Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-02-03
OREGON AND THE TARIFF

OkEGON AM Tx I1RlFf.
The Wings have boasled that they are The pc
culiar and sincere friends Of peace. They have,
directly and indirectly, charged the adminis,ra-
ton and its friends with aiming al a war, for po-
lilical purposes. In their allegations, Oregon and
a war were to be made the stalking horse, upon
which MIR. Polk was 10 ride into a grand PIesi-
Denial term.
They have now an opportunity oil realizing
their loud professions of peace-but We already
see many Of them %finching from their ground. So
welded are they 10 the partial and unjust project
i've system, thai they are opposed lc yielding a
single inch, even to secure an honorable and per-
manenl settlement OF The Oregon question. They
would cheerlully give up that fac country, which
is hereafter to be the centre OF an immense trade
with China and the Indies, and 10 which we have
indubiiable claims; they would strip US Of our
own territory, TO conciliate England-but they
will not surrender an iota of an exosbiiani Tariff,
though the commercial interests Of the country
demand il, and though its modification may be
eminenily calculated 4 10 produce peace with all the
world. Some Of them goso far as to prefer war
10 any sacrifice Of their protected monopolies.
We shall group together a few OF Their opinions,
and leave il 10 The country 10 decide, which are
The genuine friends of peace.
The Wheeling Times would rather see war
Than he triumph Of Free Trade. II intimaies that
even war has lis blessings, as ii will furnish The
manufacturers all the protection" they necd.-
Hear it:
al our Tariff is reduced, and Oregon yielded
by England without 4 war, The proof Of sale Of
our p,0tccii0n will be as strong as holy writ, and
on that &C, let the people think and act. 1t will
be The war-cry Of '4S, more bitter 10 those who
make il than was the mess OF portage for which
Esau sold his birthrishi.
"Thcre is a further and a stronger reason why
no Wing should, in the present position Of itiinss,
oppose our claim 10 Oregon. IL is The fac, that
our Tariff is in imminent danger, and il war
should grow out OF The claim, Il wW gre us sro-
teciion, al least for a time, cgual. 10 0n- utmost
wants. We have as great a horror Of war as
any man ought TO have; but we confess, that we
prefer a lrar Of ten years 10 ten yca,s OF free trade"
The Philadelphia North American, referring
10 The rumored settlement of the Oregon Difficult
~ by means of a commercial treaty, boils over
with wrath al the idea OF sacrificing The small
es, element ofthc Tariff monopoly. We like TO
hear such language, as j, belrays real and we'll
founded alarm for the lale Of unjust and oppres-
sive legislation. We make q few extracts, whose
meaning cannot b questioned
1T is a trick, base from lis Inception 10 lis con-
summation. Ii is coWardiy; Tor i! tie country
has rights, 70 maintain, tney should nc viadicaiei
with iron, mol gold; OF, il we mus: bug our peace,
it should not be al the expense o! our nations!
dignity, policy, prosperity and independence. Il
is a treason against The vital interests OF the couT-
| liy-an acknowledgements wrong OF cowardice:
wrong, if we claim what docs not belong 10 rs
| cowaIdice, if We bny what is our oWn-and al
such a price!
awe are content 10 yie!l the Tariff if tie in
! teres,s OF America demand ii; IN, Pennsylvania,
for one Stale, and there are many who viii Unite
with her in This position, will not give il up be-
cause England demands II. If there mus be
fighting, The North wohid ,nAcr GgA against Eng
Mna jar he IarifMGn for Oregon"
"We expect, OF course, 10 lind The same politi-
cal foo,men who were were anxious for The hon
OF of leaving The Tariff al The mercy Of The South,
| equally willing to lay il al The foot Of the British
throne. The Tariff has never been in danger
until now. 1t is 10 be repealed, not because ii has
not prospered, for ii has poured The horn Of plenty
upon the land; not because the American people
are moi satisfied with il, for never was The Anne
rican policy so popular; but it must be repealed
because England demands it. The President
and The South unite against US. The war fury
was kind'cd only TO consume the Tariff; and if
The North is content 10 take il lamely, The Tariff
is LOST.
THE erea, issue before the country is now the
Tariff. Upon that will The party conflicts OF the
next three years hinge. In bringing a psace by
Tie sac1ifoc Of The Ta1iG, The administrator en-
counters dangers which have not been calculated
The Tariff is worth TO The country an hundred
Oregons, and, if the North submit 10 lis ~repealto
crafty The prejudices and consummaic The sche-
ming of The South. she will deserve the heavy ca
families that must fall upon her"
The Washington correspondent of the Phila-
delphia United States Gazette takes a similar
view:
"Thal Mr.. Peel would surrender all claim 10
Oregon far the sake of procuring The introduction
of British manufactures into this county, | have
mol the least doubt; and that Nr. Polk would
surrender the Tart; to obtain Oregon, | have as
lillle. Whatever, then, those two public iunc-
%lionaries can do, in order 10 bring about a settle
ment of he Oregon question, upon such a basis.
will be done; but will the people OF Inc unitef
States agree 10 give up protection 10 tteir hoppe
industry, and with il their home market, lorahe
difference between the 49th and 5ilh degrees OF
North latitude in Oregon?
81 confess hat The uieu loois more omtnons 10
The InriG ot ~, Mnn 10 he pace q Mc cona-
try. Many members of Congress came here al
the commencement of The session 'chock FUR OF
the WHOLE Of Oregon, or war; who will now
'roaI you as gently rs a sucking dove upon that
subject, and ale ready 10 make any sacrifice OF
the Tariff, 10 prevent war in regard ~ oregon.
One such man could name from your own State.
think, therefore, that we NAV now look Tor
pretty decisive action upon The Tariff question.
| understand that the new Tariff Dill IS nearly
ready 10 be sent in 10 the Committee OF ways and
Means, and that it embodies generally. MI.
Walkers views as presented 10 congress IN ms
report as Secretary of The Treasury. Several OF
The Custom House Officers who have been here
The las, three or four weeks, assisting the Secre-
tary 10 form the bill, have returned home, though
a few sill remain"
The Boston Courier employs the same reason.
ing. 1t says:
1.-THE complacency with which a portion Of The
press speaks of the probability that The deslruc-
lion of the ~miuimums in our Tariff will be accep-
table 10 England in exchange Tor oregon, VIII
no, escape the attention OF The reader; ana that
reader will not subject himself TO Inc lmpniaton
OF raShneSS, VINO 1nIerS lndt Eh.tdHH q "LNt"S -
gnotr olp,e5 am concession, if the United States
will relin9uish their protective system, and allow
The British manufacturers TO furnish our people
with their clothing. their shoes, their hats, and
other PRODUCTIONS OF The mechanic arts. That
there is an understanding OF this sort between Inc
administrations OF the two countries is not impro-
bable. Mr.. Calhoun and The fTee-trade advocates
of the South would not hesitate TO rafify such a
bargain, and MIR. Polk and his Secretary of the
Treasury doubtless understand that peHeeasls g"s.
session of Oregon mou be secured oy me sacrince
of all the great and most important interests OF the
Northern States"
lis Washington correspondent endorses its sen
liments, as follows:
a. see signs of the indulgence Of a faint hore,
that EnslaD nd will consent 10 a suIfeader oi me
,rboi. ri OREGON 10 US, il we Will consent 10
make a commercial treaty with her. The Presi-
dent Of The United STATES have The best reasons
making such a treaty; but le; me ie!l you. that the
very basis Of such a treaty eonld be The aban-
donmeat, upon our part, Of every principle Of pro-
III tta Eycrr.ve