Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-09-12
shelton r. Leakc, ESQ.


We are informed by the Charlottesville JefsrsOnisr
that Mr.. Leske, the representative IN Congress nom the
Automatic distriet. addressed the p~eopleof tina, county Las
Monday, In relation to the action Of thai body. at is late
session, upon the Oregon question. the Tariff. the Sub
Treasury and the Mexican War. f.
In reference to the Oregon question, Mt. Lcake, differ
ing in opinion from tho Washington Union and the En-
quirer, believes that It's peaceable settlement IL not aiuibu
table 90 much TO "rHk NOTICE, = TO which those papers are
In tho habit OF attaching 50 much importance. as TO rHI
roRN which was given to IL by the Wings, aided by the
moderate portion OF the Administration members. with
out some such modification he believed there was great
danger Of open hosuhtes between Great Britain and the
u. States" We thank Mr.. Leake for this admission,
which loses none OF its fOreo because it was necessary to a
Justification OF his own course.
The new Tariff Bill. 1t seems, is not altogether to Mr..
Leake's liking bat he says il was the best that could be
obtained, ard he therefore voted for IL. We are no, an.
pnEed OF the character OF his objections TO the bill but We
presume tbs, he is hostile to the recognition OF tho primer
pie Of protection, which, in despite Of It's alleged sneon-
suiauonalty and injustice, the party in power dared no,
wholly r~epudisie. Mr.. Loake does no, seem to be Al SAN
guine as some others, that. If the present tariff shall be
hereafter repealed, II will be made TO approximate more
closely to the dosmss Of the free trade school. Ga the
contrary, he thinks that at il. the best that ever will be oS.
tained"-that is, the lowest. In this opinion We are dis
posed to concur. The results of the ptesent experiment
will be entirely satisfactory, We doubt not. to many who
are now in Pursui, OF the phantom OF free trade. When
the iar.h is EsKt modified. We shall see a return to a sys-
ten eOeval with the government, and the wisdom OF which
has been atested by Its beneficial results as well as BY the
disastrous effects that have heretofore followed its abandon.
ment.
Mr.. Leake, we arc told. referred to the Sab Treasury
Law, and said that the measure had never been fairly tes-
ted; and all its friends desired was that The people should
give il, , fair Trial before they condemned it, If il has new
er been fairly tested, whose fault is III II was in opera
too upwards of twelve monihs-thati Is TO say, the law wal.
for that space Of time n~ominally in force-bui that it was
no, fairly tested, ia owing to the alleged impcssibi,iry
then, A. NOW, Of carrying its provisions into effect. The
Wings are very anxious TO give the scheme a "fsir uial;"
but Mr. Van Buren's officers in ls40-4l were permitted
Uf not insiructed) TO disregard its requirements, and to act.
in the reception, safe keeping and disbursement, Of tie
pablo money, as If no such statute was upon the book.
We are told that the same insurTouniable difficulties now
exist, end that a ike disregard Of Its provisions are exhibl.
ted. The people are necessarily compelled TO give il a
tar rial, if the officers Of government will execute it; and
Mr.. Leake should invoke tho Administration, therefore,
and not those who have no power TO prevent "a fair tri.I'
Of this Turkish system, TO adhere To is provisions. Moth.
ing more will be necessary TO ensure is abandonment.
Like its twin experiment, the new tariff, it needs only a
e fair trial" TO expose its bsneful tendencies. and like
that, it will, if thu. tried, be speedily condemned and re.
egtsd.
The course Of the President in relation to the Mexican
War is Of course approved and defended by Mr.. Leake:
who expressed however, his regret that ''the appropriation
Of $4,000, 900 asked for by the Executive, 10 negotiate a
peace with uerie0, had iailed"-though be voted against
i, himself, after the introduction OF the ant-slayery proyi-
sion by his Stree trade" friend, Wilmot OF Pennsylvania.
The defeat OF the appropriation grew out OF that amend.
meat; but we confess that VIC should have been graufed at
the refusal to place this large amount in the hands OF the
President, to be used upon his own responsibility, and
without any intimation OF tho purpose TO which it was to
be applied. even If Whmot's amendment had been rejee-
ted But the old REPUBLICAN maxim Of ''srEcIFIc ArrRorEr.
ATOMS" like other doctrines Of that school, is fast growing
into disuse, with tho Modern Progressive Democracy
who, among other federal heresios, nov advocate the wi
dest latitude to Executive discretion, and on all occasions
seek TO enlarge the boundaries Of Executive power.
Mr.. Leake expressed the opinion hat we are on the eve
ofasPoedy and ndvant, geous peace with Mexican opin.
ion which we fear will not be realzed-certainly there
have been as ye, no reliable indications OF q more pacific
temper by either party. We hope, however, that he may
turn out better prophet than ourselves.