Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-10
Tb. Tariff and the Presidency.

The Tariff and the Presidency.
The Tariff quest on, it is now quite appar-
ent, is destined 10 exercise strong influence
in the next Presidential clection-stronger in
some localities than the slavery question. In
support of this opinion, we shall briefly
refer to recent utterances from two sources
OF widely different character.
Senator INVERSION, of Ga, of the straight
est sect of the Southern Democracy. in a late
letter to the Columbus Georgia. Tunes, says,
that though he is free trade man in princi-
pie, thoroughly and fully, and would, if il
W ire practicable. abolish the tariff entirely.
and resort to direct taxation for revenue to
carry on the Government; yet. believing that
scheme out of the question, and being salts
fed in his own mind, that there will be fur
Their deficit in the Treasury in the next two
wears. which must he met either by sdditiOna
loans or an increase of the tariff. he was de-
CT ledly in favor of the latter alternative.
Accordingly, at the caucus of Democratic
S majors, which met during the late session
of Congress. to consult upon the tariff, Sena-
tor I. saws he argued with his brother Sena
tors that it would be wise and proper that
the Democratic pdTty then having majority
in both Houses of Congress, should agree
upon and arrange such a tariff as would raise
sufficient revenue for the wants of the Gov
eminent.
If they did not the question would arise
again at the next session, even if no extra
session should be called, and under circum-
stances greatly more unfavOrable to the free
trade policy and the Democratic party than at
the then present time.
The tariff party, he said, would have a de-
c;d,d majority in the next House of Repre-
sentatives and would, beyond question, pass
such a tariff in the House az would suit them.
Could the Senate defeat it Agreeable to
the most favorable calculation, the anti-tariff
party in the next Senate would not have a
majority of more than two or three, and it
was doubtful whether they would have
majority at all.
b sides, if the next Senate should be able
TO defeat protective tariff bill sent from the
House, the subject would form one of the
exciting elements Of the next Presidential
election, and would slpeep The Democratic party
from Congress in every tariff State in the
Union.
These views, which the Georgia Senator
endeavored in vain to impress upon his South
ern Democratic brethren, evince, in our OPT
mon. great deal more OF party tact than he
has credit for possessing. We think the flu
ture will show the wisdom of his counsel, in a
party point of view, to the Democratic eau
Gus.
From widely different source we also hear
utterances indicating that this tariff question
will have an important bearing on the result
Of the next Presidential election-we refer to
short but pregnant speech made in the
House Of Representatives on the 10Th of Feb
ruary, by Gen. KEN. the Wing representative
from Berks county Gtself Congressional
District, PENNSYLVANIA, commonly called 'Old
Berks." a Wing representative from "Old
Berks," that has never at any Presidential
election since 1886. given a Democratic major
ity of less than 5000! 1t is most impor-
tant "sgn Of the times" foreshadowing the
downfall Of the Democratic party.
'while stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand
..''when falls the Coliseum, Rome shah fall
Gen. KEN. said in the beginning Of his re-
marks, that his election, with his political an-
tecedents, had caused some surprise through
out the country. But the enigma was of ca
sy solution. The great and radical change
was caused by the principle OF protection 10 Ia
bor. The people who maka and unmake the
ruling power true To their interests, arose in
their might, threw of the shackles of party.
and now stood redeemed aud disenthralled.
Il aver" said he "most cmphatically and
distinctly. that no party can get the vote Of
my district that opposes protection for the
sake of protection"
While he asked protection to the iron trade.
he desired all the manufacturing aud agricul-
tural int rests, North and S luth, promoted.
Why not support American labor in prefer
ence to the pauper labor OF Europe.
After describing the depression OF the iron
aud coal interests in his district and the
effects resulting Ihcrefrom-Opcratives thrown
out of employment-the injuries thereby in
tiicted upon the producing and mercantile
classes and upon the whole community
ruined, debt almost annihilated. confidence
between man and man almost blotted out,
patient. homes, industry brought to beggary,
and no class hourishiug, he asked II it was
strange that he was thcrei
The people of bis district. he said, were
never very extreme tariff mn. It'll they
were for such protection as would AT least
put our labor on fair terms with other couh-
tri =. With regard To the tariff, the volt was
Mt their owa door. They wanted ~ CLOSING
speeches to persuade them all was right,
when they saw aud felt that all was wrong.
They ielt insulted At the miserable sophistry
and falsehood that were attempted 10 be inn
posed upon them. The solemn and seeya
pledges for uf faure they scoatei sshea they thought
u d< broken and dishonOrsd oAss II the past
The Democratic party had never commit
ted itself nationally to the views expressed
by the President in his late annual message.
The resolutions of national consrntions and
the letters Of Presidential candidates bad
been drawn with studied reserve of mean
ing, and seemingly with a view TO conceal
the sriter's r al meaning. or at least 70 leave
them open TO conflicting constructions. as
suIiei the particular localities In which the
constructions were to be made.
Mr.. .'oi.Ks le.ier 20 J.HS X KAsE. ! 9
aid was intended to serve adouble puGposs.