Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-12-01

he mot With, Mr Walker adhered 10
Bis financial ideas aud succeeded In
pushing the bill through both honaes
Of Congress. II was approved by tho
President and went into operation
Immediately aflcr. Mr. Walker bad
entimatod that Il would yield $780,.
600, 900 the actual return was S29,.
OOo 900 the FIRST year aud an exoees Of
$4,000 600 10 succeedingyears Until
the republicans obtained possession Of
the government, this system Of i'm
posing duties Cor revenue and not for
protective purposes remained In force
and met with marked success. When
it was asocrtaincd that his IDEAS on
finances were sound, the reports of Mr..
Walker attracted considerable alton.
tion abroad. Sir Robert Peel bad
them printed and laid before the
House of Commons, numerous men,
bers Of which spoke londly in praise
of tho views they contained.
1t showed he remembered, too, in
this connection, that during Mr.. Wal
ker's administration of the Treasury
Department, the war with Mexico was
carried on. 1t has been claimed for
him, and with some show of truth,
that he bad "tho honor of being tho
only financial minister whom tho
world has produced, who has advanced
government stocks and maintained
them above par, during foreign war
and while it was borrowing money
daily"
The revenue tariff of 1856 was un-
repealed until it mot its fate at the
hands of the Republican party in 1861.
The warehouse system, independent
treasury, and Interior Department
acts are still in force.
At the date of Mr.. Walkers appoint
ment to the Treasury, in time of pro-
found peace, United States six per
cents had been hawked over Europe,
but a sale could not be effected at par.
Before he went out, although the
debt had been largely increased by
the Mexican war, they commanded a
premium Of 23 in gold a. home and
abroad. This rise was owing to con-
fdence in Mr.. Walker, the increase in
revenue, urder the revenue tariff Of
lS46, the publication of Mr.. Walkers
reports by the Parliament of Great
Britain, and the repeal of the odious
corn laws Of England, based, avowedly,
upon these reports by Sir Robert Peel,
who mado the motion for their
repeal.
In 1916 Mr.. Walker opposed most
vchemently the giving up 81 40, and
advocated the acquisition Of Russian
America, then offered us. He urged
the retention and acquisition of the
whole Pacific coast In lS48 he op-
posed the surrender of Mexico, and
insisted upon its annexation, in order
to prevent, as he then said, European
intervention. Upon this question he
rendered his resignation as Secretary
to Mr.. Polk, but at the latters request,
agreed TO retain his portfolio, with the
understanding that he might use his
personal strength to defeat the treaty
surrcndoring Mexico. The treaty
was passed, and the retention of tho
whole of Mexico defeated by Calhoun,
upon the ground that its admission
into the Union would be fatal blow
TO slavery.
In lS4T he advocated in his reports
the construction of the Panama Rail
road, and the establishing of libe of
steamers from New York to Panama,
thonce to San Francisco, thence to
China and Japan. In these reports
hc first promulgated the idea that
New York would become tho centro
of the commerce Of the world. This
was much ridiculed at the time, both
In Europe and America At the close
of Mr.. Folks term of Office Mr.. Wal
ker resigned, with the satisfaction of
knowing that the Governor had not
lost ono dollar by default or pcculation
during his term.
In 1851 Mr. Walker visited Europe
on behalf of the Illinois Central Rail.
road Company, and was welcomed By
Bright and Golden and the Liberal
party with public dinners at London,
Liverpool, Southampton, and Man.
chester. On his return homo in 1858
he was selected by Mr.. Pierce and
Secretary Marcy for the mission to
open trade with China and Japan, but
was prevented from going by the state
Of his health. The manufacturing,
commercial, and navigating interests
Of New England and New York urged
him to go, and supported his plan for
reciprocal free trade with China and
Japan.
In 1856 his address, entitled an
"Appoal tor the Union" was made tho
Democratic campaign document in the
Presidential canvass OF that year. 1t
was published in English, Welsh,
French, Spanish, Italian, and German,
and circulated TO the extent Of millions
OF copies.
In 1857, giving up his private bust
ness, he went TO Kansas US Governor.
His mission was to prevent the revo.
luton threatened there and likely to
extend to the whole country Kansas
and the country were at once pacifed
by his policy of submitting the consti-
tuition to tho vote Of the people.
Before the secession movement oul-
minated Mr.. Walker announced him
self as opposed TO il. and during the
rebellion aided The government in its
coercive measures against the South.
While the war was at its height Mr..
Lincoln sent him TO Europe in the
capacity ofconfdential financial agent,
and although tho current of public
opinion there was ngainst tho Union,
he succeeded in influencing demand
for United States bonds in Frankfort
and other cities of Germany. This
was tho only official position be held
between 1851 and his death. On tho
return Of peace he urged a generous
and conciliatory policy toward the
South, deplorod tho radicalism Of
Congress and strenuously opposed tho
impeachment of President johnson.
He continued practising his profession,
meeting with great success. AT tho
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