The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-10-30
From the United States Gazette.

IMPORTANT CHANGES IN BERKS COUNTY.
The following document will be read with much
interest by persons acquainted with the gentle
men whose signatures are attached to it. Thew
have long been known in Berks county as intel
ligent men, and prominent members of the self
styled Democratic party. Mr.. Schwartz has been
for many years extensively engaged in the iron
business in the neighborhood of Reading. and
has done much to promote domestic industry.
Mr.. McManus is also engaged in manufacturing
and no doubt feels interest in that policy which
enables him to give employment to hundreds who
thus feel personally the benefit of the tariff. Mr..
Miltimore is well known throughout the country
as an extensive mail contractor and owner of
stages. The views of such men are entitled to
much consideration. We learn that the changes
are numerous in every part of Berks:
TO THE PUBLIC.
The undersigned, citizens of Berks county,
having at the late election supported Francis r.
Skunk for the office of Governor, avail themselves
of this method of declaring the course which
sense of duty to the interests of the country in
duces them to take in reference to the Presden-
tal question.
They are, and always have been, members of
the Democratic party. To its principles they are
sincerely attached, and to its nominees they are
always disposed unless weighty considerations
of the Baltimore Convention in May last, they
had hoped and believed man would be nom-
mated for the Presidency in whose election every
Democrat-every friend of American industry
could join This hope, they regret to say has
been disappointed A man never before spoken
of or thought of for the high Office of President
of the United States, has been nominated His
obscurity would be OF little consequence if his
principles were such as we could sustain. AS
nd
terested in the prosperity of the country the first
question with US has been how does the nominee
of the party, James X. Polk, stand in reference to
the protection Of American labor. There is but
one answer to this, and that answer is entirely
unsatisfactory. We are compelled, from inds-
putable evidence, to believe that within the Union
more decided opponent to the protection Of Ame-
rican labor than James X. Polk could not be
found.
The fact that the men and the papers which in
the South have long been ad 7ocating the doctrine
of free trade, at once give him their hearty sup
port would alone induce the suspicion that his
sentiments were more in accordance with their
notions than with ours. But we are not left with
the friends Of Mr., Polk to ascertain his views
He himself has on repeated occasions spoken out
plainly and decidedly on this subject. In letter
to the people of Tennessee, published in May,
1913, he says, "All who have observed my course
know have at all times been opposed to the pro-
tective policy" He also states " that he is OPP
posed to tariff for protection" In an address
to the people of Tennessee, in 1889, he speaks of
the tariff as an "odlous and unjust system" tn
a view to the final abandonment OF which he had
directed his Efforts and hat I" so rap were the
changes of public opinion, that the friends Of The
tariff, and even Mr.. Clay, its reputed father, iz-
ed on favorable moment to save the whole from
destruction by timely compromise Mr.. Polk
adds that " it was The defence of Mr.. CLAW, with
his friends at the north, that by yielding part lie
prevented the destruction of The whole" Host-
lily could not find stronger language
Mr.. Polk has taken equal pains to define his
position as opposed to the present tarlf-that Ia
riff which is giving employment to thousands of
mechanics and laborers, and which protects our
farmers and manufacturers, and under which the
country is rapidly regaining her prosperity In
the letter before referred to, Mr.. Polk says,"I