The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-17
GENERAL JACKSON TO DE-. COLEMAN.

WARRINGTON CITY, April 2e, s24.-sr:-I have
had the honor this day to receive your letter OF the
2lst inst, and with candor shall reply to it. NV
name has been brought before the nation by the
people themselves without any agency Of mine;
i wish 1t not to be forgotten that have never
solicited Office, when called upon by the const
tuted autborlt es, have ever declined where con-
ceved my services would be beneficial to my coun.
try. But as my name has been brought before the
nation for the first office in the gift Of the people it
is incumbent on me, when asked, frankly to declare
my opinion upon any political or national quesuon
pending before and about which the country feels an
interest.
You ask me my opinion on the tariff answer
that am IN favor OF a judiciaus examination and
revision of it; and so far the tari1 before
braces the design of fostering, protecting, and pre-
serving within ourselves the means of national de-
tense and Independence, particularly in state OF
war, would advocate and support it. The expert;
ence of the late ought to teach lesson, and
one never to be forgotten Ii our liberty and repub'
hcan form OF government, procured for US by our
sure at which they were obtained, it surely is our
duty to protect and defend them. Can there be an
and difficulties experienced for the want of proper
means OF defense during the last war who would be
willing again to hazard the safety of our country II
embroed, or rest it for defense on the precarious
means OF national resources TO be derived from COM
merce, in state Of war with maritime power
which might destroy that commerce to prevent our
obtaining the means of defense and thereby subdue
usS hope there is not and il there is am sure
he does not deserve to enjoy the blessing of freedom
Heaven smiled upon and gave US liberty and Inde-
pendence. That same providence has blessed us
with the means Of national independence and ma.
tonal defense. Ii omit refuse to use the gifts
which He has extended to u.s. we deserve not the
continuation of HIS blessings He has filed our
mountains and our plains with minerals-with lead,
iron and copper-and given us a climate and SOIL for
the growing O, hemp and wool, These being the
grand materials of our national defense, they ought
to have extended to them adequate and fair prOteo-
ton that our own manufactures and laborers may
be placed on far competition with those of Europe,
and that we may have within own country
supply OF those leading and important articles SO
With Sn eye TO the pTopep G Of labor and
revenue and with view TO discharge our national
debt. am one OF those who do not believe that
national debt Is national blessing, but rather a
curse to republic inasmuch as 1t is calculated TO
raise around the administration a moneYed arls
tocracy dangerous to the liberties OF the country,
This tarif-1 mean udicious One-I assesses more
fancitul than real dangers. / will not ask what is
the real situation of the agrculurlsti Where has
the American 1armer market for his surplus pro.
ductsr Except Tor cotton he has neither foreign
nor home market. Does not this clearly prove,
when there is no market, either at home or abroad,
that there is too much labor employed IN aRrculture
and that the channels of labor should be multiplied
Common sense points out at once the remedy ORA W
ION agriculture the superabundant labor employ IL
in mechanism and manufactures, thereby creating a
home market for your breadstufs, and distributing
labor to most profitable account, nd benefits to
the country will result Take from Agriculture in
the United States 600 600 men, women and children,
ana you at once give home market for more bread,
stutfs than all Europe now furnishes u.s. In short,
sir we have been too long subject to the policy of the
British merchants. IT 10 time we should become O
little more Anlericdnized and, instead OF feeding the
paupers and laborers OF Europe, feed our own OF
else in short time by continuing present policy
we shall all be paupeTs ourselves.
1t is, therefore, my opinion that careful tariff il
much wanted to pav our national debt and afford us
the means of that defense witbin ourselves on which
TIE safety and liberty of our country depend; and
last though not least give proper dist lbutiOn tC
our labor which must prove beneficial to the happ.
ness. independence. and wealth OF the community
This is short outline OF my opinions generally on
the subject of your inquiry, and believing them cor
rect and calculates TO further the prosperity and
happiness OF nv country / declare to you would
not arter them for any Office or situation OF tenn
poral character that could be given me.
have presented Won my opinions freely, because
am without eonceament, and should, indeed, des
pse myself II / could believe myself capable of &C
qnning the confidence of any by means so ignoble.
am SIR, very respectfully, our Obedient servant
ANDREW JACKSON