Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-07-10
From the United States Journals
ouestions and Answers.

per, q few days ago proposed to US .
series ofimportant questions upon the
subject of the TariR, to which we
should have replied on the instant. but
for a press Of other matters already on
hand. We certainly intended no disre>
spect by the delay. We now take
them up in their order:
Queries for the United States jour
nal-The following queries are re
spectfnlly addressed 10 the United
States Jearnal, the organ ofthe "Y Young
Democracy and we feel fully persua-
ded, Judging from the spirit Of indepen-
dence, the fearlessnes and candor so
far manifested, they will be adjudged
worthy Of an answer.
QueryI. You say, do you not, "that
the present tariff is intended to bene-
&c d handful ofaristocratic nabobs inone
corner Of New England?"
Yes! We say that, IN just so many
words it is our honest, sincere opin-
ion, founded upon most careful exams
ination Of the whole question. If a
Tariff protects any other class, we are
profoundly ignoraht Of the fact-unless
perhaps, the IRON masters of Pennsyl-
wants, and the sugar plantations Of Lou
Biana.
Query II. IF the present tariff should
be abolished would the manufacturing
establishments Of New England or any
other section Of our country, be oblig-
ed TO suspend operation?"
To this we unhesitatingly answer
No! It is a>wanlon libel upon Yankee
industry and Yankee enterprise, to af-
firm that they require this unjust levy
ing Of "black maip' to project them a.
gainst the combined energies Of the
whole world. All they ought to re-
quiFe is "a fair field and no favor"
Query IIL "lf this were to be the
case would it be sound policy to break
down our factories and boundaries, our
forges and furnaces, and become en-,
tirely dependent on Europe for those
articles which are necessary to our
comfort in time of peace, end so es-
sential to our success in time of war?"
The argument rests upon an f.
which supposition by the way we can.
not admit.
The premium imposed by tariff
does not support our fosges, boundaries,
&c, as the query would seem to i'm
ply. They would be supported in full
blast by American skill and American
enterprise, or in other words, by the
law Of demand and supply, iftradc was
unshackled and perfectly free Of all the
odious restrictions now placed upon it.
Query Nv. "Can we be independent
as nation so long as we are unable to
supply ourselves with the necessaries
and comforts Of life?"
Here again the very thing is taken
for granted which remains to be prov
ed. viz: that. the supply for the neces-
saries and comforts of life, depends up
on protective tariff, instead of public
enterprise, national industry and inge>
nuity. We assure our friend Of the
Republican that the genius of America
cannot be cramped down-it deRes
competition and would be victorious In
every contest, if left to combat, unaid-
ed and alone, with the whole civilized
world.
Query V. "Would It be a benefit or
an injury ITO our proud, free. farmers"
who earn their bread by "wonnding the
bosom Of mother earth," if The manu-
featuring establishments in the country
would cease operationsl"
That Is not exactly the point in dis
pute-the question Of all others, we de-
sire our political opponents to asks,
doesthe protective policy benefit or in
jure the farmers Of our country We
here can take fair issue with the friends
of protection at once: we meet them
face to face and affirm without the
slightest possible hesitation. that the
profecliUe policy is fatally injurious to
the interests of the American Farmer
and Mechanic. That we can main
tain without fear Of successful contra
diction.,
Bot our respected contemporary a.
gain put in an "if" which has no right
10 be placed in the sentence. There
is no such contingency in the case as
the one he supposes. The manufac-
turing establishments in The country
would not cease operation, if the Tar.
if act was wholly repealed. If they
did. we as the sincere friends Of the
farmer should say, 10 lei It be, from the
very bottom of our heart.
Query vi. "Wo Would it not have been
better for Pennsylvania, or any Of the
States similarly situated, TO have paid
twenty-five per cent. more to her own
citizens EoY the iron In her railroads
and had ii dug cut Of her own noun
tains; Than TO have imported it as she
did from The shores Of besotfed Eu-
ropel"