The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-08-14

1.-The people had not asked for a Bank and
therefore if elected to the next Congress, he
he should oppose any Bank move
ment. The people knew their own wishes
best, and every public officer was a servant of
the people, acting under limited powers of at
torney, and as such was bound to conform to
their wishes in all things. He vas willing to
do this, though he fully elieved a Bank 10 be
an excellent financial agent, and the best equal
izer of exchanges for commercial purposes.
Was this deserting his principles, or not. He
left them to judge.
Distribution was the next question, in the
order in which he had stated them. He was in
favor Of the distribution Of the proceeds Of the
sales Of the public lands among the several
States. 1t was constitutional it was Just. But
the question Of Distribution had not been rails
ed in the congressional, canvasses in other
States, and for a very good reason. There
could be nothing to distribute so long as the
country had all immense war debt. The a.
mount Of that debt nobody knew but that all
the States were equally bound for it, every
man would acknowledge. Until this debt was
extinguished, no revenue arising from the sales
Of the public lands could be otherwise appro-
priated. Therefore the question of Distribu-
tion would not divide the next Congress and
and could not properly enter iuto the canuass.
His opinions upon that subject in the present
crisis, conceded with those of every other
man, including his honorable opponent. (This
is the substance of Mr.. TBS remarks up-
redistribution, although he is not fully report
ed for want ofroom.)
He next proceeded to the Tariff. To pro-
lection for protection merely, he was opposed.
FIe would support a revenue tariff, which, he
believed could be so adjusted as to afford incl
dental protection to American industry-all
the protection that the south would be willing
to allow. If the immense debtscreated by the
Mexican war, made it necessary to alter the
Tariff of 1916, he would advocate a reduction
of the Free List. No tariff could be permanent
Il must be raised to suit the fluctuations oil
trade, and in all cases, SO as to prevent exces-
sive importations draining us of our precious
metals. We had no mines to supply us with
gold and silver, and were entirely dependent
upon foreign commences; consequently We
should always Keep an eye to foreign trade
and supply ourselves through that medium
with the precious metals. On the sub
iect of the tariff he and Major Roberts
difered.-That gentleman argued that to lowel
the duties was the best means Of increasing the
revenue He thought differently. A millel
would certainly make less by grinding for
mint OF toll to the bushel than for a gallon
But here he was met with what some persons
thought an irresistible argument. Why wa
it (Mr. Roberts frequently asked) that the tar
if Of SAG brought more revenue into the treasu
. nv in a given amount Of time, than the tariff 0
I ,42? The reason was obvious. During tn
r last quarter Of the existence OF the tarif o
az the importations were small; and why! be
4 cause the merchants who knew how to save
b dollar as well as any other mOn-were holdin
back until the tariff Of as should commenc
I its operations; as soon as it did so, importation
3 rushed into our markets, and an immense rev
n enue was brought into the Treasury.
G He believed that much Of that prosperity no
" enjoyed by the nation, and attributed to tn
n present tariff, could be traced to another caus'
d Gaunt, heartless famine had laid his iron han
upon millions Of the teeming population OF En-
IL rope. Long boarded wealth had been SCI
i across the ocean to purchase bread; our PR
st auctions had been in greater demand for a sho
time past than ever before, and hence the pro
q perity Of the country.
(Here Mr.. Tompkins alluded in the most ell
70 quent manner, to the noble example OF the Vi
ted States in raising free contributions for lr
land; but we cannot attempt 10 report him
this subject; nor indeed in his illusions to OF
er countries, as illustrating the fact that ALT
mysteries of and trade could not
" fully understood by any man, whatever mig
,e be his pretensions as a political economist.)
IN Mr.. T. said that he had no doubt the peop
k would agree with him that the great questio
AZ Of a Bank, the Distribution and the Tar
.ir could not in the present condition ofthe cou
C. try, divide the next Congress as they had iS
lis merly done. But there was q question viii
n. would agitate that body and which was OF gre'
IL er importance to the South than all othe'
in The institutions of the South, guaranteed a
AZ secured to us by the Constitution would be
Il tackled by northern fanatacism. There won
h. be systematic efforts to force the "Wilmot Pl
ID visor through the next Congress; and in rega
- to it there was no difference between hims
"A and Mr.. Roberts. There could be no two p
n. ties in the South on this s~ubject-Whigs a
i. Democrats would present a united front Of {
N. position to all encrOachments from that gu
,ur ter. Calmly, firmly, and unwaveringly,
would rally around our sacred rightsi the
halIowed grasp of fanatic intolerance shot
-. never be fastened upon them.