New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-03-10
Mr.. polI,s political Economy.

Polk personally with studied courtesy. He cannot
be candidate for reelection without the srossest
violation of his unsolicited pledges and II the Wings
could regard him with compacency, the party which
elected him would be very soon shattered into
dozen factions But We recognize no Policy which
conflicts with Honesty and Truth, and We feel that
we should have been unaithful TO the cearest con
victions Of duty had we suffered Mr.. Folks Inaugu-
raj 10 pass without reprehension. No State paper
a, once SO hiusy and so insidious, weak and yet
so wicked, has appeared within our remembrance.
Its brazen combinations Of History with regard 10
Texas its bold assertions that none OF the present
States viii by Annexation be rendered responsible
for Slavery in Texas-when all men must know
that we shall be required by the compactto catch
and return her Slaves fleeing to this country, and 10
aid in putting them down at the point OF the bayo-
net should they ever revolt-neiiher Of which would
be incumbent on US but for Annexa,on-aIe butin-
stances of the reckessness with which the ne"
President asserts whatever IS convenient Ills oe
ndnciation Ct active hostility TO Slavery as mora
reason would have sounded more reasonable De-
fore Slavery so palpably interfered IN ihis eAd7
business TO warp the policy OF Inc Governments -
i,s own ends and change the very clemens o' o''
National being by overriding and tramplihs on u'e
Constitution. Heoaeforth the Free States Will De
compelled 10 inquire how il is that Slavery can GO
every thing with us If we do nothing with Slave
~ H;s naked assertion that Foreign nations
have - ,,ebt TO interfere" with Annexation, when
or ,bose nations is at ,cnr with one Of the
,rac,ipe parties, is an insult 10 the common sense
of mankind Suppose zee were on terms OF strict
omitv with Mexico, but at war with Texas, claim
Ill obi fnll helo peu IN
pe while che claimed of US all South and West OF
the Mississippi, and Mexico should annex Texas 10
herself, would not every man see that Mexico had
made herself party TO our quarrel with Texas :
Would not our Government declare, Mexico has
swantony broken faith with us and thrust herself
into this struggle in order to aggrandlze herself al
our expense , Rely on 1t, there IS not man who
now pretends that Annexation is an innocent and
peaceful proceeding who would not then be yocit-
erous against the graspng perlidy Of Mexico, and
insist Gustly, too) that she had made rcar upon as
There would be no question whether we should or
should not declare war against Mexice-we need
but prosecute existing war with Texas, and
Mexico would be compelled either to abandon An
nexaiion or fog US into acqulescence IN 1t.
Bat we had intended to speak at this time rather
of those portions Of Mr.. Folks Inaugural which
exhibit the caibrc of his craftsmanship, than OF
those which reveal his moral sinuosity. In treat
ing Of the Tariff question, after quoting the pointno
point passages of his letter TO MIR. Kane, he says
In evylng Tariff Of duties for the support of Govern
ent the raising of should be the Object and
lection the incident To this principle. aud make
protection the object and the Incident would be to
ina!c manifest Injustice upon all other than the protected
Interests In cvyng duties for revenue Ii doubtles pro-
per make such determinations within the revenue prn
l...lJ. ltnftnn
tcre.t Within the limit there is discretion 10
discriminate, beyond that limit the rgh exercise of the
power is not conceded The Incidental protection afforded
home interests by determinations within the reve-
me range II Is believed viii be ample.
Now we dissent altogether from the fundamental
idea here indicated of putting Revenue and Pro-
lection In hostility to each other 1t is only
row mind that cannot find room for them both.
We say, let the Tariff be adjusted to afford
adequate Protection OF Home Industry and ade-
qua,e Revenue TO the Government The working
of the present Tariff proves that there is need OF
pitting one against the other.
But II there Is 10 be any such antagonlsm az Mr..
Polk supposes, we dissent entirely from his deduc
tion. We insist that Protection, as infinitely more
important, should be- first regarded, then Revenue.
For Mr.. Folks argument comedies what ours in
ssts on, that Protection is agood thing, onlyit must
not interfere with Revenue, while maintain
that, whether good or evil it is vastly more impor-
tant than Revenue, and should first be settled,
way or the other. For example, the Tariff comes
up 10 be re-adjusted at the next Congress, and pc
titions pour in from the makers of Cloths, Clothing
Iron, Tools, Wares, Sugar, NC saying. Under a
low Revenue Tariff our markets are copousy |
flooded with Foreign products, rendering ours I'M
saluble at ruinous prices, stopping work |
and taking the bread from our children's mouths:
we, therefore, demand Protection for our Labor.
To this the Protectionist replies, You shall have
it ; while the tair.and-square Free Trader responds,
You mistake: you do not want Protection you
will do better, all things considered, without it, -
Each of these is manly answer, meeting the
question on lis merits. But when Mr. Polk al
tempts TO find middle ground, and say 10 them.
eyes, Protection is a good thing only it must he
within the Rsrenue hmit-You can be protected
if the Revenue is thereby brought TO tally more
exactly with the wants of the Government-other
wise, not" he triles with and insults the petition
ers What! shall the question whether One Milton
American freemen shall have steady work and fair
wages or be half employed and halt paid, be reck-
oned subsidiary to the Governments need OF mil
hon or two of Revenue more or less We protest
against any such doctrine. We say. give us inst
adequate Protective duties on all such articles as
are or may be produced here with little labor as
elsewhere, and thea impose higher or lower duties,
for Revenue purely, on all other articles, such as
Wines, Teas, Coffee, Spices, Tropical Fruits and
Woods, Sc &c so as 10 raise just Revenue enough.
Ii there is surplus one year, let these duties be
lowered; if a deficiency, let them be increased
but let those which protect the Industry OF our own
People be made sufficient and kept stable.
Ihe idea that Protection 10 certain Interests
whick need it is manifest injustice to all other
interests IS one of which any grown boy should
be ashamed. Il is founded in the nauowesi igno-
rance and envy. Whoever has soul 10 appreciate
and rejoieein any good beyond the line-fence ofhi
own farm, must realize that whatever adds 10 the
product Of the National lndusuy-nay more, what.
ever diversiies without diminishing that product
is signal benefit 10 the whole Country. What, for
.xor,nia wonld he The effect og n-n1,n;,. =; ~,