The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-10
The Tariff.


The Tariff question is one that does not
naturally belong 10 party politics. The
Democratic parry and the Republican both
contain advocates of the protective policy
and both advocates of free trade. In this
State, where our immediate Interests would
be promoted by Protective Tariff, all par
ties, with rare exceptions, are favorable to
protection, and anxious that Congress should
legislate so as 10 develop our great mineral
and industrial interests. Such beng the
condition of the public mind in Pennsyiya-
MIA. this is the last State in the Union where
the Tariff issue should have been made.
But the Republican party deemed it neces
sary at the last session of Congress to manu-
faciure as many issues as possible for the
purpose OF carrying this Presidential elec
zion. For the Western States they devised
ahe Homestead issue as the means OF ma
king political capital in that quarter For
Pennsylvania they got up the Tariff IN
duced Republican members of the House,
naturally opposed 10 the increase of duties
10 vote for the Morrill, bill as political
dodge. 1t was delayed until the close OF
the session, and as soon as it passed the
House and was sent TO the Senate, resolu
sion providing for an early adjournment OF
Congress was passed by the Republican
members-for the manifest purpose OF
bringing the session TO an immediate termi
nation, so that the Senate would not have
time TO act upon the Tariff bill, and so that
the Republicans might attribute the respon-
sibiliiy of its defeat 10 the Democratic
Senate. The Senate could not refuse 10 ad-
journ al the time proposed by the House
without incurring the responsibility of pro
tractino the session-and for want of time
TO act upon il the Tariff bill had 10 be post
poned The House occupied months in
lnaturing and considering this bill. and then
gave the Senate but week 10 reflect and
act upon it. The Republicans expected
and wanted the Tariff bill to be defeated or
postponed for the purpose of using the
question for electoneering purposes IN
Pennsylvania. They succeeded IN iheH
design, bat what have they gained by it 2
In forcing the Tariff issue upon the De-
mocracy of Pennsylvania, and attempting
10 make political capital upon question
which is not of party character, and upon
which the people of this State are nearly
all of one opinion, they have made great
blunder, because they have led people to
investigate the question of responsibility foI
the Tariff of 1857, under the operations o
which the interests of Pennsylvania have
not spered as they should. That Tariff
was passed By the Republicans, who ha6
control OF the House of Representative
N P. Banks, of Massachusetts, the Repuo
Iican Speaker and .ree-trader, used hi
position 10 accomplish the reduction OF ih'
Tariff Lewis c. Campbell, the Chairman
of the Committee of Ways and Means, aP
pointed by Mr. Banks, engineered the bil
through The House, where 1t was passed O.
a large majority, including many OF tn
most prominent Republican members. Il
the debate on the passage OF this bill MI
Campbell yoId the House that the question
of Tariff ought TO be Withdrawn from part
politics ard he even went SO far as TO re
buke the Pennsylvanians for clingingto ne
old policy (which sees no other In'eTe'
than her s'iron and coal"
After fastening upon this S'a.e the TarI
of '57 the Republicans were entirely regard
less of the interests of Pennsylvania, until
was necessary 20 get up the sham Morn
bill and pass it through the House, that
m;obt be thrown upon tile Senate at tn
last expiring hour of the session, and il
defeat attributed 10 the hostility OF Demo
Gratis.
Qua fowasman. john G FREEze, Esq az