Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-07-12
[From the Charleston Mercury. ]
Hon. James Buchanan.

| High taxation and extravaganza are Blu
parts Of the same policy. ccordlngly
the tariff and internal Improvements have
gone hand in hand. The politicians II
favor of the one. have voted for the othe
because. without high tariff, there
would be no surplus; and without surplus
there would be no expenditure for interna
Improvements. The tariff robs her of the
fruits Of her industry, and thus weakens
the basis of her institutions, We do moi
agree with those who speak of the tariff
as thing already settled, and, therefore,
not 10 be discussed in the coming contest.
1t is secondary only to the question OF sla-
very itself.
We do not claim for Mr.. Buchanan, that
he is Free Trade mar Of the strictesi
Sect we admit that he has gwen votes up
on this question which we cannot approve.
But, looking at his career, as a whole, we
can establish two points-first. that he is
the friend Of economy in the Government !;
aid is not the advocate OF high tariffs for
the sake of protection. 1t was not until
1882 that the South became fully alive to
the importance of this great question. Up
10 that time, the South was greatly divided
and men, who afterwards became promi-
nent as the champions Of Free Trade, were
pointed TO their votes for the tariff Of 16,
"a. and %. Mr. Buchanan voted for the
tariff of 1924 and 1928. In 1888 the Com
promise was passed, and MIR. Buchanan
was in Russia. When he appeared in the
Senate in 1884, there was no agitation Of
the question, for the country was in repose
after a long aKd intense excitement.
The first time that question arose, was
in 1887, upon bill to reduce the duties.
The Compromise of 1882, was III full force,
and this bill proposed to reduce the tariff
upon articles not covered by the Compro-
mise. While the bill was pending IN the
Senate. the Legislature OF Pennsylvania
passed resolutions explicitly lnstrueling her
Senators i'll Congress to vote against it. Be-
fore casting his vote, under these instruc-
tons. MIR. Buchanan said:
That had il not been for these Instruc-
lions, he should have voted to take off
these duties entirely. so far as not to inter
iere with protection, aud would not violate
the Compromise act for che. concaIred
with the Senator from South Carolina Mr.
Calhoun ia his desire that the Compro-
mise should stand unaisturbed. o
ar was the law of the lana it was the
price Which we had paid for our domestic
tranquility it was the act which restored
harmony TO the Union. Under these clr-
cums:ances, he could not consider il as an
act of mere ordinary legislation
Now the Compromise of 1885 was res
garded by the State of South Carolina. and
the whole South, as a great triumph over
the doctrine of protection. 1t pfogided
that the tariff should undergo periodical
feducli ons until 1912, when it was to be
placed upon a revenue basis We here
find Mr.. Buchanan Gust sining in good faith
that Compromise, and even expressing his
willingness TO reduce still further the du-
ties, provided il did not interfere with the
protection granted under it. There was,
in his course on that occasion, nothing OF
which the South could complain. SO far
as the Compromise was concerned, he
stood side by side with MIR Calhoun.
Mr.. Buchanan's course uron the tariff
of 1912, has been made the subjecto much
comment, and his voting for that bill is
claimed as conclusive proof OF his being
an advocate Of high Tariffs. A candid
perusal OF the facts OF the case will, we
think, rut the charge fairly to rest, and it
is 10 this point we now invite our readers
IL will be remembered that by the terms
OF the Compromise act Of 1888, the Tariff
was TO undergo periodical reductions until
1S42, when it was then TO be placed Oh
revenue basis. Mr.. Buchanan as before sta.
ted, expressed his Willingness to abide by
that Compromise in good faith. But tefore
the expiration Of that Compromise Act,
new legal question arose. which divided
the best minds of the country. 1t was,
whether further legislation would be nee
essary to carry out this provision of the
Compromise. Mr.. Calhoun held that fun
Their Legislation was necessary.
The condition of the Treasury also rem
dered such step necessary. The whole
country was suffering, in all its interests,
from severe peculiarly embarrassments, aud
universal bankruptcy Frustrated public as
well as private credit. When Congress as.
sembled in 1S42, the Treasury was empty,
the estimates exceeded the revenue. aud
an increase Of the Tariff 10 meet the wants
OF the Government was absolutely de-
manded. The advocates of high Tariff
and Protection hailed the misfortune, Of
the Government as an auspicious opbeItu-
nlty ioi carrying out their plans. Distr-
button Of the proceeds arising from the
sale Of public lands, was Il favonte meas.
ure with the Wings, aud they determined,
if possible, to retain this policy, and al the
same time. 10 increase the Tariff; although,
If these proceeds had been appropriated to
the wants Of the Government, that increase
might have been more moderate. Two
seperate Tariff bills passed Congress, con-
tanning this distribution clause, and both
were vetoed in quick succession, by Pres
dent Tyler. The Wings still adhered to
their policy, and the session was well nigh
spent before any step was taken 10 pass
Tariff, and provide for the wants Of the
Government. They knew that something
mus be done, or the Government be left
bankrupt and they calculated upon this
necessity 10 force the Democratic party in
to HE measure of high Protective Tar
tiff The admitted necessity for further
legislation upon the expiration Of the Com
promise act, and the positive necessities Of
the Government, constituted the circum-
stances under which the Tariff of 1882 was
brought forward, 1t came up faaliy on
the 9th of August. three DAYS before the