Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-07-26

The following clear and distinct view of the no.
sltions OF The Two PRESIDENTIAL candidates on the
Tariff question was presented by Mr.. Stewart IN
n discussion which occurred in tue Court uouse
on Friday evening.
! Mr.. STEWART commenced by saying that to up.
derstand the subject, it necessary in the first
place to ascertain what the PREskNT views and o.
pinions of Mr. Clay and Mr. Polk were upon the
tariff; and then to what would be the practical
operation and effect of these principles upon the
interests Of the country, if carried out in the ad
minstration Of the government.
| Mr.. Clay's position, he said was well understood
he is for the Wing tariff of 1872 he has declar-
ed himself repeatedly; in proof it is only necessa-
ry to refer to his Harrisburgh letter of the lth of
May 1914, in which he says:
"The Tariff act of 1912 has been bitterly de-
nounced, and gross epthets applied to it. It's re-
peal was pronounced to be favorite object of our
political opponents. They have majority of some
fifty or sixty in the House. A bill to repeal that
Tariff has been pending great part of the present
session OF Congress. And yet, yesterday, on a
test vote, majority Of the House decided against
the repeating bill, teduing THE TARIFF of 1919
in NH and ShLUTARY operation! This dccis.
ion was an involuntary concession of our political
opponents to the WISDOM and BENlFICENCE
q Whig policy, produced by the returning pros
perity Of the country, and the enlightened opinion
of the people"
Thus you see Mr. Clay declares himself une-
quivocay and decidedly for the Wing tariff of
| 1912. Fortunately within the last hour, said Mr.
S., have been furnished with Mr.. Folks late let
ter to Mr.. Kane, of Philadelphia, on the subject of
the tariff; he pronounced it by far the most inl-
portant because it defines and fires Mr. Folks posi-
ton, heretofore SO equivoca on the tariff question
1t fixes him n0U and at all times distinctly for
the repeal of the tariff Of 1912, and for the adop-
ton of horizontal tariff of 90 per cent. ad valo.
rem, discriminating below that amount for revenue.
In public discussion in Tennessee as late as a.
pril 1913 Mr.. Polk says:
IL am in favor of repeating the act of the last
Congress, the act of 1921 and restoring the COM
promise Of March 3D. 1888"
| Which, Mr. Polk says, will afford sufficient pro.
lection to the manufactures, and is all they ought
to desire, or TO which they ertited-thus 20 per
cent Is what Mr.. Polk, IN the language of his let
ter to Mr.. Kane, considers "FAIR AND JUST PRO-
lection TO ALL THE GREAT INTERESTS OF THE
WHOLE Union, embracing agriculture, manufac-
lures, and the mechanic arts, commerce and navi-
CATION" In this letter Mr.. Polk says expressly
"my opinions upon the tariff have often been Civ
en- to the public, they TO be found in my PUBLIC
ACTS and the PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS in which have
participated" here they are SIAN in Earor
Of the repeal Of The tariff Of 1912, and OF restoring
The Compromise act Of I'd March, 1898" This is Mr.
Folks present position as defined by himself-there
can be no dispute about it This letter settles the
matter. Mr.. Clay is then for The Tcr,G Of 1912;
Mr.. Polk denounces it ruinous, and says he is
IL.
the highest rate OF duty.
To remove all doubt to Mr.. Folks position,
here Is his letter, word for word The loose and
unmeaning slang in the concluding paragraph, a.
bout Just and fair protection" can hunbug no.
body-the first paragraph referring to his public
acts and public discussions, for his present opinions,
settles the queson-hear him:
"CoLuMpfA, Tenn June I9, 1874
"DEAR SIR | have received recently several
letters IN reference to myopnons the subject of
the Tariff and among others, yours of the 10th III.
tiIno. My opinions on this subject have been often
given to the public. They are to be found in my
public acts, and in the public discussions in which
| have partic ipated.
am in favor of Tariff for rerenue, such one
as will yield sufficient amount to the Treasury TO
deiray the expenses of the government econoni-
cally administered. In adjusting the details of
lWueane tarW, have heretofore sanctioned such
moderate discriminating duties, as would produce
the amount OF revenue needed, and a: the same
time afford reasonable incidental protection to our
home industry. am opposed TO tariff for pro-
lection merely and not for revenue.
Acting upon these general principles, it is we'll
known that gave my support to the policy of
General Jacksons administration on this subject
voted against the tariff act of 1898. | voted for
the tariff act of 1892 which contained modifca-
tons of some of the Objectionable provisions of the
act of 1923. As member of the Committee of
Ways and Means of the House of Representatives
L gave my dsseut 10 u Dill reported Dy that COM
mtee in December 1889, making further modifi-
cations Of the act of 1923, and making also dis,
ordinations in the imposition of the duties which
it proposed. That bill did not pass but was su.
perceded by the bill commonly called the Com
promise bill, for which voted.
In my judgment, it is the duty of the govern
ment to extend, as far as it may be practicable to
do so, by its revenue laws and all other means
within LIS power fair and just protection to all the
great interests Of the whole Union, embracing
agriculture, manufactures and the mechanic arts,
commerce and navigation. heartily approve the
resolutions upon this subject passed by the demo-
cratic National Convention lately assembled at
Baltimore.
! ! am, with great respect,
Dear sir, your obi serv't,
JAMES X. POLK.
john X. KANE, ESQ. Philadelphia.
This letter intimates no change, but refers to
his former acts and declarations for his present opn
ions. Now sir, might not George McDuiiie, John
{. Calhoun. or the veriest anti.tarif nnter in the
South, sign this letter without the slightest COM
promltnent In fact Mr.. Polk has uniformly gone
with the South against the pfoeci,ve policy, he Is
with them noe and they are with ham. During
the whole OF Ia years service in Congress-he
lnever-never once voted to increase but always to
reduce the Tariff. defy his friends to point out
single instance to the contrary.
! Mr.. Polk says he is for tariff for revenue suf-
icient to detray the expenses Of government--so
s-Calhoun. He says " have her tetors nctioned
such moderate discriminating duties as would pro-
duce the revenue needed he voted for the tariff
of 1892, 1.-THE only tariff bill he ever voted for in
his life, except the compromise billy and why did
he vote Tor it He tells you in his Tennessee
speech-because il reduced the tariff of 1875; not
as ,rch DIS lie ,oished but much he could, and
quite too much for me, for voted against il, said
MIR. s., as did eleven of my tariff colleagues.
MIR Calhoun is better tariff man than Mr.. Polk
lin 1916 he voted to Increase the protective duties !;
Mr.. Polk has never voted to increase but always to
reduce them.
Next Mr.. Polk says he sustained the bill repor-
ted by the Committee of Ways and Means in De,
cember 1882 lMr. Verplanks billy making still fur.
ther reductions of the act Of 1923 This favorite
bill Of AIR. Folks reduced every ad valorem duty
Except one--the duty on coach lace was left at
% per cent, wool and woolens to Is, worsted to
l0. nnd certain cloths kerseys. and bankets per