Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-07-04

from which we derive large revenue.
Was this a 'spaltry subterfuge" can
see it only as a sincere and truthful ex-
preston of the honest conviction that
controlled the convention.
But, my dear sir, if this is ''paltry
subterfuge" and an 'sincongruous alb
surdity, if you have the time, | would
be glad to have you refer to the tariff
plank No. Z, in the platform of the
Grant convention. With the example
of the ''subterfuge, incongruity and alb
surdity" of the tariff plank in the Gin
cinnati Convention before them, it would
seem that the plank of the Philadelphia
Convention ought to have been model
of sound sense and most unmistakable
meaning. To show how this vexed
question was disposed of by the sages
that made up that remarkable gathering,
quote from The Nation of June 10
paper that is opposed to Horace Gree
ley and from which the Cincinnati Con-
vention receives nothing but kicks and
cuffs -
''Plank No is, however, masterpiece,
which we commend to all young politi-
clans as model. This deals with the vex-
which the Cincinnati Convention got over
by frankly saving it could not agree about
it, and that the people might do as they
pleased about it 1T at the eleo o1r
Philadelphia brethren, however, were too
ambitious and too cute to pass 1t by in this
way. so they drew what we may call a
double-aetion plank, the composition of
which must have caused much merriment
in the committee. Our readers doubtless
all know that If we asked Horace Greeley
or Henry Q. Carey how the tariff should be
adjusted, he would reply, in the very
words of the resolution, that cit should be
so adjusted as to aid in securing remuner-
alive wages to labor and promote the in
dustres, growth and prosperity of the
whole country five asked Mr.. Wells -"
Mr.. Atkinson, he would reply In exact 3.
the same terms; so that the plank, aS ar
as words go, would suit protectionists and
free-traders equally well. But if you
asked Mr.. Greeley or Mr.. Carey how. I'M
der this plank, tariff should be q AVN,
he would tell you heavy duty should be
put on all articles capable of being pro-
duced in this country; whereas, ii you
asked Mr.. Wells or Mr.. Atkinson, he would
tell you duties should only be imposed ON
a few articles, either pure 1uXurieS or in
capable of being produced in this country
so that the committee has judiciouSly
drawn plank which suits equally well
men of dramatically opposite opinions.
The joyous wagging of Satan'S tail must
have been distinctly audible in the com
mittee-roOm when the final touches were
put to this choice production of his favor
tie art"
| am not to make a single comment on
this. | leave you to answer and explain
whether the "absurdity, incOngruity and
subterfuge" belong to your plank or
mine. If you can find amusement in
explaining the relative situation, your
readers will doubtless be infected by it..
You say that ''every school boy knows
that it is made enc of the executive du-
ties to recommend to Congress such leg
iSlotiC, from tsn1n tn tiD1n
to the President wise and useful" and
that ''the Cincinnati Convention is thus
pledged to violate one I'M JUNCTION of that
constitution"
Now, this is important, if true. A
party of reform which pledges itself to
| bring back the government to the sim
plicity aud purity which characterized
the early days OF the republic, ought not
to begin its life with violations of the
constitution, which is the ma31G cb0rta
of all popular rights.
Let us have the exact words of the
Cincinnati platform eve remit the
discussion of the subject to the people
of the congress districts and to the de
cisi0n of Congress thereon, wholly free
of executive interference or dictation.
These are the exact wOrds-nO more, no
less Does this preclude Mr.. Greeley
from expressing his opinion of the sub
iect. in his messages to Congress? He
)sen't propose to interfere with the
decjaon of Congress. His ieutenants,
his captains, his brigadiGrs and Office
holders. under his administration, will
not bpSinge Congress and buttOnhoic con-
grnssmrn with his policy, but he will
abit}" by the candid Judgment of those
II. =. 3 14,,
ton. this and other subjects are remit
ted. He will have ''n0 poljry IN enf1"ce
aq.tint the aHW Of the pa0DIe - and if he
fOiiaWs so distinguished an example as
your wise candidate has laid down N the
above quoted sentence; can you, Ms al
vocate, object?
But you Object that he is pledged nat
to 0etO any tariff bill. Let us SEE what
the provisions of the contribution are on
this subject This is the whole text
After bill shall have passed both
Houses of Congress it shall, before it be-
comes a law, be submitted TO tha Presi-
dent of the United States eff he APP
proves he shall sign it, but if not, he
shall return it, with his objections, to
the House in which it originated"
We have had, in the history Of ma
tional legislation, good deal of tinker
ing Of the tariff, and good deal has
been done by Houses of Congress, not
in harmony. politically, with the then
executive Can you relate the incidents
in our history where a President has
ventured to veto a tariff bill? VIII you
promise for Gen. Grant that he will,
in any case, undertake to enforce a pol
icy of his own against the will of the
people thus expressed ? | venture to
say that without this pledge, neither
Horace Greeley nor Gen. Grant would
so defy the deliberate and expressed
will of the people, IS to override their
judgment on question of detail in rails
ing revenue.
We know that Horace Greeley has
been lifelong protectionist. We honor
him for it. He stands to-day where he
has always stood Oh this question. He
has not surrendered any oil the convic-
tions of his life on this subject, and lie
never will Ultra free traders, like
Schurz, Trumbull and Wells, support
him, because they know his political in
tegrity, and, in the face of great politi-
cal danger, see the only open road to
safety, security and purity, in the cleo
ton of Horace Greeley.
Very truly yours,
S. NJ. DORR.
Rutland, June "a, 1872.