The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-05-03
SPEECH of HON. THOMAS CORWIN.

Delivered at a Ratification Meeting in
Philadelphia, on the 18th OF March.
Much accustomed, as | have been, for
g great many years, to address public as
senblages of this sort, yet never felt so
much reluctance to do so as do to nj ght.
Not because | don't feel in cou non with
every we'll visher OF this great State, the
.remulous anxiety as to the result, but be-
cause | an totally incapaciated in con-
sequence of illness, and | would not have
been here tonight. but | told my friend
thstif | was able to be carried to the
cars l would come. Applause If
have any strength / wish to make few
observations.
Mr.. Corwin rem arked that the orator
who had preceded bin had spoken so ell
oquently and we'll that there was but lit
tie left for him to do. After playfully
referring to the fact that Col. Curtin had
spoken OF him as an "old gentleman
went on to speak of the slave question
and its influence upon the politics of the
country. After an allusion to the Le-
compton iniquity, be went into discus,
sion of the American system of Henry
Clay, and urged at length the necessity
for adopting the principles of the great
Kentockian After the war of 1872
Protection vas deemed essential to the
vell-being of the cou untry, and the first
tariff was introduced in Congress by John
c. Calhoun. Subsequently, the South
became persuaded that the interest of the
two sections we're aBtag gooistic, aud oppo-
sition to the principles of profession " as
the result. Mr.. Corwin spoke at consid-
cradle length upon this subject. and urged
that protection to American ndustry las
the interest of the people of all parts OF
the country.
Mr.. Coruin drew a whimsical picture
Of the contrast between Gen. jackson
aud James Buchanan. The latter at
tempted to force the Lecompton COnstitu.
ton through. for fear Alabsma would 90
out of the Union When South Carroll.
ma raised the banner of revolt, Gen Jack.
son .aid "he would blow them into eter-
nifty" (Lsughter) Governor Corwin
went fully into the history of legislation
on the .ubject of the tariff In ls4i,the
cry of the Democracy was Polk, Dallas
and the tariff OF Is42." Mr. Polk ives
elected under this banner, and when Mr.
Dallas gave bis famous casting vote il
the Senate, aud was blandly giving hi:
reasons for so doing, Gen Cameron, who
vas in the gallery Of the Senate, hung
conspicuously up one of the old election.
eering pacards, which bore the old mot
to, "Polk, Dallas. and the Tariff of AZ.
(Laughter) Mr.. CoFwin continued fol
some tiue in this strain, and be did not
spare Pennsylvania, which like the apos.
ties definition of charity, "hopeth all
things, be!ieveth al! things" Laughter
The idea Of Wing voting the Demo
cratic ticket, passed the understanding o.
the speaker He bad himself hesrd Hen
ry Clay say in the Senate Chamber, 6
year or two before his death, that nc
earthly power could induce him to 20 fol
the extension of slavery into any terrific
~ where it did not already exist. The
Republican party simply hold the same
doctrine, aud for this they are now denoun
ced by some men who claim to be OlC
Line Wbigs; and believers in Henry Clay
Laughter.
You hear great deal said about th,
question of slavery. Young men will b
lieve that this contest, about which 81
much is said. began in 1854 Yet it be
gan, and eliminated, and was determined
many long years ago. And it was brough
about By the efforts of a great man, now
unhsppily, no more amongst US, to glv'
as bis counsels he introduced into thi
country what is called the American sys
tenn" And when you look back at tba
system, it was just this: Enlarge by al
means the labor of our country, and i'm
prove the interior trade, and furnish q
currency which shall be the same thing
at each end of the country. Many Ions
year ago do l remember to have lookec
at that American system, and to thi
hour if an American statesman will lool
over this one tenth portion of the globe
which We comprehend within our terrific
rial limits. be will say that system shal
be the beau ideal of every American citi
zep.
What have you Of Pennsylvania don'
towards maintainiug that systeml Yol
will remember that you of Pennsylvania
more than any others advanced this doe
trine of protection to Auericsn industry
You had got it iu 1915. You saw it