Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-10-28
Come to the Polls, on Tuesday.

As this will be our last country issue before the
election, we hope we may be pardoned for tres
passing once moSe upon the kind indulgence of our
readers in pressing upon their attention the duties,
the principles and issues which they are solemnly
to pass upon on Tuesday next. Few responsible
ties imposing, than those which rest up
on the voter in Presidential contest. He votes
then, but the effect of that vote rweal woe, is
felt by the country forever. The destinies of our
country ar in our keeping, and he who misyoteS,
who neglects the great interests which are involv
ed in the present contest. and bends to dictates,
Others than those which spring from the solemn
convictions of his conscience and mature judge
ment, is traitor to himself to the great and vital
interests of our common Union, and is unworthy
of the great boon of freedom, for which our ia
theirs bled, and which we are bound by the most
solemn obligations of patriotism, to.transmit unim
paired, to our children. Never, in our opinion,
has there been crisis in our country's history,
more imposing than the present; and never has
there been time at which it was more pre-emi-
nenty the duty of us all, lift the Fictitious veil
ofnppdrent prosperity, and to learn what is the
real condition of the country. We frankly admit,
that in many respects, our country is prosperous;
but at the same time it is our solemn duty to ex-
press tue COuNlCuOHS WHICH we euttIt1n, lnat tnat
apparent prosperity is due toa cause which can
not continue. We hold it to be as true among ma
tons, as among inhabitants, that "they who buy
more than they sell, must go dorOn'' Is it not so!
Does not the common sense ofeyery man teach him
husi If any are skeptical, let them make the ex-
pertinent, and they will DON learn more oflawyers
and sheriffs, than they desire. How, then, is it
with us! Since the tariff Of 1916, we have from
year TO year, been increasing against us to an a
making extent, the balance of trade. Year after
year, this amount has been swelling up, until mil
lions now constitutes the only term which will ex-
press it. Our opponents lat sonce ask: "How do
we keep up!" And this is a natural question, and
we answer it at once. But for California, but for
the unheard ofinfux of gold from that quarter for
the past four years, we would have long since been
stripped and driven to the wall as we were in
1889 and 40, and the compromise tariff of 1922
We rePeatt, but for the California gold, we would
ere this, have witnessed that state ofthings which
in 1910 Frustrated and ruined all the great inter-
est, of the country, and produced the mighty
tionary tide which swept Martin Van Buren, from
power, and passed the tariff of1S42, which REIN
stated us upou the eminence Of prosperity which
we had attained under the Democratic Tariff poll
cy prior to 1882. And why was it that we failed
then? For an obvious reason. No currency pays
the balance of trade but gold and silver, and had
it not been for California, the great portion of our
metallic currency, would ere this, have been suck
ed from the country, and our Banks would have
been forced to suspend, and then would have fol-
lowed the terrible crash, which we have once wit
messed. Now the plain question before us is,
whether will continue this tariff policy, which
but for California, would ere this have Frustrated
all the best interests Of the country, whether
will support that policy which renders us ndepen-
dent, makes the balance Of tradein our favor, in
stead of againstus, and Which win enable to
keep at home the rich products Of our new born sis
ter, and thus add TO wealth, instead of squan-
dering il on the pauper products of England
Will we be independent Of England, or will we
continue forever in subservence to out former des
pot7 VIII we preserve in spirit and in fact these
liberties which we once achieved from her, or will
we while nominally independent, continue in the
most abject state freal dependencel 4
But the tariff question is not the only one which
is now before the people. There are Others and
equally important issues to be voted upon, and final
" perhaps, decided in the coming election. Are
the people forever to be deprived of their own just
rights in the public domaine, and let them be for
ever squandered and wasted without profit to any?
This is the question and our opponents need not
attempt to blink OF dodge this question. revenue
tariff provides amply for the support of the de-
mands OF the Federal Government, and the pro-
c.eds of the public lands are not needed for that
purpose. Under the Federal organization, these