Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-10-22
Letter from Hon. A. H. H. Stuart
THE TARIFF QUESTION
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATF0RM-THE OLD
WING PARTY.

LEAR DIR. TledSo give us, III writing
your views of the Tariff plank in the Dem
ocratic platform, adopted by the Chicago
Convention, as compared with those advo
Gated by Henry Clay and other distin
guished Wings, including yourself
Very Respectfully,
Thos. A. Bledsoe, Jos. A. Waddell,
Marshall Hanger, Jas. Bumgardner, Jr
A. F. Kinney, Geo. M Harrison,
R. M. Guy, T. G. Elder.
J. E. Rollins, Thomas D. Ransom
Hugh W. shefey, ]. Fl. Wayt.
STAUNToN, VA, October 18th, 1884.
Messrs. Thos. A. B5edsoe, Ii. ". Shefeq
Marshall Hanger, Jos. A. WaddeH
and others
GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor to ae
knowledge the receipt Of of your note ot
yesterday, in which you request me to give
in writing my views eff the Tariff plank il
the Democratic platform adopted by the
Chicago Convention, as compared with the
policy advocated by Henry Clay and othel
distinguished Wing. l take pleasure in
responding promptly to your enquiry, anG
hope l Will be excused for making my re-
ply broad enough to embrace some othel
matters which, while they do not fall strict
ly within the scope of your enquiry, have
close relations to it.
1t is known to you that in the ancient
division of parties, was jealous member
of the Wing party, and an ardent supporter
of its great leader, Henry Clay. As such,
I was elected to Congress in 1874, and after
the Wings had gained control of the Ma.
tional government, | was invited BY Presi
dent Fillmore, in 1885, to occupy position
in his Cabinet, as the associate of Webster,
Corwin, Crittenden, Graham, and other
distinguished members of the Wing party
My position brought me into almost daily
intercourse with the leaders of the Whig
party, and afforded me the best opportuni
ty of becoming familiar with their senti
ments in regard to the important politica-
questions of the day.
In 1S42, the question of the tariff, in al
its aspects, came up for discussion and con.
sideration. When General Harrison was
inaugurated as President, on the 4th Of
March, lS41, we found the Treasury empty,
and the revenue insufficient to meet the or
binary expenses of the Government. He.
therefore, issued a proclamation calling an
extra session of Congress to meet on the
31st of May, 1871, and l have distinct
recollection of the fact, that when we as
sembled, there was not money in the Treas
ury to pay the mileage and per diem of the
members. As a temporary expedient, Con.
gress authorized the emission Of five mil
lions of Treasury notes, and then set tC
work to provide permanent revenue to
meet the wants of the government, econom
ically administered, by laying duties On
foreign merchandise. A bill, having that
object in view, was reported by Mr..
Fillmore, as Chairman of the Committee OF
Ways and E.eans. This bill brought UP
for consideration the whole subject of the
tariff policy. 1t was discussed most elab-
orately for probably six weeks, both in re-
gard to the principles which should govern,
and the details of the bill, and | doubt if a
more thorough and exhaustive discussion
ever occurredin Congress. The Democrats
generally, and some few Southern Wings,
were in favor of framing a bill having ref
erence to revenue only, without regard to
the protection of American Industries or in
terests. The great body of the Wings,
with Mr.. Clay at their head on the contra
ry, insisted on raising, by imports, a suff-
cient amount of revenue to meet the eX-
penses of the governmet, economically ad
ministered, and that in laying the duties,
there should be such determinations as
would afford reasonable protection TO the
manufacturing, commegcial, and agyicul-
tural interests Of our own people.
Although | was then very young man,
l participated in that debate, and on the
It'll Of July, delivered carefully prepared
speech, which was published in pamphlet
form, and copy of which is now before
me- In that speech I endeavored to give
an accurate exposition of the doctrines of
the Wing party on thu subject of tie Tariff.
In it l said: of l understand it (the bill
before the House, correctly, it is simply
ga reuenue bill. II is not, in the ordinary
''acceptation of the term, q bill for protec-
'tion. 1t comes to us under the auspices
''of the "Committee Of Ways and Means"
'Its purpose is to raise just so much money
Gas will be necessary to delray the expenses
''of the Government administered with all
practicable economy ; and as subordinate
s'to this primary consideration, 1T proposes
''to afford protection to the great agricul-
'tural, manufacturing, and commercial in
"terests of the country. The question of
"pT0tectiOn, per Sc, as something su6stdn-
sire and distinct from, repeRue, does not
s'arise under it, and | shall, therefore, not
s'deem it necessary on this occasion to dis
s'cuss the merits of that policy. In my
''opinion that question is not likely ever to
'iarise, for | know no member of either
"House of Congress, who desires any pro-
election to either of the great interests of
''the country beyond what will be afforded
"by a well adjusted reUenue tariff. But if
"there be any who go farther, wish to an
''nounce distinctly az the outset that l am
s'not one Of them. I will not go for raising
s'by tariff single dollar more than the
"wants of the Government, economically
administered, require. But in laying that
'stariff, | will be, at all times, willing and
s'desirous SO to discriminate between tie
ssartcles imported, s.to foster az protect
ssour home labor and hlme productions,
against foreign lab and foreign produc
'tions."
In these extracts from my speech, | be-
lieve gave expression to the sentiments of
nine-tenths of the Wing party. I know
from Mr. Clay's own lips, that they were
approved y him My speech was extern
svely published throughout the Northern
States, and as an eFidence OF the fact that
my views were approved by the Northern
people, need only refer to the circumstance
that within few months after its delivery
was selected to deliver the annual Grafton
before the American Institute in the City
of New York.
Having thus explained what Were the
doctl ines and opinions of MIR. Clay, and of
the large majority Of the Wing party in
1912, on the tariff ques' ion, | will proceed
to state what is the present position of she
Democratic party on the same subject, as
authoritatively announced III their platform,
by the Convention held at Chicago on the
Sth day of july 1884.
It affirms that "a change in the ex sting
s'tarif is necessary, because the present
''tarif produces surplus of nearly one
sshundred millions of dollars annually, in
'sexcess Of the legitimate needs OF the Gov
s'ernmer t." and then proceeds to announce
the self-evident proposition, that "unneces-
"sary taxation is unjust taxation, and to
''denounce the Republican party for hav-
cling fai ed to relieve the people from crush
siug war taxes, which have paralyzed bus
"ipess, crippled industry, and deprived la
sbor Of employment and of just reward"
1t then proceeds to declare, that in max
eng reduction in taxes, it is not proposed
ito iniure any domestic industries, but
"rather to promote their healthy growth.
ssFrom the foundation of this government,
takes collected at the cus-om-house have
"bes n the Chief source of Federal revenue.
Such they must continue to be. More
soyer, many industries have come to rely
son LEGISLATION for successful continuance;
,tbot oI,,n0a oflav mn ST be reOardful