The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-08

with our trade and commerce The revenue bill Of ia,
is another of its distinguishing features The princu
of free trade had long been taught in the schools b0,
their advocates rdculed visionary theorists ana
impracticabe abstractonss. Absurd IDEAS of CONNER
cial independence and anquated maxims calling for
balance OF trade to be paid in specie, founded and su
tanned the policy OF protection Jbs, p1ey Waxsa strouv
IRON Tue oounles which il had received from legislation
and to add to the injustice, these bounes were wrups
from the hard earnings of the great abong interests Of
the community. The monopolists had no sympathy n,
any labor but their own and, under the specous prets
of protecting domestic industry, they demanded that the
goods that were imported for the consumption of III.
people should be taxed for their benefit This demand
was granted and it had two-fod effect It en-
HANGED the price of imported articles to the consumer,
the great body of the community, and thus threw on
them the burdens of government; while it enabled III.
American manufacturers of those artcles-a small and
favored classic derive additional profit, because
was necessary that those burdens should be borne
This was productive of wo-fold injustice 1t was .
grevous tax levied the labor capal Of the coaa.
try for the benefit of its money-capiial The demo-
cratic party opposed this unjust, unequal, and anti
republican policy and Mr.. Polk was determined 10
exert himself to the utermost to make that opposition
efsctual The revenue bill OF 1916 is the result of his
abors and of those who sustained him that memorable
occasion 1t had gone into operation before ecy
of repeal raised by the manufacturers and their cham
pons Ruin and disaster were predicted as its necessary
consequences 1t said that the home market would
be destroyed without equivalent, and that the farmers
would be ruined 1t said that the balance OF trade
would turn against us, and that our commerce would be
crippled like dsmantled ship. 1t urged that The
revenues of the government would fall off, and that The
treasury would become bankrupt. These were the
ominous foebodings the nsdous panicclamors, Of ID.
whg party only three years ago. But in despite OF these
miserable vaccinations, the gallant ship has outlved the
Storm The tariff bill went into operatien and under
its benign influence our commerce has been extended
our revenues have been augmented, and the country
has been made more prosperous than ever Foreign ma
tons have seen its wonderful effects; and our liberal
commercial policy seems to follow fast on the political
influence which we exering the nations OF Europe
But we must forbear. We might specify the various
other benefits which the late administration has confer
red by its interior policy. We might point to wild
and extravagant system of internal improvements
rested by the energy OF the President, and the foceo
the veto power. We might point 10 his admirable
of Indian aiars-large districts OF ter
rory acquired from the red manand the long standing
quarrel among the Cherokees, the source OF so many Bit
ter feuds and bloody scenes adjusted under his auspices
might have pointed out the waehousng system in con-
nexon with strict tariff devised by the sagac'y
of the Secretary of the Treasury and carried out under his
auspices. We might have shown the immense quaint.
ties of the foreign metals which have been imported
into our country and an unexamped quantity OF it coin
ed at our minis and impressed with our own eagle-sup'
plying to our people the advantages of metallic crcula
ton, and enabling the State governments to abolish all
bank notes of the smaller denominations We might
have shown how anxiousy the President has attempted
to effect the graduation and reduction OF the public lands
bat was thwarted by the inaction and impractcabiy
Congress.
We have seen with our eyes and heard with our
own ears the efforts which were made by James X Fox
to introduce the various reforms which have been effect
ed We have the energy with which he has strlven
for the good of his country, the sacrifices which he has
made OF private case the abors of the day and OF the
night the common he has displayed, and the fear
less irmness which he has uniformly exerted. Those
who know him not may choose to take upon trust the
abuse and defamation which have been put upon him by
his most active enemies. But we know the man. We
know his qualifications, his sacrifices his services and
hesitate say, in the presence OF God and our
country that James X Polk is statesman who is wo''
thy of honor in the eyes Of his country.
We have given but brief sketch of the claims OF the
late administration the remembrance and regard OF the
people Even some of it's btterest enemies have been
compelled to pay high tribute to its eminent success
In the late canvass they did not dare to come before the
people as the advocates of their former principles Had
of the country would have been sufficient response
all their claims to popular favor and support They pu
sued different and less manly, but prudent course They
struck down their old leader whose banner had led them
in many a conflict, and whose voice had rallied them al
ter every defeat They adopted their candidate new
man. who had entered the political arena, and
who declared himself to be utterly unskilled in cvi
they had denounced iniquous and abhored OF Goi'
But this dilemma deferred not the wing leaders Ihey
were ambitious Of power. They cared little for Inc
means by which they were to attain it The were only
anxious to exercise it when it was gained Their leader
declared that questions of domestic policy should be re-
served for the decision of Congress- and that he woua
stand in the way only of hasy and clearly unconstitutional
legislation. This declaration satisfied them and win,
out banner insignia, they plunged into the contest anu
they succeeded in elevating no party cheftaln 10 u'
presidential chair. (Heaven knows that we nei'"e'
envy the post nor dislike the man, That chair he no"
fills and in partial fuflment of his pledge to the people
that he would not be the President of party, he mas
surrounded himsef with Marty advisers Whether hey