The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-01-23
A Sample of Political Consistency,

1t is too much to expect ofa public man,
that each part of his life will be consistent
with the rest. No one is so wise at the
outset of his career that he does not find
himself obliged to change or modify his
opinions, and it is honorable to any man
to avow frankly the change which has
really taken place in his mind. But there
is another sort Of consistency which we
have right to claim of our public men;
we have a right to insist that they shall
not be of two minds at once; that they
shall not entertain two contradictory opin-
ions at time; that they shall not profess
one principle and act upon another.
In the recent annual message of Gener-
al Taylor he dwells with emphasis on the
duty of encouraging domestic manutac.
lures. Ills Secretary of the Treasury,
Mr.. Meredith, has treated us to a new edi-
ton of the doctrine Of protection-the
state meats of yesterdays banquet warm
ed over-in which he demands that for the
purpose of forcing the American people to
buy of the mill owners in America, new
taxes shall be laid on imported goods
This view of the matter General Taylor
has adopted and urged in his message.
If be, in General Taylor's opinion, a
duty to encourage the manufactures es-
tablised in our country, we have a right to
expect that he will not wholly neglect that
duty himself. lfhe and his administration
think that they ought to force others to buy
articles fabricated in the mills of Lowell
and other places within the United States,
we have right to expect that they will
not import the same articles for themselves
from England. Wh hen the obligation is
so very plain, as they pretend, we have
right to ask them to set the example.
Judge of our surprise, therefore, when
we find these jealous encouragers of home
manufactures importing their goods from
abroad. The books Of the Custom House
in this city have the following remarkable
entry:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Nov. 19, 1849.
"lmportation per ship Niagara, in Sep
tember last, of bales carpeting, marked
Presidents goods, Nos. $40, 341, 342,
343,'-goods entered by Messrs. A. s..
Steward & Co., and duties amounting to
the sum of 1860 80.
'sThe case being as represented, the
articles were entitled TO free entry under
.the provisions of the act of 26th January,
1849. TO supply deficiencies, &c. as
articles imported for the use of the United
States, and you are therefore authorized
and directed to prepare and transmit the
usual certified statement for the correction
of the error and return of the duties SO
paid.''
1t happens rather curiously that the i'm.
portation of these ''President's goods
from Europe takes place about the time
when General Taylor and Mr.. Meredith
are meditating what they shall say to Con
gress, in the message of one and the re-
port of the other. While they are demure
ly penning homly on the duty of encou
raging home industry, they are sending
out for articles woven in the looms o
England.
We have in this country mills in which
carpets of very good quality are fabrica
ted. There was no necessity OF sending
to Kidderminster for web TO cover be
comingly the floors of the White House O
any other mansion in which the Presiden
may reside.-N Y. Post.