Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-20
THE WEST AND THE TARIFF.

The Louisville Journal, a Jealous Wing pa
per, in reviewing the recent intelligence from
England, makes the following admission OF The
benefits to be expected By our farmers from the
opening OF The British ports:
THAT The opening Of the British ports to Anne
rican provisions, free Of duty. will be Of meal
culable advantage 10 the farmers of the United
States, is manifest. A foreign market will al
WAYS be found for their sp1plns RI IL" -"
of a large amount, will, OF course, be exported
from the United States"
The New Orleans Bulletin, (Whig) comedies
with the Louisville Journal as 10 the certain in
inence of the new British policy on public sen.i-
ment in the United States, and especially in the
West; and is more and more confirmed in The OPT
MON, thaisucha change Of views will LEAD 10 The
proaration Of The Protective System in this coun-
try. The same paper presents The following
sound and indisputab!e views, which, coming from
such a quarter, are entitled 10 great weight. Every
day convinces US that the people are rapidly
coming around 10 a true sense OF the importance
of a strictly Revenue Tariff
iIndeed, Se doubt Il the bold and vigorous en-
ample OF Great Britain, al once The greatest com-
mercial and The greatest manufacturing nation in
the world, will not shake the Protective Policy
everywhere. The doctrine OF reidl4lon-that is,
the ~prorTie,y OF imposing restrictive duties as a
retaliation on the policy Of her countries-has
been a cardinal point in line advocacy OF that sYs-
tenn. The doctrine OF reciprocity, or extending TO
others the same literally they may be willing 10
exercise, has seldom been denied. Great Britain,
in carrying out her new measures, has taken away
the argument for retaliation, and makes the mos,
liberal bids for reciprocal freedom. A chief pill
lar. therefore, TO the Protective System, and one
that has been a tower OF strength TO it in this coun-
nv, al least, is taken away, and its best friends
canno, conceal from themselves that The policy is
in danger OF falling TO the ground"
But, say the Whigs, the ultra Oregon men
from the West will desert the Republican plat
form on The Tariff, in case less than our whole
claim 10 Oregon should be accepted, in a spirit Of
peace and concession. We can well understand
the game Of the Wings, in attempting 10 excite
dissensions in our party and thereby deiea; any
modification of their darling Tariff. We lille
understand The Western character, if open and
consistent opponents OF a high Tariff can be
prevailed upon to continue the present unjust
system, because they canno, obtain the whole OF
their demands for Oregon. If their duty 10 their
principles should not influence them, the vital in
terests of the West should induce them 10 Join in
the free trade movement, destined as it is TO i'm
prove The fortunes OF The great West. But on
chi. subject, we are glad TO see the manly and
correct views of the ST. Louis Reporter. Il islhe
devotion 10 the principles of the Republican par
". Referring to the rumored detection of the
Western members on the Tariff reform, that pa
per says:
1.-THE Yves, is opposed, and as far as We have
been able TO inform ourselves, has been opposed
10 The presen, high rales OF duties from the date
OF their existence. On no subject is popular
opinion more sound in the Mississippi Valley.
The modification of the Tariff Of 1912 was dis
,inctly understood to be one of the prominent is
sues in the last Presidential canvass. That is.
sue was met boldly on the stump and through the
press and no Western Democrat in Congress
who hesitales to urge a thorough revision OF the
Tariff can expect the approval Of his coustitu-
ents. Why, then, has il become necessary for
the Union to appeal SO frequently TO Western
Congressman, as it has done OF late, TO support a
measure which they were elected 10 advocate Z
Is il because they are disposed to desert their prin-
ciples in the Tariff controversy? The frequency
OF its appeals to them is calculated 10 create The
impression that the rumors published by Wing
le,ter-wrilers are well founded-,hat is, that some
Western Democrats in Congress have deler-
miued that their course on the Tariff question,
shall hinge upon the course adopted BY other
members on another subject. The treachery
limited at will not be tolerated by the party in
this Valley. But we are no! prepared TO admit
that any such treachery is contemplated. The
Democracy Of the Union demand a modification
OF the Tariff, and this demand is a substantive
proposition, wholly indefcnden, of the Oregon
and other subjects. We perceive ,ha, the East
ern Wing papers are anxious that the greatest
possible excitement shall be created on the Ore
gon question, with a view TO slave off all action
on the Tariff. We hope, however, that Western
men have TOO much political sagacity TO be
caught in such a snare"