The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-03-06
Lincoln on the Tariff.

Dound 10 say something about The Tariff
Mr.. Lincoln made several speeches with out
alluding 10 the subject OF protection, until
he arrived at Piltsburg, where he undertook
to give his views on the Tariff-and beau
tiful mess he made of it. Only think of it!
Here is man who was represented TO the
| people of Pennsylvania as devoted friend
of protection to their industrial interests,
whose record, while member of Congress,
was triumphantly referred to as evidence
that he was Tariff man from conviction
whose election was urged and insisted upon
as the only means of securing protection
for this State-who was. in fact, elected be-
cause he was supposed TO be sound on this
quesiion-this man, on his way 10 Wash
ingtop 10 take possession of the Executive
department of the Government, embraces
the first opportunity, upon entering Penn
syvania, TO confess that he does not under
stand the subject, but promisis TO give il his
closest attention, and ende1uor to compre-
hend it fully. This is the sort of man who
was elected because of his supposed devo
tion to the principle OF a protective Tariff.
Instead of having fixed opinions on this
subject, it turns out that he has cared so lit
tie, and thought SO little about it, that he
has no strong and settled convictions. The
Tariff has been with him secondary con-
sideration His mind has been so much alb.
sorbed with the negro question that he has
not had leisure 10 study political economy,
to derermine whether protection is right or
wrong-but he will think over the matter
and he coolly advises a Pennsylvania au>
d:ence, and Pennsylvania members OF Con-
eress, 10 do likewise-study the question
VIA, do the protectionists oil Pennsylvania
think of Mr. LINcoLS by this time 7!
II is well known that the Tariff plank in
the Chicago platform received different and
conflicting interpret atoms during the Presi.
Dental contest While the tPeople's par
tyo of Pennsylvania said that il meant pro
lection, and would have mitted the
Administration to that principle, the New
York Eusn,ng Post and other representatives
of the tree trade element in the Republican
party were equally satisfied that it meant
free trade and they asserted that The party
would never dare TO pass protective Tariff,
or Mr.. LINCOLN 10 approve OF it We re-
ouently alluded TO the double faced charac-
ter of this Tariff resolution, and warned the
people that it was a cunningiy constructed
fraud. intended TO cheat Pennsylvania by
ambiguous expressions. But our Peoples
party rejected all such imputations upon the
sincerity of the Chicago Convention, and
expressed themselves entirely satisfied that
This plank, al least, was constructed OF good,
sound, honest material Well, the first ex-
preston OF opinion from Mr. LINCOLN, on
this subject, is confession that there are
shades Of difference in constituting sUe,i thus plat
form. So the Tariff plank is not SO clear,
positive, direct and explicit in favor OF pro-
rectioa 10 Pennsy lvania interests, as the Re-
publicans represented it TO be during the
last canvass. LINCOLN says there are shades
of difference on the subiect-and these
shades cover all degrees of opinion between
free trade on the one hand, and absolute
protection on the oiher
MIR LINCOLN, usually so cautious in ex-
posing his opinions, has thrown light upon
al least two points
First-His own ignorance. He knows
nothing about The Tariff question but
promises, when he obtains leisure, (and
that cannot be until the offices are disiribu-
ted, } he will set about informing himself,
and endeavor TO arrive at some conclusion.
Second-The Chicago platform is snscep-
i
clearly and distinctly pledge in favor of
protective Tariff
But let US listen 10 his own words in re-
ference TO the Morrill, bill, now pending in
the Senate, and now put in extreme peril
by the exertions of New York merchants
against i.:
The Tariff bill now before Congress may
not pass al the presenr session. confess
do not understand the precise provisions of
this BILL do not know whether it can he
passed by the present Congress or not. 1t
may or may not become the law of the
land, but if it does that will be an end of
the matter until notifications can be effec-
ted, should II be deemed necessary. If il
does not pass-aBd the latest advIces have
are 10 the effect that it is still pending-the
next Congress will have to give it their ear.
liest attention. According 10 my political
education | am inclined to belisve that the
people in the various portions of the coun>
try should have their own views carried
out through their representatives, IN Con
gress The consideration Of the Tariff bill
should be postponed until The neIt session IF the
National Legislature. No subject should en-
gage your representatives more closely
Than that of the Tariff. II have any re-
commentator to make it will be tha. every
man who is called upon to serve the peo-
pie in a representative capacity should
study the whole subject thoroughly, as in
tend TO Go myself--looking 10 all the varied
interests of the common country--so that
when the time of action arrives adequate