The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1844-06-08
COL. ]. X. POLK AND TIE TARIFF.

JAMES IRWIN.
COL. J. X. POLK AND TIE TARIFF.
10 Ike Hon, James Irwin of PENNSYLVANIA.
SIR: Upon the announcement of JAMES
X. PoLK on yesterday as the nominee of
the Baltimore Convention for President,
which equally astunished Wings aid
Iocos, you inquirinvly asked, "What IRE
his opinions on the Tart02"
According to the promise then given, |
proceed TO answer your inquiry. Mr.,
POLK is, aud claims to be, consistent
opponent Of Protective Tariff; has ad-
vocalcd the principles OF free trade, Sub
s'anllally; in 1888 was for restoring the
talitl TO the rates prescribed by the tariff
Of 1916; aud has been bitter reviler OF
,he Wing taritl'of 1872; is for its repeal;
and is in favor Of returning to the lori-
zontal 90 per cent rates of duty which
prevailed al the time Of the passage Cd the
tariff Of 1912.
IN the session of lS32-'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 act of
che preceding session, (Farill of 1882. }
lie made lengthy speech in favor of the
proposed bill, and against the protective
system which will be found in Congress
sional Debates, vol ., pages 1872 to l75
As specimen of the views presented in
that Speech, 4 will quote few short OK.
tracts:
KIT appears from this testimony that
the duties upon woollens (now fifty per
cent? may not only be reduced but that
&wenty ,fpe. per cent. miN be u Sufficient
protection, provided there bea correspon-
ding reduction on the raw material, and
the duly be lHh and fairly coleCied and
that the manufacturers OF collons, and cs-
peCially Of coarse CottoRs, would be able
to continue their business profidbiy al The
reduced duty Of hreire md 4 haIf per
cent. on the rival foreign article"
81 propose next to establish, by esti-
mony equally entitled to credit, the third
proposition, which is, that the manulac-
lurcrs of the United States were in a pros
porous condition under the act of 1916,
and for lie eight gears Intervening be-
ween the years 1916 and 1924, and also
tina, the act Of 1916 afforded them ample
Incidental protection,"- Con. Debates,
vol. 9, page 40
"The wool-growers considerable duty
upon foreign wool as important to. their
prosperity. This opinion, 1 opprehend.
is founded in error. Very little wool Of
the midtlng quality, such as we produce,
is imported. The kinds chiefly import.
ed al. either the coarse South American
wool, costing eight cents and under the
pound, or the fine SaXony wool, costing
more than dollar the pound, neither Of
uGftch do ace produce, or it we dc, 10
very limited extent"
>'.Ny o'rn opinion is that wool Soou7d be
duty free; bat as wool-growers think 9TH
erwise, we have retained a duty offfleen
per cent upon the imported article"
Congressional Debates, VOL 9, p. IVA.
In relation TO the tariff OF 1912 we are
at no loss for his opinions, Mr. Polk
was candidate for Governor in Tennes-
see in 1912, lin which race, you know, he
was second time defeated by a large ma.
jorily,) and during the canvass he per
mlted no opportunity to ecape HIM to de-
nounce that tariff in the most bitter terms.
In response TO an inquiry whether he sap
proved of such tariff as would give pro-
lection to home industry againt foreign
industry he answered, as am informed
by gentlemen who are perfectly familiar
with his views, as Civ IN on the stump and
in his circulars, thathe 1caS opposed 10 the
principle Of protection. His answer to
this and other interrogaories will be pub
iished as soon as they can be procured
from Tennessee.
Fortunately, however, am at no loss
for an authentic document which presents
Colonel PoLK's views Of the tariff of 1912
! have before the the "Smopsis Of Gov.
Polls speech to The people Of Madison
and tie adjoining counties, defirered al
Jackson, on Monday, The Sd Of april,
lS43," printed in pamphlet form, and
written out for publication by Gov. Polk.
From it quote the following extracts:
she took other views, briefly present.
ed, of the subject, and proceeded to the
discussion of the protective tariff act pas
sed by the last Congress. He showed
that il was highly protective tariff, and
not one for revenue. He showed that, by
the compromise tarill'act of 1888, the TAX
on no imported article was to exceed 20
per cent upon its value after the Both of
June, 1912. No higher tax than 20 per
cent. lcaS imposed on any article after the
3Olh Of June, 1912, until the 30,h OF Au-
gust, 1912. OF which latter day the pre-
sent tariff law was passed by the Wing
Congress. The Wing Congress laid vlo-
lent hands OH the compromise act ol 1888,