The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-10-18
From the Salem (Mass.) Advertiser.
THE TARIFF.

animation of its history, connec ted with our po-
litical institutions. The wings have made it their
rallying cry through the country, and they are FL
ling their columes with false issues upon the subject
in order to mislead the public We challenge dis
cussion any and all the points of our political
creed. The tariff was enacted for two purposes to
raise revenue to meet the expenses Of government
and to afford protection to American manufactures
The democratic party consider the first purpose,
namely, for revenue, the chief design of the tariff,
and that protection should be esteemed of seconda-
ry importance, and incidental to this primary OBJ
ect. On the first Of these points, both parties are
united; but in the second, we are at variance with
the northern wings, who hold that protection should
be the main object of the tariff, and revenue its in
cident. This is called the American system, and
Henry Clay is its reputed father, but with what
propriety will be seen by the following facts
When this question was first agitated in our ma
tonal councils, Henry Clay was in his swaddling
clothes. He had no part in the passage of the ta-
riff of 1916, or that of 1924. The act OF 1928 he
repudated as bill of denominations. In 1888,
when the South was threatening dsunion, he sig
nified in the Senate that he was ready to abandon
the idea of projections and in 1912 he said, ''Do
not raise the question ofprotection, which hoped
had been put at rest There is no need protec-
ton for protection" When the present tariff bill
came before Congress, he resigned his seat, and
thus avoided committing his opinion. With these
facts substantiated by the record and admitted be-
yond dispute, Mr.. Clay might with more propriey
be called the enemy rather than the friend Of the
protective system. On the other hand, the wings,
with unblushing disregard for the truth, charge
Gov. Polk with being opposed to protection and in
favor of free trade Let the record again seal their
lips From the commencement Of his career in
Congress in 1885, to the close, he never supported
nor encouraged the introduction ofany proposition,
having for its object the repeal of duties upon i'm
ports. His vote is recorded in favor of every tariff
with perhaps one exception, that was enacted by
Congress while he was member ef that body
He exerted an efficient influence, which was ex-
tensive in the House, to effect the passage Of the
acts of 1880, '32 and 49, Notwithstanding his
support Of these measures of protection, he's rep
resented as hostile to American industry. How
was this hostility displayed' Why, by voting for
duty cottons of 25 per cent, boots and booees
81 so per pair, cabinet ware, hats, caps, &C., 30
per cent, rolled iron $3Oper ton, and wool and
woolens the highest rates of duties. Neither can
the democratic party be charged with adopting the
principles of free trade; for there has not tariff
been enactedby Congress but was passed by the
aid Of their votes, and every act was passed by a
democratic Congress, except the bill of 1912, which
the wings claim as their own measure, but with
how much truth, will be seen by the history of its
passage. On the passage of the present tariff bill
in the House of Representatives, August p, 1912,
the vote stood:
For the bill, l0I
Against the bill, 1Ol
The speaker announced the vote as above, and
voted himself in the negative So the bill was
rejected by that whig vOte. Thirty more wings
voted in the negative, and sixteen were absent
making in all, ,fJty fre aohigs who did not vote for
second trial the vote stood:
Ayes, l03, nays, 1O2.
Whereupon Mr.. White, the wing speaker, and
Mr.. Clay's particular friend, again voted in the
Negative Two whig members who had lodged
the question, now came forward and voted for the
bill, and thus it was carried. During all this time,
twenty-one democratic members voted steadily for
the bill, though not agreeable to them in all its
parts. This act Of the House came up in the Sem
ate for final vote on the 9th August, and the vote
stood:
Yeas "a, nays %. One majority.
Four democrats voted for it, and nine wings
against 1t. This settles the question that the wings
have no exclusive right to call the tariff OF 1912
their own. The leading objection of the democrats
to this tariff is, that the poorer classes of society
pay more than their just proportion of the duties
The charge of the federal prints, that we wish to
destroy the tariff, Is as false as the men who put it
in circulation. Let the present system of duties
be arranged so as to fall heavily upon the luxu
ries of the rich, upon the necessities of the poor
man! That il does not now, we will show from
the record.
1t takes the poor mans brown
sugar about rs per Ct
Molasses 81
Iron, from 80 to $50
Logging chains, sc. $50
While it lays its burden thus lightly upon the
rich mans luxuries-
Thread laces Is per ct,
Laces ofgod and silver Is
Diamonds
Watches, gems, pearls
Philosophical apparatus, paintings, drawings,
&C., free.
Thusi will be perceived that it is for the inter-
est ofevery poor man to support the measures of
the democratic party; but notso for those arrogant
princes who have their property invested in man.
ufactures. A few cents per yard on certain kinds
Of cotton will put thousands OF dollars into their
pockets; and where does it come from' Why, out
of the small income ofthe mechanic and farmer;
tI,ax, s,r tl,o |