Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-10-12
LETTER FROM GOV. JONES.

LETTER FROM GOV. JONES.
"A gentleman has favored the editor OF
the Pittsburg American with the following
letter. received from Gov. Jones, of Ten
nessee, which we hasten TO publish;
NASHVILLE, August 5ih, le44'
DEAR SIR:--I have the honor 10 &C,
knowledge the receipt Of yours OF the 1sn
ultimo, and beg leave to assure you; 'na'
il givos inc much pleasure to afford 1he
information you desire.
1t must strike the friends of Col. Polk,
in this State, with great astonis hmcnt, to
see il stated in the public journals OF your
State that he is the friend and advocate
of Protective Tariff, when there is no
political fact moro notorious, than that he
is the uncompromising opponent of Protec-
ton. Col. Polk for the last four or hve
years has been before the people OF Ten.
nesscc, as a candidate for The Gubcrnatorfal
chair. During the time, he has published
his opinions on the subject of Tariff, as
often as six or seven times, andin each and
all Of these publications, he has ayowed
himself opposed TO the protective policy. 4"
these various publications, refer you for
full and explicit declaration of his opin-
ion on this subject,
Col. Polk and myself were competing
candidates for the executive chair of this
State in 1871 and ls43. / think met
him in these several campaigns, as often as
one hundred and fly times in public discus.
sion before the people of this State, and
at EACH and every speech he made, he inva-
riably avowed his opposition 10 the protec-
the policy, and in the last contest of lS43,
he assailed and denounced the, present Ia
riff act as highly protective in lis ehaFac-
ter, and pledged his influence and effort to
secure its repeal. ! think l may say with
great confidence, that it was mainly on
this question, tina; Col Polk and his friends
expected 10 defeat me in the contest Of last
year. was the advocate of the Tariff OF
'42. he its unqualified opponent.
That COL Polk is tree trade man in the
same sense in which Mr. Calhoun is, no
one can doubt. l would call your a,ten-
ton 10 his address to the people of Tennes-
see, dated in May. lS43. In that address
he states that he is for raising money enough
by impost duties which rhen added to the
money arising from the sales Of the public
lands and other incidental sources of revenue
will be sufficient to defray the expenses of
the Government economically administered.
From this Zone of the latest of his opinions)
you will see that he is in favor of exhaust
ing all the land money and other means
from incidental sources first, and then 10
raise the deficit by Tariff. The proceeds
Of the public lands has gone up on ono &C.
cason, as high. Gf mistake noO as
100000. If such thing should occur
again, as it may, then, if this sum should bs
sufficient 10 defray the expenditures Of the
Government, las think i, worldly Mr..
Polk, according TO the ground assumed in
the address, would have to abolish the
Tariff altogether. This would be free
trade with vengeance.
As to our prospects in this State, have
TO say, the contest is one Of unprecedented
warmth and zeal. The Locos are resorting
TO every means, to secure the vote of this
State; but to our friends of Pennsylvania,
would say, be of good cheer; the Wings
of Tennessee know their duty and ,UiH do Il.
Tennessee will maintain her position, de-
spite of every influence that may be brought
to operate on her. Twice has she repu-
dated Col. Polk, and | am persuaded that
she will not revoke her verdict--neAr, no
nerer. Keep the Keystone of the Arch
firmly in its place and all will be well.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES G.. JONES.