The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-25

PRESIDENT OF WING election, and the
other is not. Where the distinction is so
very thin in the principle of the two plans,
this difference should be well considered
in our judgment by every true Wing.
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The Tariffs and the Prospects or the
Farmers.
Four years have now elapsed since the
Wing party was called upon to defend
against the assaults Of its enemies the sys-
tenn of policy they had established in 1912.
In doing so, they were enabled topoint with
pride and pleasure to the perfect realiza-
ton Of all the promises they had made.
With augustus, they could say, we found
a city of brick-we have given you one
of marble. We found commerce para
lyzed-the building Of ships almost at an
end-manufactures almost annihilated-
the people ruined-the banks insolvent-
the States unable to pay either principal
or interest-the revenue diminished to
one-half as much per head as it had been
ten years before under the policy adopted
by us during the administration of Mr..
ADAMs-the treasury bankrupt-and the
nation discredited throughout the world.
We have restored commerce-the build
ing of ships is increasing more rapidly
than at any former period--the growth of
manufactures has been, and is, great be-
yond all precedent-the people are pros
perous-credit is restored-the banks have
resumed payment-the States have re-
sumed and are resuming the payment of
the interest on their debts-the revenue
has increased and is increasing so rapidly
that it promises soon to reach the highest
point ever known-the treasury is rich,
and the national credit is now higher than
at any former period. Such were the
things we promised, and such are the re-
suits that have been obtained. We chal-
lenge comparison of the one with the
other. We defy you to show even sin
gle promise that has not been performed.
Such were the results of the advocacy
of sound system Of policy. To every
man who had supported the tariff of 1842
it was source of pleasure to look back
upon the part he had acted on that occa-
sion. His hopes had been realized, and
his promises had not only been performed,
but the performance had exceeded his
most sanguine anticipations.
Another period of four years has now
almost elapsed, and their adversaries are
likely soon to be called upon to rendera.sim-
liar account of their promises and their
performances. In anticipation thereof we
propose to institute brief comparison of
facts realized within the last year, with
promises held out even so recently as the
last session of Congress, that our readers
may be enabled to Judge, by the failure to
fulfil the promises of the past, what is the
probability of any realization of those that
may be made in future.
1t is now but little more than year
since the then Secretary of the Treasury
made an elaborate report on the move
ments of trade under the tariff of '46, in
which were fully explained the vast adj
vantages that have resulted from the adop-
ton of his measure, and the further add
vantages that must result from the con-
tinuance of the system of which he was
so proud. The prospects of the farmers
and planters were painted in the most
brilliant colors. Under GLOW duties"
the exports-then amounting, as he told
them, to a hundred and thirty millions of
dollars, exclusive of specie" must go on
.augmenting - but with the restoration of
high duties, offending to the exclusion
or diminution of imports, the exports
must" he assured them, cease, or be
reduced, for foreign nations could not buy
them"
Such was the syren song then sung to
the farmers, and it was the same that had
been sung in 1916. 1t said-buy largely,
and then other people must buy of you.
Cease to manufacture cloth-cease to
smelt iron ore-cease to roll iron-make
yourselves, as far as possible, dependent
on other nations-and then they will
give you large quantities of iron and
of cloth in return for the food they will
consume. What were the promises spe-
cially made to the farmers we shall now
show.
''It appears" said the Secretary, "that
for the year ending June 80, 1S4S-not of
famine, but of abundant crops in Europe
our exnorts Of breadstufTs and nrovis;ons
amounted to the sum of S37, 472, 751."
And "this result" he continues, ode
monstrates that even without a famine
and with good crops abroad" even when
s'their means were exhausted by bank
ruptcies," yet "with low duties ena-
bling them to exchange their fabrics for
our surplus agricultural products, they
could and did take" of breadstuffs and
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