The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-08-15
From the other Side---A Speech
for those who Voted for Polk.

Senator Niles of Connecticut, supported
8 Polk for the Presidency; but when Folks bill
, to reduce the Tariff came up in the Senate he
made the following speech upon it. We pub.
sh it that those who were cheated in regard
10 Folks views upon protection may see the
nature ofthe cheat-the true character ofthe
Bill, now the Law of the Land.
Mr. Niles addressed the Senate at length in
opposition to the bill, and defended himself
for differing from his brethren in the Senate,
by quoting tine words ofEdmund Burke-"I
will support his Lordships interests, against
his Lordship's opinions" He was for the in
terests ofhis party, against the opinion of his
party.
Mr. N. believed the bill would pass, but he
believed it would pass against the Judgment
of the majority of the Senate, and that it had
passed the other House against the judgment
of a majority its members. The principles
| ofhe bill tCere bad, and its details mere bad II
,caS tcrOng altogether, and ,0as calc,Iatedto IN
fit lasting injury upon his constituents and de-
| stroy The Uatue oCtjee labor
Mr. n. was for incidental protection. 1t
might be Wing principle, but he had always
thought that the Northern Democracy were
in favor oft. There was no discrimination
IN the bill, except against protection. 1t was
a bill oftheories and abstra ctlons, which he
held in the utmost contempt. The act of 49,
AZ had not been complained of at the North
1t was good law. 1t yielded more reye-
nue. than any other had yielded. 1t was franz
ed for good and wise purposes, and was de-
servedIy subject of congralulation for those
who had framed it,
Mr. n. made an argument against the ad
valorem principle, which he said was the
wort kind of sliding scale--caling upon the
people to pay the highest duty when they
were least able, and to pay the lowest duty
when they were the best able to pay the high
est.
In regard to WOOL and the WOODEN |
interests, they WERE SACRIFICED bv !
THIS BILL. In time these wooden interests
would be more valuable than the cotton.-
Wool had recently been sold in Hartford which |
was raised in Ohio, and in New York car
go of wool shipped from Chicago There
were ten millions pounds ofwool raised an
nually in his State.
Mr. n. then entered into several of'the de-
tails ofthe BILL to show that it protected down.
ward, and gave what he called an Irish hoist.
He said it was an Irish bill altogether. The
government seemed dispoSedto tn an experiment
10Th upon The StomGchS and backs oihe PEG
PIE, dndmore especially upon POOR MEN.
Why should Congress, by its legislation, at
empt TO arrest the onward and prosperous
movement of the country, and attempt to put
/ barrier to its growth, productions and inter
ISIS? Mr. N. said he was called upon by his
party here to give up both his principles and
lis interests. He was asked to and in bring
ng MS back to first principles-to make us
lewers of wood and drawers of water-to
SIve up all our machinery and improvements I
md prosperity to Great Britain. This was
he great measure ofthe age-but it was ask {
ng too much and lie could not go it. Mr. n. =
aid he toresaw the shipwreck that awaited !
us party should this measure not be arrested. /
They would sink and he should go down with
hem-but he would have one consolation V
which their leaders would not, and that was
hat he had raised his voice and warned them =
# their danger. a