The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-09-03
The Fathers Of the Republic and the
Tariff.

| : o 4 4 a
! The Wing doctrine, ION The Tariff) is pre-
cisely that advocated by Washington, Jeiier
son, Madison, Monroe and Jarksori. O. ! 3
Journal. "
Certain Locofoco papers when appealin
10 their party lotwalk up to the trough an
sustain the nominees Of the party, iiivok
them in the name OF such men as Jefferson
Madison and Jackson. We ask hed.ocoIo
co leadersi in this resion--particularly thus
who prdte about the beauties Of Tree trude--
to read the following letter OF Gen. jackson
writentto Dr.. Coleman, in'l8gt, and re.8i
frned by him in letter 10 Govs(Ray, Of In
diana, in 1928. spb
W. ~ NJ
| We hope the free trade Editors Ok The Dis
patch wifi not denounce "0d HicoH'f d.
A a federal whig," although they dodeSounct
Us for holding the same views. = T'rib. q
Clip. Y s'f Y
| We suspect that these whig editors arS
neither very well informed about the cpi1
ions Of the great men they have named d
bove, OF very conversant with The history q
the tarllf policy Of this country. We will
endeayor to enlighten them,
While this country remained part Of The
British Empire, our people hal depended upl
ON The mother country, for the most ordina-
ry articles OF Manufacture. Not only was
this true in regard to utensils of daily dol
mestic use, but also in regard TO arms and
munitions of war. Great iuconv enience
was felt in consequence Of this, during the
Revolution. and when, at length, our inde.
I pehdence was acknowledged and our prestn,
CONSTITUTION adopted, it was felt by our
Statesmen that we ought to be provided
against such inconvenience in future. Al
the same time, d very natural resentment
and Jealousy was entertained by our people
towards England, which made them desirous
of being in all respects, as independent Of
her as possible. Under these circumstan-
ces, and influenced by these motives and
feelings, some of our wisest legislators exert
ed themselves 10 nurse into strength and Wig
or the infant nlnufactures Of tile country
In pursuance Of this policy, they did afford
incidental protection to certain branches OF
those manufactures, BY the imposition of du-
ties upon imported articles Of like charuc-
ter, the primary object of such duties being.
nevertheless, TO provide revenue for the sup
port of government. But The dDties thus
imposed were very moderate. If the man
ufacturers will accept the scale of duties
sanctioned by either Washington, Jefferson
Madison Or Monroe, the Democratic party
will accord them 10 them without murmur.
These duties are far below those Of the much
abused Tariff of 1916. Such was the char.
acler OF the legislation on this subject up 10
1924, when ali these men were out Of pub
lie life. II is therefore absurd for our adver.
sares to quote these names against us.
In 1924, higher duties were imposed
Gen. Jackson undoubtedly favored them, for
reasons assigned in the letter 10 Dr.. Coleman
above alluded TO, as follows:
"It is, therefore my opinion that careful
and judiclouS riff is much wanted to pay our
n4tional debt, aud to afford us the means OF
that defence within ourselves. on which the
safety OF our cuunry and liberty depends /; ana
last, though not least give proper distribution
to our labor, which must prove beneficial 10 The
happiness, independence, and wealth Of the
community -4 -
At hat time, the principles of political
economy had been comparatively but little
discussed, and wefe imperleclly understood.
Protection was the settled policy, aad
had been for ages, Of the entire civilized
world. The nItion was deeply in debt -
We had had no experience of the effects oil
high duties. 1t was not strange that under
such circumstances, Grn. Jackson should
entertain opinions such as he expressed in the
Coleman letter, nor that he should continue
to entertain them till 1928, when he wrote
the other letter above alluded TO. But in
the latter y.ara law was passpd still further
Increasing the duties, and every one know,
what was the result The consuming class
les began perceptibly TO feel the weight oil thu
bur;hens which these laws imposed upon
Them. They began TO murmur. Statesmen
began to scrutinire the principles Of The pro
tsctivepolicy. They perceived itsinjustice
The Southern States, feeling most heavil.
/ the weight, began loudly to complain
Those complaints grew louder and louder
Until, in 1882, South Carolina, was driver
lintoabsolute and open rebellion. Gen. Jack
son was then President, and like hero ain
LA patriot as he was, resolved at all hazards
to'put down resistance to laws declared b
the constitution which he had sworn 10 de
| lend, TO be supreme! But at The same time
he etecommended an abahdontiient of the pol
}, icy'whtch had arousrd the storm. ExPERI
ENcE had shown It's injustice and impolicy
and he woold supportil no longer. In hi
annual message 10 Congress, Dec 4, 1885,
he especially and earnestly urged upon then
d change Of policy on this subject. w
make one quotaiioni y
i "That manufactures adequate to the suppl
lofour domestic tioconsumpton would in the al
stnct be beneficial to our country, there is n
reason 10 doubt and to effect their establish
ment there Is, peThaps no American cilize