10 ll75.
As 4 specimen Of the views presented IN
that speech, | will quote few shor, ex.
tracts:
Z" 1t appears from this testimony that
the duties upon wooens (now fifty pei
cent? may moi only be reduced, but thai
trenfy per cent riH be Sufficient pro.
lection, provided there be a corresponding
reduction on the raw material, and The du.
1 ~ be fully and fairly connected and that
the manufacturers of coitons, and esprci.
ally course cotious, would be able 10 con.
tnue their business, proffd5iy al the re.
ductd duty Of fTenfy and a AdT per cont.
on the rival foreign article.
propose next to establish, by lestimo.
ny equally entitled to credit, the third pro.
position, which Is, that the mauulac 'lrers
Of the United States were in prosperous
condition under The act Of lsl6, and for
the eight years infsrreniag between the
years 1916 and 1924, and also that the
act Of lSlG gforasd them ample inciden.
tai projections Congressional Debates,
vol. 9, page LILO.
The WOOL growers consider The duly up.
on foreign wool as important 10 their pros.
perliy. This opinion, opprehcad, Is
fopnded IN error. Very little wool OF the
middle quality, such as We produce. is i'm.
ported The kinds chiefly imported are
either the course South American wool.
costing eight cents and under the pound, or
tho fine Saxony wool, costing more Than
a dollar the pound. neither Of p6ich do ,-e
produce, or If we do, 10 a very limited cx
tent.
by otrn opinion is t1gt rool should be
dirty free, but as wool.growers think 9th
erwise, we have retained duiv Of fifteen
per cent, upon tho imported articlc.-Con.
deb. vol. 0 p. ll70,"
In fela,ion to the tariff Of 1912 We are
al no loss for his opinions. Mr.. Polk vas
a candidate for Governor in Tennessee Ia
1913, IN which race you know he was
second time defeated by urge majority.
and during the canvass he permitted no
opportunity 10 escape him to denouDce tina,
aftF in the most bitter terms. In re.
'ponso TO an inquiry whether he approv.
ID OF such tariff ss would give pro,cc.
ion To home industry he answered. as |
IN informed by gentlemen who ave per.
perfectly familiar with his views, as given
IN The stump and IN his circulars, that he /
ras opposed 10 The principle Of protection. :
Ills answer To this and other incrropatoties
will be published as soon as they can be +
procured from Tennessee.
Fortunately, however, | am at no loss for
IN authentic documen, which presents Col.
Folks views of the taiill Of 1912. have
'elore me the "Sy1opsis # Gor. Poik's
peeeh 10 me people Of Madison and The
lajotntng commits, deilrertd al Jaeksoa on
Monday he Sd Of april, 1913" printed 10 +
torn, aud written out for publ. K
.atIon by Gov. Polk. From il ouoIe he
extracts:
lie took other views, briefly prcson.
ed, OF the subject, and proceeded 10 his
discussion OF the protective tariff act pns.
cd by the last Congress. lie showed tha,
- "'Ebg Iib'NtflNt iuftiI ana not 1
ne Tor revenue. He showed that, by Tho
tariIf net of / $40, the tax an
70 imported article was 10 exceed 20 per
eBt. upon IFS value after the Both Of .fnno
SAP, until the both, Of Angus, 1912. or
'hich latter day the prcsen, iarl law wns ,
assed by The wing Congress. Tho Wbp ,
congress laid violent hands on the com.
romIse act of 1888, and broke il up.
II was clear, therefore, that the late iar. f,
] ACT was not revenue measure. Ii had ,
alsed The rates Of duty so high as to shu, ,
nt imports, and consequently TO cct Off !,
nd diminish revenue.
Judging from the amount Of revenue ro. ;,
eived at the Treasury, under the opera.
ons OF the present tariff act, for the last :,
uarter Of 1912, as already shown, i, win !
OF produce annually half The amount If
.esenne which would have been produced
The lover rates Of the compromise act
40 that act been left uudislurbed 4
lie was opposed 10 direct faxes. ard ia !,
'onIbiory and protective duties and in i