The North-Carolina standard., 1848-09-27

declaring his hostility to the tariff of 1922 was pub
lshed in Tennessee in his canvass for Governor The
National Intellgencer, at the commencement OF the
canvass of 1914 published that letter and Mr. Clays
who advocated that tariff, and made the ISSUE The
letters speak for themselves:
"sTHE TARIFF. Upon one important point OF ma
tiona policy the issue has been fairly joined Not
withstanding the artul dodging OF the Locofocos,
they directly at issue with the Wings on the tar
iff of I842 The great leader of the Whlgs-t1enry
Clay-has uniformly declared himself In favor OF sns-
tanning that great and experience has shown, most
benefcent measure and the following brief letter,
which has Just been published upon that subject,
must stop the mouths of the most unscrupuous SIAN
derers in the Locofoco ranks:
"AsHLAND, June 90, 1914.
"DEAR SIR: / have received your favor stating
that your political opponents represent me as being
friend to protection the North, and for free trade
at the South and you desire expression of my
own hand, for the purpose of correcting this mlsep-
resentation. am afraid that you will lind the enort
vain to correct misrepresentation of me- Those who
choose to understand my opinions can have no dlffi-
Guilty in clearly comprehendng them. have repeat
ly expressed them, late this spring, and sever
al times in answer to letters from Pennsy ylvana. My
opinions, such as they are, have been recently qne
as freely expressed at the South ever uttered them
at the North. l have everywhere maintained that,
in adjusting tariff for revenue, determinations ought
to be made for protection; that the tarl OF 1872 mas
operated most benefciay, and that am utteray op-
posed its repeal These opinions were announced by
public meetings in Alabama, Georgia, Charles
ton, South Carolina, North Carolina. and in Virginia
| u
"Thus stands Henry Clay. Let the following let
ter, equally explicit and emphatic, define the position
of James X. Polk: ..-
"W1NcHEsTER, May 90, 1s43.
g To the People Of Tennessee:
| "The object which had i'm proposing to Govern
or Jones Carrovile, the 18th April last, that
should each write out and publish our views and
opinions on the subject of the tariff, was that our
spectve positions might be distinctly known and nn-
| derstood by the people. That my opinions were al
ready fully and distinctly known, could not doubt
] had steadily during the period was Representa-
tive in Congress, been opposed to protective poll
cy, as my recorded votes and published speeches
prove. Since l returned from Congress, had avow-
ed my opposition the tariff act of the late Whg
Congress- as being highly protective In Its character
and designed by its authors revenue measure
had avowed my opinion in my public speeches, that
the interests of the country-and especially of the
producing and exporting States-requred its repeal,
and the restoration of the principles OF the compro-
mise tariff act of 1888. JAMES. X. POLK.
:'Thus stands James X. Polk and thus stands be-
fore the people the question of the continuance or the
repeal of the tariff of 1912. If the Wings succeed,
it will be continued; if the Locoocos succeed it will
be repealed"
If an unfair construction was placed upon the Kane
letter, it deliberately done, and the nominee for
the Presidency was in no way to blame.
Sir, we occupy a most critical position. All OF
the patriotism of the South is invoked for the preser
vation of the Union, for the safety of the country
We find wing of the dominant party in the House
of Representatives it'll the soubrlquet OF the Free
Soil Party, unwilling to concede anything to the
South. We the formation of great party to the
North exhibiting the union of New ork and Mas
sachusetts-Martin V an Burcn and Charles F. Ad-
ans. The free soil demonstration was made by all
the discordant materials of Wings, disconented De-
mocats Barnburners, and Liberty men, Abolitonists,
and free Negroes Founierites aud Socialists whose
abors have resulted in giving out candidate for the
Presidency who has proved recreant to every pledge
which he has heretofore made; aud reputed, and l
suppose avowed Abolitonist for the second office.
All differences of opinion have been compromised;
and all unite in common hostility to southern inst
tutions; they bound together i'll crusade against
the Constitution and its guarantees. Sir, speak
freely of Martin Van Buren,. l have devoted much
of my time in advancing his pretensions, as far my
ability enabled Inc to do l respected him and hon
ored him. With the rest of my party, fell covered
with wounds for him in 1910. When the State of
New York deserted him, the South gave him almost
all the votes which he obtained. Up to the last act
of the drama in 1914 he proved our preference His
conduct in the secured our admiration. But
disappointed ambition struck the iron deep into his
soul his principles, his patriotism, and his high po
ston at fell before the whisperings of the iend;
the volcanic fires burned in his bosom, and, just at
the moment when gratitude TO his friends and loyal
ty to his principles demanded all his influence and
all his energies they broke out in great eruption
and poured forth the lava of suppressed indignation
upon those whose only fault that they had loved
too blindly, trusted too fully. Sir regret the posi-
ton of that fallen statesman do not regret that
have been deceived. l trust that l shall never
knowledge the depth Of that unworthincsS which
would induce universal suspicion and dstrust. had
rather be the deceived than the deceiver. He has
placed himself in position which must ultimately
secure the pity of those who still feel kindly towards
him, and the contempt of all other men, including
those who now make him their tool to break down
the political friends who gave him consequence, and
on whose appreciation he has lived. He has so soil
ed himself with political treachery, that all the waters
of the deep cannot cleanse away the stain nor all
the spices of Arabia restore the fragrance of good
name. He will find that
Lies unbless'd cup, for him
Is drugg'd with treachery to the brim.'
In the nglorious defeat to which he is destined he
will perhaps bring to mind those deep denunciations
pronounced upon Judge White for similaract. How
unkindy he felt towards that statesman for permitting
his name and influence to distract the party-a dis
traction which ended in his defeat in 1910! He will
have the comfort of such mediations; they will be
food for reflection. He will find himself ove.thrown
with those who have denounced and despised him,
but, having less to loose, and falling from much
less elevated position, may be saved from utter ruin
by their worthlessness. After the struggle is
ended, he will awake to the bitterest of all feelings
the consciousness of having done orthy action
in vain. delight not in the uerance of unkind feel
ings towards any one, particularly towards those who
possessed my confidence; but the political treach
cry of more than distinguished son of New York
will be found amongst the records of the writer who
shall give to posterity the annals of that State am
one of the deceived, and have right to complain.
Silence would be criminal; for the country ought to
give the just retrbution to such a deserter.
The great measures of our party, the redemption of
people from the influence of banks and protective
policy, the board platform of Democratic principles,
and the peculiar institutions of the South are safe