The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-12-15

backs upon it. | think ii is certain that null
tituGes Of candid and intelligent people, who
kave been 10 the habit Of sustaining the Dem.
cratic parry, have found that the Admins
tration of Nh Polk either adopts measures
altogether new or has carried old ones TO such
extremes that il is impossible for an honest
or Just man to follow il farther, and therefore
they have come out in all directions and
flocked 10 the polls and given 'plumpers' for
the Wings. Are they right! II is manifest TO
me that they are. think that on all the
great measures Of public policy there are TO
be seen the most marked departure from the
measures and principles of the Jackson Ad-
mlnistraiion.
will illust ate this in one ortwo instan-
ces, and will begin with the Protective Poll
cy Ofthe country. II seems rather too light
Il question to ask whether Young Hickory
has proved himself like Old Hickory, but the
great question put to the people has been
This; " neither his principles and measures
lIe or not an enIIe departure from The meas
ures and principles OF Andrew Jackson.
do not mean 10 he understood as avowing
myself AN advocate OF The policy of President
Jackson. He was a man of sense, and
man of stroug character. brIieve that his
diiIlS dIlu luttuiiOHS WtIc III the ldDIliUCSS
and glory Of The county. thought, to be
sure, that to extend and perfect hat glory he
dill exercise little more power Than he con
stituIionally was in possession of, but candor
compelS me 10 say Ihai | ever thought he
ment well; and while, to Il certain extent, he
sought his own glory and renown. that he
connected the glory and renown OF his oouu-
try with il.
After the compromise of '33 there was no
great agitation on the subject Of the Tariff
until nearly the period Of that act. During
lis continuance NJ. Van Buren's administra-
ton began and terminated. The circum-
stances of the country did not call him TO ex-
press any opinion OH the protective policy.
| shall therefore 90 on 10 compare The opiD-
ions OF the present executive of the United
States as officially declared. with-those of
President jackson also by himself officially
declared.
begin by reading to you VIII Mr.. Polk
said at the opening of the last session.
The object ofimposins duties on imports
should be to raise revenue 10 pa, the neces-
sary expenses of Government. Congress
may, undoubtedly, in the exercise Of a sound
discretion, discriminate in arranging the rates
! of duty on different articles: buf the discrim-
nations should be within the revenue stand
ard, and be made nth the view TO raise mon
ey for the support Of Government
If Congress levy a duty for revenue of ore
per cent. on given article. it W i'll produce a
given amount Of money to the Treasury. and
it will incidentally anu necessarily afford pro-
| lection or advantage TO the amount of one per
cent. IN the home manufacturer Of similar
or like article, over the importer. II the duty
he raised to ten per cent. it will produce a
greater amount of money, and afford greater
protection. ]: it is raised 10 twenty, tN enty
five. or thirty per cent. and il, as il is raised,
| the revenue derived from il is found 10 be
increased, the protection and advantage will
also be increased but iii be raised TO thirty
one per cent. and ii is found that the revenue
pi oGuced nj that rate, is less than at the rate
of thirty, il ceases TO be revenue duty. The
precise point in the ascending scale Of duties
on which it is ascertained. from experience.
that the revenue is the greatest is the maxium
rate Of duty which can lie laid for the bona
de purpose Of collecting money for the Gov
eminent
Now il is difficult TO understand what the
| President meant by "a revenue standard. But
it is very plain that he meant TO 90 against
| all protection. His sole and exclusive object
is to get money for the revenue and nothing
else. IL says. and saws truly, that il is the
duty of Congress 10 provide for the revenue.
and that in SO doing, an insidental advantage
may accrue TO the interest Of manufactures
But il is accidental merely. IL it happens
very we'll Bnl il is a matter not TO be taken
into the view of "a law maker. Revenue and
norhing but revenue is TO enter into his cal
culationS. Protection Ia domestic manulac-
lures if it happens is.not 10 be rejccied-buI
it is to contribute no motive on the part OF
Ihuse whu make the law.
| This is mo misrepresentation. Mr.. Polk Is
in favor of taxation for revenue alone, just as
mpch as If there were no irun manufactures
and no cloth manufactures in the United
States. Was this the doctrine Of Andrew
Jackson Let me see. And here ] will read
an extract from President Jack>on's first mes
sage TO Congress.
The general rule to he applied IN eradna
ting he duties upon articles ri foreign growth
or manufacture. is that which will place our
own in fair competition with those OF other
countries and The Inducements 10 advance
even step beyond this point. are controlling.
in regard to those articles of primary necessI-
ty in time Of war
| Wndt Is mat does ne not 81 ~ w 81 iii"H ,
words that in imposing duties for revenue, II
Is the duty Of Congress to place our own
manufactures in fair competition with tbs
manufactures Of foreign countIiesl Nay
Does he not 90 farther And | call on YOU.
Pennsylvanians. from here to Pittsburgh. and
especially on all manufactures of iron, wei
TO consider it-does he not say that IN regard
to articles Of primary necessity in time OF war
the inducements are controlling. 10 advance
even step beyond this, and to put down for
eigu competition. Now, ASK. is il the polio,
of Mr.. Polk to put down oreigncomPetiilon!
Or is it not rather to put down our own com
petition with foreigners
will now read TO you an extract from
General Jackson's second MESA ,e, whiel
in my opinion expresses the 'rne American
doctrine fully. truly. and admirably.
The power TO impose duties on imports
originally belong to the several States. The
right to adjust those duties Nth The r'er IL
HE encouragement Of domestic branches o. an
dustry, is so completely identical with tina
power, that il is difficult TO suppose the exist
ence of The one without the other
The States have delegated their whole au
Ii .... 90, tho Gaparal Cavern