The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-07-02

was ms: "HoW far a convention, called
for one purpose, and acting upon another
ought 10 contro! the action of deibera.
tive body, was question he would moi
discuss; but that, When convention did
approve certain doctrines, ard those doc
lrines were afterwards taken before the
people, and the elections of the country
made TO turn upon them, the Representa-
tives who had been elected under such
circumstances were bound 10 carry out
the pledges thus given."l
Mr. STEWART. Very well: the gen.
tleman now said, in substance, that the
Democratic party had pledged themselves
10 repeal the tariff Of 1912, and that nine
tenths of the Democratic members Of this
House would stand to their pledge. We
shall see. Let the gentleman ask my
Democratic colleagues how this is. They
will tell him that the only dispute in
Pennsylvania at the last Presidential cleo
ton was, whether the Democrats or
Wings were the strongest tariff party
And they will tell the gentleman another
thing, that, if he were to fling hi, "free-
trade' banner to the breeze, and march
through tina! good and glorious old Com
monwealth. with his drum>major, Father
Richie, Of the Union, and the whole tribe
of little FREQ trade 6ddlers and ffers at his
heels, he could not get corporaIs guard
10 follow him.
Mr. S. regretted that gentlemen should
make these appeals 10 party. This was
no party question it was great Amcri-
can question, whose intrinsic importance
scared far above and beyond the reach Of
all mere party interests and party consid,
erations. Why should gentlemen indulge
in these party appeals on great national
question like this? Were they afraid to
discuss it on its own intrinsic independent
merits Could that be the reason that
they made these appeals to the poor, pitt
full, paltry, and grovelling interests Of
party politics Was this time or an &C.
casion for such appeals No. Let the
policy Of protecting our national industry
be discussed on great and broad Ameri
can principles. 1t ough. 10 be and it
would be so treated by every man who
had a true American hear! 10 his bosom.
Here an attempt was made 10 interrupt
Mr. S. by questions, but he refused TO yield
the foorl
Gentlemen would, he hoped, have
full opportunity to answer all in good
time. Let them lake notes of the argu-
ments he gave them, and when they had
heard him through, answer him, and show
that he was in error, if they could. Am,
Pile time for the investigation would be af-
forded before the coming up of the tariff
bill, and he invited gentlemen 10 the task.
But the genlleman's appeal had been
made not 10 reason, not 10 facts, but to
party feeling and party pledges. Such
appeals had been repeated y made, both in
this House and in the Government organ.
In the latter, these appeals were almost
daily made to the Democratic party in
that House, as such, TO come up to the
rescue and save themselves from the deep
disgrace that would follow failure 10 re-
peal the tariff. Mr. S. admitted that, in
one important aspect, this was a parly
question but who were the parties ? A.
mericaus on the one side and the British
on the oher-American labor against the
pauper labor of Europe. These were
the real and only parties in this great con.
test for the American Neutrality-suspicious.
against foreigners; and the true and prac.
teal question for every gentlemen 10 de-
eide, each for himself, was, which side he
would take-lhe American side or the
British side: That was The question. i
He trusted gentlemen would decide in ia.
vor of their own country-in favor Of their
own farmers, mechanics, and laboring
men-that they would protect their own
labor employed ia the conversion of our
own agricultural produce into articles for
use, instead of importing them from
abroad; for it was demonstrate that more
than one>half of the hundred millions oil
dollars annually sent abroad 10 purchase
foreign goods was sent to pay for foreign
agricultural produce worked up into goods
by labor employed and fed in foreign
countries, instead of our own. This was
the An.i>American policy now advocated
by the gentleman and his friends upon
this floor. This he affirmed fearlessly,
and challenged gentlemen to controvert it
if they could.
The gentleman from Alabama next
spoke in very disparaging manner of
the "Natioual Fair" which was now boz
ing holden in this city for the display OF
the ingenuity and talent, industry, enter
prise, and skill! of the people of our own
country. The gentleman, in the face of
an American House of Representatives,
spoke with contempt of such display
Had the gentleman been to see ii? He
spoke as if from information only. Tlad
he seen this splendid fair for himself? III
he had, and would but give fair play TO
his own good sense and good feelings,
Mr. S. was very sure that such spectacle
must have filled his American heart, if he
had one-and he did not doubt it-with
exultation and delight. Such collection
was we'll fitted TO be The boast and glory