, 1866-07-13
MfnnneaGia Against the ProhIbllory
Tariff Htit,


Sepator Wilson insists TINT the pFepostcr-
ous]y protective tariff which Congress Is try
ing TO force upon the country and into our
politics at the coming elections, Il no creature
Of New En!gland paternity, but Is child Of
tho Northwest. Good! Now let the balance
OF the New England delegation Join with NJ.
Wilson in swearing the bantllns upon Us, and
then stand still and see with what sublim-
ity Of devotion the Northwest will sacrifice
this Its trst-born upon the altar Of patriot
Ism. even as Through fnlth Abraham offered
up l1ac." The fire and the wood are ready,
and the devoted parent will consent that the
child of promise shall be laid upon the altar,
let not It's hand be stayed, neither send 1t
to th1cket Tor a ram instead. And let the
entire Union witness the glorious auto ia .fs.
II eeems emarknb1e-amaZinE-th Con-
Eress should think of forcing such an Issue as
prohibitory tariff for protective purposes
upon the country ut this time. The yreat Re-
publican Union party was framed and is held
together for no sueh purpose. The old WhIg
party had projection to American industry"
for one Of Its leading principles, and thereby
managed 10 be most thoroughly whipped ii
almost every contest. To be sure, q great
many OF the members OF the present Rcput-
Protectionlsts, but great many were also for
merly disciples OF the Gam1lteis Of free trade
Calhoun and McDuff1e. and Robert j. Walk
er and Silas Wright-at whose feet they
learned thas unfetterel commerce Vas the
only sure rond to wealth and happiness In
next. Present to such men the direct ques-
tion Of highly protective tariT even along
with the already clearly defined Issue Of re.
construction, md 1t Is but natural that thew
should hesitate. Flesh and blood cannot
STAND everything, and the power Of old aud
full concert with selfinterest, generally con-
st1tute too strong temptation for IN unre-
generated man to overcome.
To drive this portion OF the strength OF the
Union party to the wan by the passage Of
such OH as Congress proposes. Is to court
and to make doubtful contest In many dis
tricts which would otherwlse be oyerwhelm-
ipgly with us.
By the passage Of the propositions for
amending the Constitution and the adoption
o. The reconstruction tS" report
johnson and their late enemies In the field. IL
disttnctly and squarely drawn, md the inher-
ent strength of our side ahould not bo ftitter-
ed away By the Introduction Of collateral aud
pe1plesing questions. The Republican party
mas been built up on no such foundation as
protectton-leti 1t carefully attend to its real
business, which has been to save the country
and Government from the dominion Of
slayery and the Vaccinations Of traitors. and
Is now to prevent Its surrender to its enemies
whom It has go slgually beaten In the 1eld.
And as Mr. johnson Is 50 fond Of appealing
appeal. 10 give him the additional adyan-
tage Of an opportunity to veto such an ab-
surd thing as this proposed tariff, would be
worse than erime-it Wonld be a blundar.
In the meantime, If with the present high
duties on imports, I rate Of premium On gold
" hlch operates In the American market as
an additional protection, and decrease OF
the present internal revenue tux. the woollen |
lords Of New England and the iron lords OF |
pennsylvania cannot stand upon their feet ]
without further governmental propping, Let |
them fall In tie derfi's name.
From the II. Paul Press editorial
We entirely agree with our corTespon-
dent IN one respect. We think with him l
tnat the issue OF IN extreme protective tariff 4
which has been sprung Ii Congress Is
tic question ts ogdrsI1 eutireiy out l'al Of
order, and will be 80 until the paramount Is
sues Of Reconstruction gre detlnltiyely dis
posed of, and that 1t Is OF great importance
that these Issues should be presented 10 the |
county II their utmost simplicity, unembar-
rassed with other subjects Of angry pattfzan
1t will be extremely unfortunate, If the
canvass this fa1l upon the vital interest OF The
hour sball be complicated with tue intermt-
1able disputes Of the economical doclriaaires.
HVA OWsC1fEsf "Aeu we lEEI called up0u to
discuss the question Of = protective tariff, We
shall be prepared to do SO without the bias Of
party antecedents upon this question, and we
shall certainly decline to be tr1cked into auv
hasty conclusions In the matter BY the stale
expedient Of connecting 1t with subjects
With which 1t has no sort OF connection. We
shall reach the tariF question soon enough,
md when We do reach 1t, let rs be prepared !
10 discuss It upon its merits, and not attempt
10 steal what will be dishonesty Represented |
Is popufar verdict upon question Of vital
moment BY smugglinglt through as an INCL
lent OF nm autecedent question still more
7ital and far more pressing. Let each tub
'tand on its own bottom, and each ea.o 70 to
he jury upon Its own merits.
fthe Republican party supplanted the old
'fhIT party 1t was not a. its lineal heir but |
is its successful rival. It was organized for
objects of transcendent national consequence
.nifre1y distinct from those Of the Wing par
y, and II does not propose to be diverted from
hose objects I'LL they are fully accomplished.
We are Of opinion that the Congressional
on the Republican side can
,etter afford to postpone the proposed in
,rease Of tariff than, BY thrustfng 1t prema-
urely into the canvass, lose the next cleo
ion In some thirty or forty Congressional
Districts, and with these lose their two-thErds
majority In Congress, and thus bind the na-
ion helpless ut the feet Of the veto power.