Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-01-26
Pennsylvania Legislature.

pennsylvania Legislature.
Ia the House on Thursday tue following
joint resolutions relative to the tariff, were
taken up;
WHEREAS, The operation of the present
revenue laws Of the general government ls
rapidly increasing the national debt, Gripping
the energies Of the nation, retardlng public
improvements, destroying industrial enter
prise. diminishing the value OF property. de-
priying the people Of profitable employment
10y encouraging excessive importation ot for
eign goods aud products OF foreign labor,
which ought to be produced by our own peo-
pie, and prolonging a financial crisis caused
by an excessive foreign trade and whereas,
an immediate alteration Of the laws relative
to the duties upon imports Is imPeratyely de
manded to inspire confidence, replenish the
national treasury, restore the public prosper
ity, and prevent the constant export of Amer
lean gold, now annually amounting 10 the
enormous sum Of more than seventy millions
Of dollars therefore,
Pssolred, BIZ tie Senate and House Of Rep
rssentutjres Of the Commonwealth Of PeanSW
ea..fa. IN General assembly met That our
Senators in Congress be instructed, and our
Representatives requested, to earnestly ELI
deayor bv their votes and influence to procure
such a revision Of the revenue laws rs viii
restore the national credit, prevent excessive
importation Of foreign products, and secure
to American labor and enterprise an ample
reward.
Reso!ced, That the views Of the Governor
of this Commonwealth, as expressed IN his
late annual message, III favor Of placing the
revenue laws upon such basis as to afford to
our great mining and manufacturing interests
II. i !,
stitute specific for ad valorem duties on arti
ces which from their nature are Of equal or
nearly equal value, or change the foreign to
home valuation, are eminently sound and
practical, and meet the approval Of the Legis
lature.
ReSolred, That the Governor be requested
to forward to each OF cur Senators and Mem
bers Of Congress copy Of the foregoing res
outions.
There is certainly nothing Objectionable
in the wording Of these resolutions; but
patent democracy would not be satisfied un-
less the name of that arbitrator to a tariff,
james Buchanan, was also inserted, and on
this ground, and apparently this alone, We
find the name of our representative, Mr..
Bates, recorded against them. The voters
Of this county, especially the mechanics
and laboring men, who last fall so ardently
supported Mr.. b., have here the first illus
tration OF profession and practice. They
profess to be tariff men, in favor of Just
such a revision as the resolutions call for,
but Mr. Bates, as their representative in
the Legislature, puts it upon the record and
tells the country that the democracy of
Miflin county is opposed to it! We made
some remarks on this subject last fall which
are already partly fulfilled. We then said
tha- # the voters desired change in the
tariff policy Of the government, they must
continue to send men to the National and
State Legislatures who were known to be
faithful rehectors Of their sentiments until
the object was achieved. A majority
thought or at least acted differently, and
by so doing elected Mr.. Bates, whose vote
has already half undone all that was ac-
complished by the election of Mr. Hale to
Congress. If any man calling himself a
democrat, hereafter stands up and advocates
a tariff, we hope our friends will point him
to the vote Of Mr.. Bates on the above, and
ask him why Mr. b. could not rise above
the Vaccinations of political wire workers
and vote for what he knew to be the opin-
ion of his constituents?