The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-07-31
MONROE, LA, July 20, 1856.
w. +. ASHLEY

MONROE, La, July 20, 1856.
W. +. ASHLEY, ESQ, Ruston, La:
Dear Friend--I understand that
my position OIL the tariff has been
misconstrued and lnisrepresented by
persons who heard my speech at
Vernon. I suppose I cannot hope to
escape full STARE Of caiumny, misau-
Outstanding and misrepresentation; but
it docs seem TO me that my tariff;
views were expressed so emphatically
aud clearly that even my worst enemy
would not think of disappearing
them. stated that ! never had been
aud never would be- in favor of sspro-
lection for protecti0n's sake" / stated
over and over again that 1 was not in
favor Of high taxation, either in the
State or nation. ! stated that l was
not in favor of collecting one cent by
tho imposition of import duties more
than is necessary for an economical
administration OF the government, and
that / favor the reduction of taxation,
Federal and State, 10 the lowest pos
sible limit consistent With efficient
government. Everybody present
heard these statements, aud no one
ever heard me, in public or private,
! advocate or announce a contrary doc
| trine. ! particularly declared that
was not Il protectjonist Or high tariff
| man. No one can deny that insisted
on this. But l declared that was in
favor Of distributing the revenue
necessary to be collected so az TO pro-
tect, encourage and foster tho healthy
growth Of our domestic industries; that
l favored such Il revision of the traiff as
would not injuro American labor or
destroy American interests, but favored
such an adjustment and such q process
of reduction as Woulti afford the great
est amount of good to the country and
cause tho least disturbance 70 our
business and manufacturing occup,
atoms. For instance, say that we
must necessarily collect 100000 COR
two hundred miliiops) per annun by
the tariff. Instead OF levying tkis
| imports, as the free traders would do,
tionally anu inteIiigenijy on the
various imports, admitting many
articles free, levying specific duties on
some, al vulorens duties on others,
| varying the percentage according TO
our own interest, discriminating
always in favor Of necessities and
against luxuries, never prohibiting
| importation, but seeking studiously to
discover the true line which would
afford the maximum OF revenue and
the minimum Of injury to American
labor, industry and capital.
Ia support of these views, which /
have always entertained, l referred 70
the Democratic platform adopted at
Chicago in 1854 (see proceedings, p.
1861. / stated that J. was 4 delegate 10
that convention and witnessed the
formation of that wise, safe and sound
platforms: that it was compromise
between the Randall and The Morrison
miugs Of the party; that it was voted
for by both wings that it was made
for Cleveland 10 stand on, and l in,
tended to stand there, too l said then
aud l say now, that this platform Is
the "goluen mcan,' the solid middle
ground on which the Democratic iarly
| must unite aud march on TO victory.
1 spoke of it as the true policy to the
South, where manufacturing is being
encouraged and advanced on every
hand, Il conspicuous instance of which
spirit is to bc found in the amendment
TO our Constitution iAr:. 2O7), lately
promulgated by the Legislature, which
exempts from ruxatiou for twenty
years al! capital Invested in manufac-
turing shoes, hats. saIdlcry, etc.
hope TO live IL see the day when The
| South will manufacture every iulr
| pIcmcnt and every commodity which
sho needs. I argued that the 9th
District is pccuIiary interested in car.
rying out my policy; bat while we
require and ask protection for our over
flowed lands, we must accord protection
to the interest Of our sister States. such
as Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, etc.
We cannot ask favors which we are
not willing to give.
But based every proposition thnt
/ made on tho plain text OF tho Chi-
cago platform, and l always proclaimed
that no more revenue should be collect
cd for a'2y purpose than is impcra;ively
| needed by tho government.
My friend, you were present and
Know that these were the views 1
expressed. They are the Views which
honestly entertain. I shall con-
sistently maintain them until con-
WINGED that am in error, for believe
them to be truly Democratic, patriotic
a e.. f,,f Of