The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-01
REDUCTION OF THE TARIFF.
THE GRUMBLERs

The southern press begins to speak out on the
course of the charleston Mercury" Its English
correspondent in this city may choose to misrepre.
sent Mr.. Polk his administration, and the "Union.''
1t may circulate "Kane" fables, and impute designs
to Mr. Polk which have no existence, blacken the
motives Of his friends and predict the dissolution Of
cabinet, than which there never was more harmo-
NOUS, and united one. The fog which has been thus
thrown around the administration by the calumny OF
a correspondent and the folly of the "Mercury," is
beginning to dssipate. The friends of Mr.. Cal
houn will do themselves full justice by speaking
for themselves. And the wing press that has lately
drawn its principal, almost sole, materials of at
tack from the columns Of the "Mercury," will soon
find themselves cut off from this resource The
most liberal even Of these presses will be
ashamed to draw upon the "Mercuryn for topics
Of animadversion.
Among the papers which have come forward to
denounce its infatuated course, is the "Charlotte
Jeffersonian," Of North Carolina, of Friday last
1t contains the following articles:
1.-THE ADMINISTRATION.
"lt is very strange, that while the great body of
the people seem so very well satisfied with the ad-
u
democratic papers are constantly finding fault with
him, and prophesying that he will betray his party
and desert the great principles on which he was
elected to make favor with certain powerful inter
ess in the large States. Among the chief of these
grumblers is the Washington correspondent of the
Charleston Mercury, backed by the editor of that
paper. II is said that Mr.. Polk desires a rupture
with Mexico, to cover over his intended desertion
on the tariff questionthat, contrary his profess
sions, he is opposed to reducing the tariff the next
Congress. II this charge were true, Mr.. Polk wald
merit the severest censure But is il truei Il GER
tainly is not Mr.. Polk himself has said that the
tariff Of l642 must be modified; Mr.. Walker, the
Secretary of the Treasury has said that the tariff
must be reduced to the revenue Standard and read the
following emphatic article from the last Union, the
organ of the administration:
1--WE not the enemies Of American manufactures, as
the New York Tribune boldly and unbushingy arms
the opponents Of protected and pampered manuac
turing system We go fora tariff for revenues
Sewer called il accidentally protection which II will inc.
vitality contribute no reasonable make any
sonabe objection TO IT, But to make discrimination in
the duties for the sake Of protection instead of the leg
mate purpose OF raising the necessary to mis-
than sh Of our e
tutonsesabshed as they in country, blessed
with immense quantities of rich and lands
distinguishes II is by variety of SOILS climates and in.
forests In extensive empireand by federal govern
ment which is limited in its powers by the very specfca
Is much desired that the present oppressive
tariff should be reduced to the standard Let
be as ample reduction aspossble Were the blessings
we'll the burdens of the government equalzed there
would be no cause for complaint. The people would be
satisfied There would be discussions among the differ.
sections Of extensive country Capitalists
would know what they to upon from the invest
OF their friends for the tariff would be permanent
and th constant struggle for reduction would at be
arrested
"Does this look like Mr. Polk or his administration
intending to dodge the tariff question, and proving
recreant to his and their professions Of opposition
TO protection Why, then, should their own pro-
fessed friends accuse them Of meditatcd reacheryi
''Another grave charge, and upon which sundry
dark forebooings are based is, that the MissouriaD
Colonel Benton's organ has changed its tone tow
ards the administration. II is well known that nei-
Their Colonel Benton nor his organ was warmly in
favor Of Mr.. Folks election and that both opposed
for while, the annexation Of Texas; but the Mis-
sourien has lately changed its tone, and is
Of Mr. Folks strongest supporters. Does this fur
nish any just grounds for charging Mr. Polk with a
coalition with Col. Benton, and design to desert
the principles upon which he elected We think
not
"Why, then, do the Mercury and others keep
up this incessant faut-fnding with Mr.. POLK We
are far from thinking them at heart opposed 10 his
administration; but If they keep up this spirit and
tone of persecution, they would do the cause of
democracy service by coming out as our open en-
emies. Why, every federal press in North Caro-
lima s in ecssces Of Joy at the course of the Mer-
curry; and nearly all OF them quote it's inuendocs
against the administration with as much delight as
they quote paragraphs from the abolition New York
Tribune. For the sake Of our country, we hope TO
see this species Of opposition at an end. The South
can gain nothing from, H. On the contrary, il is
iainy working our final ruin.
"MoRE or THE PRESENT rARrrr.-The New
York News has long article on the present wing