Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-10-13
HON. CHAS. SHALERS LETTER.

'lation TO the tariff, however obnoxious 10
those who are disposed to make the subject
patty platform, has been such as entities you
to the gratitude of the Democratic party in
Pennsylvania. The true cause of many OF
our failures in this County is that a branch oil
the party are obsinately bent upon making
the tariff a political question, and upon ao-
herring to the tariff of 'd6, as though 1t were
the only system of duties suited to the con-
diton of the country. Even many dlst'n-
guished Democrats, who opposed that mea-
sure with the most pertinacious obstinacy,
seem now TO be convinced that it ought to be-
come matter of principle TO support it,
Surely democracy is not so inconsistent with
itself as TO pin its determinations upon any
view of this limited nature. To talk OF the
tariff of 1916 as an undertaking rule, fixed
principle, platform of the Democratic party,
is to be guilty of the grossest absurdity. 1t
is, in fact, all innovation upon our proiessed
doctrines, which in matters of policy open
and expand, and suit themselves to the exi-
gencies of the government, and the necessi-
ties of the country. If the great interests of
Pennsylvania, the interests of the mining re-
gions, whether of iron or COAL require for
their support change of the tariff of 'l6, or
any tariff, it would certainly not be warranted
by any Democratic principle that | am ac-
quainted with 10 refuse them suitable pro-
lection. If it could be demonstrated that
without an increase OF duties, our laborers in
the coal pits must suffer from want of ade-
uuate remuneration or the business stop al
together, or that our furnaces, forges, &c,
must cease to work except at wages so much
reduced as that the workmen must be pla-
ced on the same scale of wages with the la
borers in Europe, certainly no one will pre-
tend that it is violation of Democratic prin-
ciple that the government should by an in
crease of duties better his condition.
During the campaign which resulted in
the election of Mr. Polk we undoubtedly as
sumed the true ground; we declined discus
sing the question of Tariff as a principle,
con,entng ourselves with considering it
matter of policy upon which men of all par
ties might differ, and which must be settled
by the exigences OF the country. We never
committed ourselves upon the question of the
increase or diminution of duties, but, ale
ging that Mr.. Clay was bound by the COM
promise bill which limited them to twenty
per cent, advalorem, we conended that in
this particular Mr. Polk was as safe Tariff
men as Mr.. Clay, and that the former would
be governed by the principles of General
jackson on the subject That iudicious
Tariff, in the language of that sagacious
statesman, meant a Tariff Of duties sufficient
for the support Of the Government, having an
eye to incidental protection of the manufac-
turing interests of the country, We advoca.
ted incidental protection as being sound in
policy, and Democratic in principle, whilst
we opposed a merely protective Tariff as
solecism not worthy TO be entertained by any
party. Under that sign we then conquered );
and had it not been for the great anxiety 10
form platform inconsistent with our princi-
Upon the subject of platforms, the invention
of the modern schools, and which break down
before the inventors are well off of them, let
me say this; that on no other foundation can
Democrat build than the foundation laid
by Thomas jefferson and his noble compeers,
supported and sustained by Madison and
Monroe and their patriotic contemporaries, and
brought to a final and permanent coAsolida-
h,yf fha "A b,,, ,bo
attempts TO improve upon them-to compose
Democratic principles out of other materials
than they have furnished-will find his task
both thankless and hopeless one.
We are now remitied 10 this state of the
question Pennsylvania is largely in debt.
The very interest upon forty millions of dol
lars is onerous and almost ruinous, Our tan
alton amounts TO more than one fourth of our
income. Can the agriculture of Pennsylva.
MIA bear the tax and still compete success
fully in the markets with the agriculture OF
more fertile regions, subject to comparatively
no taxation? Ii is evident thai the agricul.
iure of Pennsylvania is now staggering under
a burden too heavy TO bear, and that the
value of property must diminish unless there
is something TO diminish the taxation. We
have that something in abundance. Our iron
mines, our coaI-iields, supply it. We musr
dig from the bowels Of the earth what the
surface cannot supply. But here we are met
by insuperable difficulties. The iron mine.
OF Wales, the coal-fields of England, are
worked at prices so moderate, that at III,
doors OF our very factories for the purpose o
our railroad construction, for all for whici
iron is used, and for the coal used in il
smelling and its ul'erior operations, we hav
rival article with which we cannot com
pete. Under onr very noses, the raw mate
rial is sold, which we have abundant mean
of supplying, but are paralyzed in our excl
,iohs and ruined in our attempts, by foreig
composition. Now, put the question-If tn
Tariff of '46 supports British labor, mine
British iron and digs British coal, whilst "
are compelled TO stand every man idle an
10 derive no benefit from our vast resource