Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-10-01
THE TARIFF OF 1857, AND WHO PAS.
SED TT.

SED IL.
Oar E.ocofoco friends, having in vain eudeay.
ored to persuade the people that their free.
trade tariff has nothing tc do with The present
hard times, hive now taken the other tack, and
unblushingly proclaim the falsehood that the
present tariff is not a democratic measure
They acknowledge they passed the Tariff Of
1916, which has caused the present crash and
hard tunes, but attribute the whole trouble tc
the Tariff of 1857, and then deny that they
passed it, and charge its passage on the Amer
leans and Republicans Now, the Tariff OF
| 1857 was passed it March of that year, and
had therefore been in operation too short PEI
riod TO ruin the country by September Of the
same year. The Tariff Of 1916 had dono the
work. But, we here affirm, aud will prove,
That the Tariff Of 1857 uus passed by the Lo-
ccfoco party, and by their Uotss in Congress, as
party measure. The first evidence of this
we give 10 the recommendation of President
Pierce, in his annual message to Congress, iu
Deer, 1856, in which he urges upon Congress
as an "imPerattce'' duty, the further reduction
of the Tariff of lS49. Here is what be says:
"These considerations will justify reduc-
fton OF the revenue from customs, SO az not to
exceed forty-eight or fifty millions of dollars.
thank the ertgency for such reduction imper-
ottue, end again urge ii upon The consideration
Of Congress
Here then Is the Presidential recommends
tion to reduce the Tariff of 1916 still lower.
SO that it might approximate still nearer
the great democratic doctrine OF free-trade,
announced in the Cincinnati Platform OF the
preceding June. In compliance with ills
Presidential and party recommendation, the
bill was prepared, and passed by the same Con-
gress in March, 1857, reducing the rates of the
Tartt of 1916. On the final passage Of the
bill IL the House Of Representatives, the 9ote
was l22 in favor of the bill, and y against it.
And Of these l22 who voted for the bill, 65
were Locofocos, SO were Republicans aud only
~ we're Americans. A number Of the Re-
publicans being Americans also, it is difficult
to classify them accurately; but for our present
purpose we may add the Americans and Re-
publicans together, and their total vote for The
bill was 81. or eight Uotes less than the Demo
Gratis alone. In the Hosse that year there
were SO democrats, 43 Americans and 10S Re-
publieans, so that no party had najority.-
Bat il appears that OF the SO democrats, 60 Of
them, or more hant1rer, foufhs Of them, voted
for the Tariff of 1858, aud the othe Is, with
one single exception, did not vote at all. They
would not vote against measure of their par
ty, recommended by democratic President
But to clinch this matter still more efectually,
look at the y votes against the BILL OF these
whole I2,ecery man is either an .7merican or
Republican, except ONE only one democrat, or
lecof9eo, in the WHOLE UNITED STATES, dared
to stand up and voto against this party
measure of s'ProgreSS,ue Free Trade" This
one Locofoco is Asa Packer, of this State, and
We understand be is largely interested in coal
operations at Mauch Chunk, and hence per.
mtted bis private interests to swerve him from
his party fidelity. We therefore repeat that
the proof is overwhelming and conclusive, that
the Tariff of 1857 is q l4ocofoco Tariff, carried
through Congress on the strength of Presi-
dential recommendation, and by a Locofoco
party vote. For Pierce's Message, we refer to
the Message and Documents OF 1867, part
L., page Is And for the vote on the final
passage Of the bill, We refer to the Congress
sional Globe for same yoar-Houso Proceed
ings, page 79l. We have the documents, and
can show them to anybody who has any doubt
on the subject.
1t is unnecessary Cor us to analyse the vote
in the Senate, as our readers know there was
in 1857, large Locofoco majority in it. The
fact is, there were but two Locofocos in tho
whole Senate who voted against the rascally
Tariff of 1857. Ouly think of it; three Lo-
cofoeo votes, aud only three, against the Tariff
Of 1857, in both the Senate aud House! And
yet an attempt is made to lie the people into
the belief that the l.ocofoco party is not re-
sponsible for its passage. Shame ON suoh hy-
pocrisy and falsehood We hope TO see the
people brand it at the ballot box as 1t deserves,
and that the calumniators may thereby be
taught lesson they Will never forget ss long
as they live.
Commissioner.