The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-15

a man like Mr.. CAMERON, who had been
elected as Democrat to represent the
interests of Pennsylvania in the Senate,
understands them better, and represents
them more honestly, than one Of the elite
of the distinguished Democrats of Rich
mond, or than a frce-trade doctrinaire
from New Hampshire. Does the Union
intend to represent Mr.. CAMERON as par
ticipating in this "pig-iron trick % Did
he play his part in the Senate in 1916, to
forward the selfish and sordid interests of
the WIG iron masters, or with view to
the real and substantial interests of Penn
sylvania LABoR' Is Mr.. CAMERON an
ally of true Wing "pig-iron' swindlers,
as the Union represents them'
No one familiar with the legislation of
the country believes that the tariff of 1916
was passed in concurrence with the will
Of the American people. 1t was strictly
an Executive measure. 1t was passed
through servile Congress by means of
Executive solicitation and intimidation.
In the Senate, eleven States-Louisiana
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Kentucky, Mas
sachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina,
and Vermont-were opposed to the mea-
sure. Eleven States-Arkansas, Missouri,
Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, South Caro-
lima, Mississippi, New York, Texas, Ten.
nessee, and Florida-were in favor of it.
Six States Virginia, Ohio, New Hamp-
shire, Georgia, Michigan, and Maine
were equally divided. Mr.. BENTON
placed his vote distinctly on the ground,
not that he was in favor of the tariff of
1916, but that he was opposed to the tariff
of 1872 Mr.. CAMERON declared on the
floor of the Senate, that he had found no
member Of the body ,oho was willing to say
that the bill Dos a proper one, But it was
the will of the Executive that it should
pass. Mr.. WALKER had staked himself
upon its passage. And while it was in
progress through the two Houses, the
Capitol was literally besieged by men
holding high places under the Govern
ment-to lobby through bill which was
known to have been prepared by council
of Locofoco custom house officers, and
paid agents of the British manufacturers,
under the direction of the Secretary of the
Treasury. 1t was, to all intents and pur-
poses, an Erecutiue, and not legislative
measure. 1t came from the Executive
Government, and not from the representa-
tives Of the American people, nor from
the American people themselves. The
Executive agents gave out that it was a
question for the Government, and not for
Congress. Hear the official journal on
this point:
1.-The opponents of the Administration complain
that the law cannot be fairly administered and
so that deficit will be enlarged by frauds. Now,
in reply to this, urge that there are matters in
which the Opposition may, we think, very
properly leave the Administration to look out for
It's own interests and take care Of itself If the
: Government is about TO injure the country
TO break up the business of men and throw their
affairs into confusion; or if, again, the meastrs
~ego.ed boz the Co.. ne,t Is In itself oppressive.
or unjust, unequal; or if the country want a
tariff for protection, instead Of tariff for revenue
then it is very proper for an Opposition, speak
ing in behalf Of the country, 10 demonstrate such
to be the case. But Opposition seems to have
most parental and guardian anxiety lest u. Ad-
nini,irGtior, If left to Itself, should hereafter find
Itself enabGTrassed BY the tcont Of funds"
Here the Union treats the tariff of 1916
as a Government measure;;" in other
words, as a measure of the Executive, and
not as measure called for by the people,
or originating with them. And what did
Mr. CAMERON tell us would be the effect
of this uncalled-for Government measure
upon the interests of Pennsylvania
On the 18th of July, 1916, Mr.. CAME
RON presented, in the Senate, several pc
titions from miners and laborers employed
in the coal mines of Schuylkill county,
against the passage Of the new tariff bill.
We would ask of the Opposition press il
this movement, thus sanctioned by the
Democratic Senator, was a "pig-iron
trickl" But what did these laborers and
miners tell the Senate, and Mr.. WALKER,
and the President whom they had beer
cheated into voting for, under the pretenc,
that he was friendly to the tariff of lS42
They said that the passage Of the bill ther
before the Senate UouLd destroy their 6ulsi
ness, shut up their coal-pits, and beggu
their families. "These men," said Mr.
CAMERON, "speak of their own interests
they give facts, and they cannot believe
that the Senate of the United States will
do them this great vrong Intentionally, j
its members can be made to understand tn,
subject"
On the 18th of July, Mr.. CAMERON pre-
sented memorials in opposition to the pend
ing tariff from the miners and other labor,
-. q C,k ,o,,..., II Al. ...ozn.I