Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-03-24
MIR. POLK AND HE TARIFF-aroin,

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The Republican insists nnon it ,ha, il does not re.
qure ATTY "exaordnary aruten,ss of perception 10 un
derstand the meaning Of language clear and unambg
uous thai employed by Mr.. rok III indicate his
position upon the Tariff question. II his be So. i, is
extraordinary. say the least Of it, that the keen
sighted edilor of the Richmond Enquirer, who kn,ws "a
ha wk from handsaw" as eli as any man in Chris
tendon. being unable comprehend il. declared a, j
it his, he could concur in the sentiment
while fil means that he cordially approved Of IT. s that
the Charleston Mercury, another paper Of the po
liral school, ;lirms HAT Mr.. PINS language on this
subject is 'oracuir nonsense" Do no, these facts de-
monstrae either tina, nee hbnr of the Republican
gifted with extraordinary penetration, that the Ian
guage OF Mr. Polk is not free from ambiguity, and that
his position is therefore not free from doubt? So II
would seem 10 And the inference is unchari-
table ono, that the President did not wish intend
to throw off the mask, which, for obvious purpo-
ses he wore throughout the late Presidential canvass
mask. which enabled his supporters in Virginia 10
claim him the opponent Of Proteciire Tariff, bile
IN Pennsylvan they asserted that he more in
favor Of that system than Mr. Clay himself II, indeed
the President is in favor of a protective tariff, then
agree with the Republican that his language is explicit
enough-but it he is really in favor of that system,
what, We ask, becomes OF the sincerity of those WIN
support him. lille they denource that plicy of
sectional inequality and orpressn? IT, the other
hand, he is oppset protective duties, then it is mani
fest that his language. far from being candid .xpos
on Of bis opinions. is intentionally aud DISC raceiy de-
ceptye IL he is opposed to the system he should have
said in language which could not have admitted Of an
opposite interpretation as the Republican asks us
To indicate I'm what language the President could have
embodied his views, that would have conveyed more
clearly and distinctly his meaning" Of that be his
ing y we will do So b. saying that, il he unable 10
explain his sentiments in words Of his own he should
have borrowed the language Of Nh, .NcDn1e and moi
that of .lr. Cfay-ihat he should have taken the
ground Indicated by the former gentleman. last winter
in the Senate that is, 10 assume 20 or 25 per cent as
the revenue Standard and then 10 discriminate beiov
that maximum tor rerenue, and moi ADORE IL for pro-
fecfion, "ncldenal or other that in The ad-
Jnsnet OF tariff, those articles should be subject to
lie highest duty which find competition in this coun-
try, and that those which come in competition with
such as we manufacture or produce ourselves. should
be subject to the lowest duiy-He should have IA
ken The ground assumed in tht Virginia Locoioco
Address Of 1913, that if Determinations are in be
made at all, they are to be, for but against pru,e
ton not, Gas the Republican afims the meaning of
mat Address to be-, Determinations against he sort Of
protection" given by the tariff Of lS42 but against all
sorts Of protection, unless indeed in discrimna no en-
eoS'e of revenue, protection should accidentally and
not incidentally arise. Had Mr. Polk done this no one
c""'d nave mistaken his opinions. Who, for example,
DOUBTS vi lays position on the Tariff question: on the
one h'hd' OF ''a' o Mr. Calhoun the other! No one
so tar as The principle Of protection is involved Why
are Mr.. FOLK Opinions. hen. involved in doubt WHY
can he mol be as clear and lucid Mr.. Clay and Mr.
calhoun Precisely because, while co operating, in
The o0aIh, with hose whogo, toto calo against pro,ec.