Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-08-20

tariff question, as Ilere seems 10 ne mis- /
apprehension abroad in regard to y0ar views, /
if l have properly understood them.
B. LAroRTE,
MoSrRosE, Jan. 25, 1856.
Ny Dear Sir-Your favor came to hand
last evening. I do not think I shall be at
Harrisburg. The week vacation between
nv Courts would be mostly occupied In the
journey, leaving me but little acquaintance
Of gentlemen now assembled at the Capitol.
Again if there we're no difficulties in the
way, would be reluctant to show myself
at Harrisburg at this time. Not that am
Indifferent to the issue Of the Senatorial
election but l DO not want to appear as a
selfish and ambitious aspirant for the place
[ have rot, as you well know, been eager
for Senatorial honors, nor have |, in any way
whatever, been instrumental in making
myself a candidate The connection Of
my name with the Office Of Senator Is the
result of the late signal revolution in the
politics of the State, and on my well known
position, on one at least, Of the important
issues upon which that revolution turned.
and not through any vanity or scheming OF
nly own To visit Harrisburg al this time
would subject me to suspicion, and 10 the
charge of siniaaer and selfish motives,
which | wholly and emphatieally disclaim
/ do not deny that | should feel a rerso-
nal pride in an election to one of the high
est and most honorable positions IN the gov
ernment; but do deny that I desire the
place for any selfish or personal ends. /
should hope, If elected, to be Of some ser
vice to the country, and to the cause Of
sound principles While / claim no emf
nent qualifications for the Office, | DO, new
ertheless, believe that my election would,
III some respects, be fortunate, especially
so In uniting and cementing for future ac-
ton the men who achieved the late signal
victory ia this State.
You say that the main objection urged
against nae arises out of an impression en-
tertained by many that / am unfriendly to
the great interests Of our State This is q
total misapprehension Of my feelings and
position, and springs doubtless from the
fact that In 1876 l could not act with MY
colleagues in proftless aud obstinate sup
port OF the tariff Of 1912 1t was appa-
rent, weeks before the late tariff bill passed,
that the act of II could not stand Twas
in favor Of its revision ami modification,
and in doing this was zealously anxious to
preserve for the great interests Of our State
permoHent and o5he secu5ityj and to this
end ! labored industriousIy and perseye-
ringly. On the floor Of the House urged
the laying Of specyid instead Of al rolorep,
duties upon iron, and to an extent that
should give security to our interests against
ruinous foreign competition. / entered
into an argument to prove the propriety
and advantage of specific over al yalolem
duties, in respect to the various articles,
and especially in regard to iron; establish
ing, TO my satisfaction, that position, as well
III respect to the interest Of the revenue,
as also 10 that Of the consumer and manu-
facturer, that every interest would be pro-
NOTED by laying specific duties on iron. l
appealed to the House On behalf Of the
iron interests CT our State. claiming for it
a nationai respect and consideration, insist
ing that the iron interest was justly enti-
tied TO stand upon higher ground than any
otner branch Of manufacturing business,
foritis Of afraiy yndtjoaaicharacte as a nee
essary element of national defence, and en-
titled therefore to the special and favorable
regard Of the nation. insisted that the
same rule should not be applied to an IN
terest Of this magnitude, that was applied
to the manufacture OF thread, tape, pins,
buttons, &c, &c. These are no new doc
trines put forth to meet the occasion. but
the doctrine placed on the records Of Con
.gress, and easily found in It's volumes Of
debates.
not only spoke in behalf Of the inter
ests of our State, but ,eorh-ed earnestly
in the House, and out Of it, to give to that
interest an adequate and permanent secu-
rity. | believed then, and / believe now,
if part even Of the Democratic delega-
ton in Congress from this State would have
agreed to modification of the tariff of ~,
that our great interest could have been
abundantly secured. IF a majority of
Democrats from this State would have
agreed to support the bill, they could al
most have made their own terms, so far as
Pennsylvania interests were concerned
We met once or twice in caucus, to see if
part at least, could not agree upon the
terms ON which we should support the bill.
In these consultations / expressed an ear
nest desire 50 to shape my action as 10 pro-
tect the interests Of our State. pledged
myself, in case the caucus would agree
upon the rates of specific duties for iron,
70 oppose the bill unless they were adopted
py tne House. Some two or three of them
l beileve favored this plan but large ma
Jorlty would agree to nothing. They would
stand by the tariff of AZ IN all its detoizs.
agreeing to no modification whatever I
we'll recnllect that Dnctor I IL c q