Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-07-01
Mrssns. VAN DYKE AND SMITH.

MEssRs. VAN DYKE AND SMITH.
These gentlemen have been with us, and we
have had the pleasure of hearing them discuss
the issues between them. The manner in which
then conduct the canvass is honorable to both.
We give, as near as we can, the position taken
by each upon the most important issues. We
shall probably have something to say VI on these
ssues hereafter,
Mr. Van Dyke said, that he had attentively
read the Inaugural Address of President Pierce,
and found that, although he had announced his
opinioa ia regard to several questions upon all
OF which, except one, the celebrated Compro-
mise measures, there never had been any diver
sity of opinion among the American people,and
had in this country become incontrovertable
political truths, yet upon those questions of do
mestic policy such as giving incidental protec-
ton to our home industry against .f,reign COM
petition, by discriminating in favor of those ar
ticles Of prime necessity in time of Wharf.-The
DIS ribution among the States according to fed
eral population of a portion of the public lands
and of the surplus revenue in the treasuryAthe
improvement of our rivers and lake karborS,-
and the great Railroad to connect our Atlantic
States with the Pacific Ocean, the President is
entirely silent; and until he heard the Presi-
dents views upon those great and interesting
subjects, involving the future onward progress
and prosperity of the country, he could not in
advance pledge him self, unqualfiedy, to sus-
tain the President in all the measures he should
recommend in guiding ard conducting his Ad-
ministration; but, said Mr.. Van Dyke, ever in
iuerc I'd by the Ir.ncip'e, and opinion that the
people of the United States are capable of self
government and that, whenever President is
elected and indicted into Office according to
the forms of the Constitution and the law, it is
the duty and should be the pleasure of every
Representative in Congress to respectfully and
maturity consider every recommendation which
the president, in the discharge Of the Constitu-
tional requirement, should make to Congress, he,
Mr.. Van Dyke,would consider it unjust and I'M
patriotic to condemn the President in advance,
and would, if elected, not only properly consid-
er, but give his cordial support to all measures
recommended by the President which received
the appreciation of his conscience and Judgment,
as advancing the great interests of the country,
and with entire independence would resist and
oppose, all such measures as he believed would
initiate these great interests. If said Mr..
Van Dyke, should be elected your Represent
alive, will as feariessly assert and maintain to
the utmost of my ability, the independence of
the Legislative department of the government,
as should studiously endeavor to abstain from
encroaching upon the just and Constitutional
rights and privileges of the two other depart
ments.
Mr.. Van Dyke said that he admitted it was
settled that it would be inexpedient to establish
United States Bank, and that if he should be
elected he would not vote to charter such an in
stitution; but as to the Tariff he considered it
always subjected to be changed and modified
according to the exigencies of the country, and
according to the trade and commerce of the
world with this country should increase or d.
minish in value; that, if elected, and it should
become necessary to change the present Tariff
30 as to raise a revenue sufficient to defray the
expenses of the Government equinomcally ad-
ministered, he would be for arranging and ad
justing the details as to give incidental protec-
ton to all those articles of prime necessity in
time of war, as came in competition with
like articles from foreign countries; that East
Tennessee, soon, after the completion of our syS-
tenn of Internal Improvements, must become a
great manufacturing country before she could
have the bon6t of her superior natural advan-
tages, that if our manufacturing companies with
their small capitals, could thus be protected for
short time, against the Foreign Manufacturers
with their millions of capital to protect and sus
tain them; they would soon spring up over our
country, and by competing with each other
would keep down prices within just and reason
able bounds; that if this principle of incidental
psotec5iou had been adopted and acted upon by
our Government when first proposed the mill
ions Of dollars worth of Railroad Iron which
has been purchased in England upon the credit
of our State and Railroad Companies, could
have been purchased in this country, and the
State aud country saved from the immense debt
which now bangs over them, and which soon
must BE met and paid off.
Mr.. Van Dyke said that the people Of Ten
nessee, and In fact all the States of the I'm
ion, were deeply interested and were anxiousy
looking about for ways and means to extend
and perfect their systems of Internal Improve
ment, and Common School education, and as it
is admitted by his competitor, that there is
surplus in the treasury of the United States of
$4,000, 900, and one thousand four hundred
millions Il ,40O, OOO;OOO) acres of public lands;
for which the General Government has no use
for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the
Government, he, Mr.. Van Dyke, insisted that
the only Just, equitable, and practicable mode
by which that surplus revenue and a portion of
those public lands, could be appropriated and
applied to the use and benefit of the whole peo-
pie of the Union wonld be to have liberal ap-
yoe1a