Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-08-04
Correspondence Of the Portage Sentinel.
The Lundy's Lane Convention.

WATERLOO, N. Y, July 20, '52.
FRlENn HARRIs:-On my way hither
yesterday, l embraced the privilege Of re-
naming at Niagara Falls several hours, to
take view Of the monster Whig Conven-
,ion that was gotten up with view Of
throwing the Democratic party into spasms
of alarm. Well, 'ths mountain has la.
bored and brought forth a mouse" More
than this you can BY no means make out
il; confidently calculated upon seeing ons
hundred thousand people gathered ,oge,h-
or there, in view Of tho strenuous efforts
that had been called into requisition to bring
together large convention. There was
disappointment all around. The Wings
and Democrats alike were disappointed al
the slim turn out. l consulted numerous
persons on the ground as 10 tho number in
attendance, not wishing TO rely on my own
Judgment although | have seen many con.
yentions, and the result Of thai consultation
justifies me in saying that the number in
attendance did not exceed ten thousand. -
There we're not over three or four thousand
at and near the review ground; and in the
afternoon the audience Of the speakers did
not exceed ono thousand. heard bu,
fragments of three speeches, and surely, |
could blame no one for feeling disinclined
TO listen to any stuff 90 frivolous. I'H give
you sample of what heard, and you will
be enabled to draw your own conclusion. -
The second man heard was gentleman
from Indiana: his name has escaped my
memory. He declared the contest to be
narrowed down to the Tariff and River and
Harbor improvements, though he claimed
that Scott was the better Statesman Of the
two, and hence ought most assuredly 10 be
elected Fl left him Calculating the Tariff
He alleged that the Wings were favorable
to protsctipe Tariff, whilst the Demo-
Gratis were IN favor of free-trade tariff
singular kind Of Tariff truly. Seeing
few men before him, who had taken of
their coats, he, in triumphant tone asked,
""what did you have to pay for common
muslin in l646 a' A few responded s'three
shillings." "Ah!" continued he, .',here
was no tariff hsn-England made our
shir,ipg ,heD'-forgetting to allude to the
fact that tho war had been mainly instrn-
mental in producing this price. "What do
you pay no,o for the same kind of mustn't"
Eight cents" was the response. "There
you see the excellent effects Of protective
Tariff. Who can longer doubt the effica.
cy and benefcence Of the Wing policy p
just think of it. Muslin is cheaper no,p
than it has ever been, and hence is the
poor man benefited in connection with
other people. But it is not the Whig Tar
if at AZ that is in operation, which as
sessesed duty Of ninety jfus per cent. on
this article. Then muslin sold at figure
considerably higher. 1t is the Democratic
Tariff of '46 leyying on this kind Of goods
only thirty per cent, thai is in operation,
and producing these glorious results. -
Without intending it, he thus paid glow
ing tribute TO the policy Of the Democratic
party. | next heard woule.be. Governor
Johnston of Ohio, awhile. He claimed
that Pierce was only third rate country
lawyer Tin 1874 they swore that Polk was
only a ffM rate lawyer and hence is no.
capable OF administering the national gov.
erment, and after speaking shor. time he
made allusion 10 the allegation OF the Dem.
ocrats, that Scott's craftsmanship was not
adequate to the position. This be offset
by the declaration that the Presidents duty
was to execute. not make laws; and hence,
no great craftsmanship was requisite
Here you perceive most beautiful cons
sistency in his remarks. In passing through
the crowd found many Democrats and
they we're elated. Seating myself near q
small crowd under shade tree. l. over
heard an intelligent man, who had come to
the Falls from Arkansas for his health, de.
clare that he had no idea that Pierce men
were so abundant as he found Them in his
travels. In going from the Fails to Roch.
ester, some Of the young Scott men, when
they came to knot Of men, would cry out
"hurrah for Scott" but no response could
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