The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-16
From the Seneca Falls (N.Y, Democra,
THE TARIFF-WOOL.

The Troy Wing pronounces the sentiment "wool
ought to be duty Free" ian aphorism Of James X
Polk" and hinges quite an article upon "wool--its
protection and protectors" We are glad respecta-
bly, conducted wing paper attempts to afix this
timent upon Mr. Polk; as it gives the democratic
press an opportunity Of repeing the charge, with
out at the same time feeling that they degrading
themselves, and trespassing upon their readers, by
noticing the puerie ISLANDERS Of those whose only
element is SANDER and personal detraction.
To the point, then. MIR. Polk never proposed to
admit foreign wool into this country duty free.
Those who represent him differently, most shame
fully deceive their readers. The words so often at
tributed TO him, to wit: "my opinion is, that wool
should be duty free,' do appear in speech of his,
made in Congress, December 1892; but, taken in
their connection, his meaning will be found to be
very different from that which the words taken
alone, or as the wings often garbie them, import.
Mr.. Polk, at the time, advocating tariff bill
a bill draughted by him, and which, so far from ad-
hitting "wool duty free" imposed higher protec-
tive duty upon many kinds, than is imposed by
the present tariff We make this explanation as well
to set readers of all parties right about the true
position Of Mr.. Polk, as to give them another ev-
idence of the duplcity of many of the opposition
editors, who adhere to this falsehood although they
boast of having the evidence that must convict them
before them.
So persevering are some wings in their unworthy
attempts to make party capital out of the tariff, that
we may be excused for devotng little more space
to the subject II is favorite game of theirs, at
times, to represent the democratic party as IN favor
of free trade, and opposed to any tariff. In an
swer to a false charge like this, we say Games H.
Polk and his supporters are now in favor OF, and
ever have been the uniform advocate of, tariff,
mot The TARIFF and, as everybody knows If II had
not been for the votes of democrats, (Wrlght,
Buchanan, Williams, and the New York, New
England, and Pennsylvania members) the present
tariff bill never would have become law" al
though there were majority of wings in both
houses The wings wished to Kill the bill, in order
TO make party capital out of its defeat; and DEM
ocras saved il, not because they liked it, but because
they deemed il best for the country that some bill
should pass. They voted for it, nvowing their in
tention to amend il whenever they should have the
power If they do amend it the coming session,
they will he no more inconsistent than have
been in stating the facts connected with its history.
Those who allegc that prior to the election Of Mr..
Polk sentiments Of opposition to the present tariff
we're not uttered in this and the other northern
States, allege that which every man who read a
democratic newspaper, or attended democratic
meeting last fall, knows TO be false. Opposition 10
the present tariff il is was one of the main prin-
cples Of the democratic party, and, we think, one
that contributed little TO the success Of James X.
Polk.
How has this tariff operated Let us first take
wool, about which so much has been said Wool
is now twenty-five per cent cheaper than II was last
fall, and cheaper than it has been under the old low
tariff or compromise law. This is fact No. l. Sec
ondy, the present tariff has not checked the mpor-
station Of foreign wool, Of the quality which come