The Arkansas banner., 1844-10-16
TIE TARIF T..
SKETCH OF MR. WEIGHTS SPEECH 1T ]
 wATERToWN, NEW YORK.

called upon by citizens and suljecis of for eien governments Go converse about our pop ular institutions And when he had under taken to tell them that, with Hs, tae peopl, were not mere subjects to be governed, bu were a part of the government itseii--ag. tha ail the government We had rested on then as its basis, and received it's direction frea their wilt was a statement which lheT sel dom failed to receive with iacredulitv. Tn preudest moment of his life would be this fl now he could have an intelligent citizen o one of the governments of the Old Norli standing by his side. and could point him [, this vast assemblage, and ask him whethe he did not think that the American peoplt felt that they were a part of the government
 oi ihe country. Look, continued dr. h- as if in his imaginary position, and speaking to a foreign subject by his side look at tl1Is sky (which was still lowering) and at thIs assembled multitude. and tell me, according to your notions of government, what has
 brought this great mass here. Would heaei
 believe that it is because in your breasts rests
 the deep. abiding consciousness that cEIsIs
 has come in the affairs of orr government
 demanding your earnest. patriotic attention, without reference 10 the characterof tlse Wea- ther or the comfort of vour pos.fieas aT. 1t would be a demonstration 10 such a msa beyond the power of argument; and. fellow citizens. would that you had one more eafa- petent than am 10 aid vou in the discharge ef your.duiy IS fTeemen of thiz eeuRt#y.-- let. cailed on as have been, with the at- most cheerlulness. as but epeek ia tha aeAt of gratitude owe 10 the democracy of this State, and most especially 10 the democracy of Jefferson. and Lewis. and 0swego. and st Lawrence, will devote the strength of my voice and the best exertions of my fee bie mind.
 Every election Mir. Wright went on brings with II to Us, issues of vast importance diei= ding the two parties of our country. Th:s election has brought along with f., with Ha- ny others much discussed before xou four years ago, oue of perya3ing agd universal iH- terest. l refer to the question ol iarIH. l. is | vast questIou--a question of gfeas e8a5- plieation; but believe, wiIIl a little af yo8f calm. dispassionate reflection. and fair dfaft on our ean5oI, we can arrive n conclusions clear and unquesiioned even upon this atf- cate subject What continued be4 is lhe dll- ference between the two parties on this snb- ject, Our opponents tell us they are in la- vor of a protective tariff; and that ! poe teelire tariil. as they understand l. E the souree of almost every blessing, indigl= dnally and collectively, to every portion of the whole country. That we may under stand each other perfectly, lel us first ascer- tain ii we can, what we should properly ua- deFstand bv protective tariff; for 1 believe n brief examination will satisfy us thata ean- fusion and misappication of terms has pro dueed as much difficulty on this great ques- ton as any other cause, But first, toremoTe from our way. as democrats, q stumbling block which our ingenious opponents place there; let us look at what they mean, and how we should understand them, when they tell you we aH the free-trade party of the country, and refer you to portion of our brethren at the South who assume that name. It is misappication of terms to Us. Ne know and feel it. Wearenotin in iaYor of free trade in tie proper, fair, and legitimate sense of these terms Are our brethren so? Do they desire repeal of all duties. and fhat the necessary revenue shall be raised by direct fax on property cannot answer any lar ther than lam informed; but will give you, in candor and fankness, the information have. admit, when 1 saw this name as sumed by those who acted politically with me, al the South, it startled and alarmed me I could not conceive that men of sense, of in- formation, of extensive practical experience, should have adoptedsnotions of that stamp, as practicable under our government On repairing to Washington al the commence -p, IL. 4I4
 ton must be pressed on Us for discussion aud action, | went to some of these southern members of Congress whom ] had known for years, men of truth and candor, and whom l had thought men of sound views. and said, '.I beg yuo to tell me, il you have satisfied yourself that our revenue system is wrong-thai we should no longer tax for eign imports to raise revenue to support the government, but have a direct tax upon the property of the country i3 sNo,'' said the first man l asked, ''l entertain no such epin- ion--neyer have, and know of none who don ssWel, then, will you be good enough to tell me what you mean' Ton call yourself a iree-trade man ;'' .'l do so, and mean this. l am friendly to having the trade of the coun- try kept as free as il can be kept, and raise the revenue necessary for the support of the government; and when 1t is so, call 1t free trade, because it IS as free as our institutions will permil.' .'Then, sir, vou are in favor of a tariffor revenue, and of SO much daiy as may be necessary to support the govern ment;n gro be s0ge--as much so as vour- selfn And here was theexplanation Tho he called himself free-trade and anti-taria' man. he was in favor of tariff for revenue. and opposed only 10 a tariff laid for the mere purpose of protection aione. This was tbe explanation given by all these gentlemen of their positions as free trade men If they were candid, if they told me the truth, they are notfree trade men, though they eallibem- selves so. For free trade necessarily implies an entire absence of duties, and have not yet met the first man in public life in this Union, who will admit in conversation that he is in iavef of such principle
 Mr. ". went on 10 advert to another lnis- application of terms He said to these oen-