The daily union., 1846-08-29
wARREsros SrRNGs, (va-,)
August II, 1886.

GEyrLruEE | have received with unalloyed
pleasure the letter of the 9Th instant which you
were good enough address to me- and at the close oi
which you invite me, in the name OF the uabending
republicans of Washington county, TO partake oil o
public diar' O. Higerstown some time IN the
course Of Se .m Der next. Permit me to return my
cordial than for lts compliment, and to express
nv sincere rggret that an official engagement, OF
much interest and Of uncertain duration, prevents
my accepting this mark Of your appreciation and
hospitality.
No act Of general policy, as it appears to me, was
ever more distinctly condemned by the sutfrages OF
the great body Of the American people than the tariff
of duties on imports passed by the whig Congress
Of 1912. Il started under the reprobaton OF many
who were obliged by circumstances to vote for ii;
is deceptive, if not fraudulent, principles OF ASSESS
ment and its exorbitant exacuons could be defend
ed, even plauslby, by no one; and Its repeal or
modification, openly proclaimed as leading object
of democratic reform, became an essential part OF
the issue involved by the animated election Of 1874.
That a change of the tariff involved, directly
and unequivocaly, in the popular verdict rendered
in favor Of James K. Polk, was obvious to all who
di1 not strangely and wholly misconceive the per-
yading character Of the great political trial That
trial might superfcially struggle for men;
but in reality and in substance it was struggle for
fundamental doctrines and leading measures. While
yet progress, both parties so thought and so rep
resented il; the wings earnestly and universally;
when it closed, the country had but to consult the
portant conclusions, sentence passed against the
tariff of 1912, which, without violently departing
from the fixed law of institutions, could not be
reversed or evaded.
To the part which, as it happened, was officially
obliged to take in carrying out this decision, am
indebted for your fateriDg letter The Vice Pres-
dent, as you are aware, does not participate in
originating or shaping Legislative measures, and is
only empowered to intervene in one emergency
that is when an equal dvision among the repre-
of III State he nft he
Senate warrants the umpirage of him who alone is
present as the accredited agent Of the whole people
Of the Union. He can affect no merit beyond hdeli-
to the constitution and obedience to the known
will Of his widespread constituency. He neither
counsels, advises, nor persuades; he acts by a
casting vote a proposition prepared by others,
often complicated and multifarious, which he can
treat only by simple affirmative or negative. II is
by indulgence, not by right that he is enabled, on
remarkable occasions, even to intimate the reasons
President discovered that, on the bill establishing
an ameliorued system Of taxation which had, after
protracted discussion, passed the House of Repre-
senta,ves by unusually large majority, the Sen
ate was balanced and incapable Of decision, what
was his duty2 Plain enough. His aye, or his no,
could not repose on private theories or sectional
benefits could not be argumentstive, qualified, or
PARTIAL but it must be characterized by the single
ness comprehensiveness, and efficacy of the voice
from the ballot-box. That---that principally-was
particular emergency: 1t was the conclusive testi-
mony of the people which he was charged to bear
and to utter IN the Senate of the United States. Is
not this soI Ifit be not, our political institutions
are mere pretences, excepting the word Of promise
10 the ear, and breaking it to the hope" creating
with great elaboration Of forms and checks, public
functionares to effectuate the public will, and yet
releasing them, at the very crisis, from all obliga
ton or responsibility. II must be so or the Amer
can republic is unsubstantal mockery.
In this remark my design, gentlemen, is, without
aectation Of modesty, to refer your complimentary
expressions rather to the consummaton worked ou
by the people, than to any merit Of him who merely
fulfilled the instructions he received. The reform Is
Theirs theirs the honor Of steady and progressive
pursuit Of free commercial intercourse with theil
fellow-men abroad, and Of an equal, mild, and jus
system Of taxation for their fellow-citzens at home
theirs was the choice Of the present Executive ant
the present House Of Representatives: and their
was in fact, the casting vote Of the Vice President
III the consequences are to be, as l firmly believ,
they will be- relief to the masses, comfort to tn,
poor elasticity to enterprise independence in politi
cal sentiment and action, and augmented nations
prosperity, they are achievements which belong t
the sagacity and perseverance OF the people a
large.
1 cannot conclude without thanking you for th
reference you have made 10 "the ancient policy ant
prncipes Of our beloved Pennsylvania" and for tn
distinction you properly draw between that honore'
Commonwealth, and those few Of her inhabitants
who blinded by sudden excitement, artfuHy TO
nented, rushed into courses wholly foreign to ne