Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-03-08
From the Louisville Journal

sAhSh, VI ohiOs anu ANhSSs Va SoHhON-
ticut, had quite an edifying bout. Allen
accused Senator Niles Of having abandon
ed his party, in 1916, on the tariff ques-
ton. That able Senator made geod-na
tured but overpowering reply. We ex-
tract portion Of it. Whathe says of the
tariff is important as the testimony of one
of the ablest, most consistent, and most
honorable members Of the Democratic par
ty. 1t is but seldom that we see men OF
that party rising above the preudices OF
party, holding fast to principle and pro-
claiming truth, when the current is bear
ing their associates from its old moorings
and washing away its ancient landmarks
Such was the noble conduct of Senator
Niles; he retires from Office with the adj
miration OF the nation:
The gentlemen speaks of my somerset
upon the tariff question. Somerset! What
sort OF somerset! II there was any
somerset, l apprehend it was directly the
other way. 1t was the honorable gentleman
from Ohio who made the somerset, and
made it at the bidding Of Executive power.
| maintained, on that occasion, the views
which have ever maintained on that great
question, and which the Senator himself
must have maintained, if he went with the
party, during the whole Jackson dynasty
one quite as illustrious and useful as
some that have since been in power.
The Senator further states that then
denouncedthe Democratic party with great
malignity. This is news to me, sir.
have no remembrance of having then de-
nounced that party. denounced the pol
icy Of the measure, more from conside-
ration Of the views Of the Secretary in re-
lation to it, than from the character oft
measure itself, although / thought it OBJ
jectionable but it has no free trade meas
ure and all this talk about free trade in
reference to the act Of 1916 is mere hum
bug. 1t was no more free trade measure
than the act of 1912 and; if we are to re-
" upon the report Of the Secretary at the
commencement of this session, the genera!
average of the duties under this act differ
very little from that Of 1912. He tells rs
that the revenue last year, amounting TO
nearly thirty-two millions, accrued on an
amount Of importations consumed in the
country of about one hundred and twenty
eight millions only. This would make the
average rate Of duties about twenty -eiglt
per cent, and they were thirty only the
last year under the act of 1912.
! believed it to have been different
measure, as is represented by the chair
man of the Finance Committee that the
average of the duties would be twenty
two and half per cent. only. regard
ed the bill as intended to carry out the
free trade views of the Secretary report.
But it did not prove to have been such
bill, but still very defective bill. This
idea of free trade, of favoring commerce
by an ingenious contrivance of liner easing
the burdens upon commerce, is an opera
ton which neither understand nor be-
lieve in. The position then maintained
was that the character Of that act was un-
called for and understandable departure
from the policy long maintained and per-
severed in of the Democratic party orig
mating, as it did, with the fathers and
founders of that great political church. /
was not then prepared 10 change my opin-
ion al the bidding of any one, nor do /
think | ever shall be. believe it to be
an unwlse measure, and am satisfied
that, but for the extraordinary circumstan-
ces favorable TO it, and which no one FORE
saw, all the evils which l anticipated
would have followed-evils materially af-
fecting the finances Of the country, as we'll
as many Of its great interests.
| hold no malice in my heart toward the
honorable Senator. He states he glo-
ries in being the object of assault from
those who assail the Democratic party
What is the Senator's idea of the Demo-
cratic party? Does he consider that prin-
ciple has anything to do with it? What
is his idea Of Democracy, Of which he has
SO much to say? Is this idea of Demo-
cracy and party the same? Well, sir, it
was said by Madame Roland, when she
approached the scaf1old, 30, Liberty, what
crimes are perpetrated in thy name y
And it may be said at the present time,
20 Democracy, what evils, what acts of
injustice, oppression, and folly are perpe-
trated in thy name -
The Senator from Mississippi observed
the other day that had occupied portion
Of my early life in compiling history
Now, if | have time may probably renew
my labors in that line, and if nobody should
write the history Of the country DUNG the
period the Senator has acted so cons picu-
Gus part, and especially in creating new
elements in the public mind, may attempt
to do justice to the Senator by becoming
the chronicler o: his deeds. Laughter.
Why, history should look after man
who is able to create and infuse new ele-
ments into the public mind and although
not very ambitious, still know | have
little of that weakness. ard who is there
that would not be proud, even in the
humble capacity Of an historian, Of distin-
gushing his name by chronicling the il
luArious deeds ofthat Senator? TLaugh-
ter. 1t would be Immortality, sir.
/ might find something worthy of my
pen in the recent events which have tran
spired around us, and in which my honor
able friend Mr. Allen has acted prom
inent part. might if l should feel so
disposed, give graphic account of what
might be called the "Hegira of lS4s," or
the Flight ofthe prophet and his friends"
who fled to Mecca, stopped on their way