Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-28

ed By this MozEnz tariff, may be lssTn1a zFeta /
reading the leading Republican papers the Ne y !
York Times, Posi-, and Tribune, the Cincinnati
SSnmsrciaI etc. Why did they not enter Their |
protest against the course of their party friends =
the time this tariff measure was under discussion
Why did they not save the character Of their parry
from threatened ruin, when their warnings mens
have effected their end Why did they not snleio
the Government from contempt BY preventing sne
catastrophe at q time, when of all Others II was
likely to prove most disastrous! The Democratic
press WAS powerless. Why, then, we repeat did
not the Republican press point out the disasters
which have ensueds
As an evidence Of the present tone OF the hepao-
lean press, on this subject, we suDJoin the fol-
lowing striking passages from late article m the
Nav York Tines:
BREAKERS AHEAD
The enactment Of a highly protective Tariff on
the heel of the last session Of Congress- without the
slightest provision made for its enforcement and at
the very time when secession vas SO fully matnred
as to indicate its character and purpose was an act
Of reckless folly unparalleled in cur legislative
history. The measure is equally bad in every point
/ in which it can be viewed. 1t Is not revenue
Tariff Its object is to discourage importauons Ii
cannot be enforced on more than three Thousand
miles of seacoast, and fifteen hundred OF interior
| line We treat the seeding States as portion of
| our Confederacy. ship may lawfully enter their
ports AMI put its goods in warehouse. In seizures
for condemnation the case would have TO be tried
IN the United States Courts and before local jury.
No such Court exists. they ald u would not be
dificult to tell how the jury would decide. The
/ President has no power whatever in the premses
HIS O1lides are well established laws which con-
tempated nothing like the present state of affairs
The spectacle of great nation unable to enforce
4 .lll, uols.v,
observance of which the exercise of all its functioEs
| DEPEND is hurniliating to the last degree.
| Whatever may be the ultimate aims of the seeds
ING States present advantage is Of the utmost i'm
portance as lever for future operations tariff
| Is highly unpopular in the Border States The one
lust enacted is the strongest argument yet address
ed TO them to go with the seeding ones and tell
1 ing with great effect. No matter how absurd may
/ be the statements and arguments used they none
the less effect what we would avoid. We do not st
the present moment wish to give an opportunity to
draw i'll natured picture of the Northern capital
list seeking by legislation to add to his gans by in
creasing the cost of everything the poor man uses
No step could have been taken so well calculated to
ALLEVIATE the Border States, at the very moment il
has been our policy to conciliate them.
| Never was nation in greater embarrassment
We confess our inability to enforce the most mpor-
tant laws we enact, and sit passively down and see
| them violated, without raising finger. How can
alton! We take the step of all others most calcu'
lated to ALLEVIATE the Border States and foreign ma
| tons We can neither collect our revenue nor az
| ford protection. Who, under such circumstances
would dare to embark in any enterprise! How much
revenue can be collected in Northern portss No one
| can answer these questions. lis not such uncertain
tv the greatest of all evils! A state of war would
be almost preferable. 1t would be the beginning OF
| an end. Thus far seem to be without direction
or purpose, or the means of enforcing our purpose
if we had any.
In the meantime how is the Government to be
sustained? TIE door to borrowing is still lef
open But it has been entirely contrary to
| the genius of our Government to borrow
] without any present or prospective means o.
I payment. The GorerEment fortunately can, By
borrowing, temporarily supply ell its wants. But
we should not lose moment in deVising, if pos
sible, plan to put our finances on firm founda
ton. The ability to develop such plan will tes
the capacity Of the new Administration. 1t should
not feel itself bound in the slightest degree by TIL
acts eff the past one. The present tariff shoulC
not for an instant stand in the way Of it
entire freedom Of action. 1t wauld be . curious
doctrine fer the party in power to be controlled b.
the precedents Of the past. We learn that Score
tary Chase has already declared that the tariff mus
be repealed. We look forward with great interes
to the line of policy be will adopt. If he viii &C
with the intelligence and independence he has tn
credit OF possessing, he will call upon Congress
, relieve him from his present dilemma, by pscin
him in position in which he can, with entire free
DOM address himself TO the difficulties of his posi-
ton, and to the composition Of the political differ
: onces that now distract the country.