Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-07-09
REMARKS OF MIR. PoLLocK,or PA.

in whom he most confdes.
REMARKS OF MIR. POLLOCK, OF PA.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, June 81.
Was II fair assumption that in the election
of JAMES X. Polk for their President they had
condemned the protective tariff of 1922 Had
the true state of the case been fairly presented
TO the people2 Had the deadly unyielding
hostility of the Democratic candidate to the
doctrine and continuance OF a protective tariff.
been truly set forth and fully known TO the
electors, and they had then chosen him for their
President, there might have been some justice
in sEch an assumption. But was such the
fact? Where was Pennsylvania in the can.
vass of lS442 Mr.. p. did not design TO make
this a political discussion but as Pennsylva-
MAN, proud of his native State, and anxious to
do her justice before the world. he was com
PEELED TO refer to the facts. He again asked
what were her sentiments in l8442 She then
numbered three hundred and fifty thousand
voters. The two great parties in the State had
been nearly on polse-6ve thousand being
the greatest majority that one was able to OBJ
tain against the other. Out Of these three
hundred and fifty thousand, one hundred and
seventy five thousand had voted for JAMES X.
POLK. Did they by that act declare that the
| tariff of 1912 was "mass of fraud and OPP
preston, system of plumber and legaized
robbery 2" So the gentleman from Virginia
| (Mr. BEDDINGER) had this morning denomi-
ted it. Mr.. p. protested against any such in
ference. Pennsylvania always had been a Ia
riff State. She had been in favor of the tariff
of 1912, believing it to be tariff for revenue,
securing at the same time fair protection to
home industry. Her entire delegation here
were in favor of the tariff, let their political
party be what il might, else they would not
fairly represent their State, for all parties there
consisted Of tariff men; and the great conten-
ton during the last Presidential canvass had
been which of the two parties was most pre-
eminently the tariff party. On every busting
in the State the question discussed before the
people had been which was the better tariff
man, JAMES X. Polk OF HENRY CLAY. On
that very point the controversy turned, and on
that point it was decided. MIR. p here declar-
ed, and he defed contradiction from any per
son acquainted with his State, that in Penn
sylvania no candidate could be elected TO any
Office, from that of Governor down to that Of
constable, without first proving himself to be
firm friend to the protective system. Any
man who avowed himself against that system
in Pennsylvania was politically down. That
fact alone was sufficient TO put an end TO all
his hopes; so deeply, so thoroughly were the
people convinced, from experience and obser-
walton, of the beneficial effect of tina, system on
their own prosperity.
1t might then very naturally be asked, il
such was the case, why had they cast their
votes for JAS. X. Poke Mr.. p. said he had
rather not answer that question, because he
was fully aware that TO those out Of the State
the course of her people must seem grossly
mo N rh,t live in Sf,fa
and who understood the circumstances of the
case, that course was known to be perfectly
consistent Although by his speeches and his
votes Mr.. Polk had manifested eternal and
irreconcilable hostility to the protective sys-
tenn, and although in his own State Of Ten
nessee he declared himself decidedly hostile TO
the tariff of 1912, and his political friends there
openly advocated his election on the ground
that he was thus hostile, and every where
published that he was free trade man yet in
Pennsylvania they held language directly the
reverse, and the issue was placed on the alleg-
ed fac: that Mr.. Polk was in favor of the tar
if Of 1912, and that in his hands il would be
safer than in those OF Mr. CLAY, because Mr..
Polk was as good and even bstter tariff man
than Mr.. CLAY. Mr.. P's Democratic col
leagues had in that canvass expressly said so.
He did not accuse them with an intention to
deceive. Charity demanded that he should
conclude they had been themselves deceived.
Mr.. p had personally attended large public
meeting in his own portion of the State, and
had heard that assembly addressed by Penn
sylvanas talented and favorite son, JAMES
BUCHANAN. The assemblage took place on a
beautiful and picturesque island in the Sus-
quehanna. knowing, as Mr.. p. did, the
course which the canvass had taken in that
Statn ot,1h hahn hat T.
must be well acquainted with the opinions of
both candidates, having been long intimately
acquainted with them, he had felt great curl
osity and interest to hear what that gentleman
would say; and when he stated what it was,
he did not mean to be understood as assailing
the motives of Mr.. BUCHANAN. He knew
and esteemed him as an honorable and an up
right man but here too charity came to his
aid, and he was forced to conclude that MIR.
BUCHANAN had been deceived. However that
might be, he certainly did state on that occa-
sion that he had served IN Congress both with
Mr.. Clay and Mr. Polk, that he was person
ally intimate with them both; and was well ac-
quainted with their opinions and he then
went on to declare that JAMES X. Polk was a
better tariff man than HENRY CLAY, and that
he believed the tariff of 1912 would be safer in
Mr.. PoLK's hands than it would in Mr.
CLAY's. TGreat sensation; voices: ''Did you
hear that % "Did you hear him say so7''-
s'Is it possible?"l
Mr.. P. repeated the Statement He had
heard Mr.. BUCHANAN use these words.
Mr.. FOSTER here interposed and puta ques-
ton TO Mr. POLLOCK, not very distinctly I'M
derstood by the Reporter, but understood to be
whether Mr.. BUCHANAN had stated this on
his own personal knowledge, or whether he
had attempted to prove it from the speeches Of
MIR. CLAY, in which he had professed 10 have
abandoned the doctrine of protection and every
thing else2
Mr.. PoLLocx admitted that Mr.. BucHAS-
AN had referred to the speeches and letters of