X) THE VOICE OF WARNING, PREPARED AND PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF HON. WILLIS GREEN, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Whig Members of Congress, at Washington. i 5 TO THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS OF THE UNITED STATES. It has been truly said, fellow-citizens, that " eternal vigilance is the price of liberty ;" and never before, in the history of our country, did that noble sen timent so eloquently appeal to us to heed its warning voice. The liberties of our country have been invaded from without and within from abroad and at home. The enemies of republican freedom, in England and the United States, have leagued together, in order to subjugate and enslave our people not by war, nor by force of arms, but by bribery and corruption. No, they come not with glittering swords and bristling bayonets they come with arms more destructive than these they come with MONEY, and exult in the hope that they can buy us, like beef in the shambles, for their uses. Ay, BRITISH GOLD has been sent ,* n- io corrupt the ballot-box 1 of freemen, and insure, if possible, the election of JAMES K. POLK to (he Presidency. The Free Trade party in England has rallied to the assistance of the Lcco- foco leaders, the only advocates of Free Trade on this side of the Atlantic ; and all their efforts to defeat HENRY CLAY and break down the Protective Policy, are united and identical. A solemn league and covenant Laveb^eti concluded between the enemies of manufactures in the United States and the aristocracy of England, to effect the repeal of the Tariff of 1842. Half a million of pounds sterling nearly two millions of dollars have been subscribed for that purpose ; and this enormous corruption fund, furnished by British Lords and British manufacturers, is to be expended to promote the triumph of LOCOFOCOISM, and secure the election of a FREE TRADE CONGRESS ! "American manufactures must be smothered in their cradle" was the emphatic declaration of Lord Brougham, in Westminster Hall. With this great end in view, this half million of British gold has been raised ; and JAMES K. POLK, the descendant of a Tory, is the chosen instrument of British capitalists "to smother American manufactures." His leading par tisans in this country are the acting agents of these British capitalists^, whose money has been sent here to print Free Trade documents and hire Free Trade speakers. Who can doubt, in the face of these facts, that numbers of the Locofoco stump speakers, who are now traversing the country, de- ^nouncing HENRY CLAY and ike protective policy, are the pensioned hire- lings of the British capitalists fed and clothed out of this British fund? I You should remember^ too, fellow-citizens, that this is not the first time that foreigners have attempted to exert a moneyed influence over us. la Printed at the Whig Standard office* Washington city" the days^Whe Revolution it was successfully used against our fathers. BENEDICT ARNOLD was too weak to resist it and he betrayed his country. It touched the itching palms of EZEKIEL POLK, the grandsire of the Presi dential candidate of the Locofocos and he took British protection and pile ed CORNWALLIS S army through the piney woods of North Carolina. And as England has always shown herself grateful for past favors, is it at all un likely that gratitude for the services of EZEKIEL POLK has, to some extent, moved her bankers and capitalists to contribute their money without stint to advance the cause of his grandson in the present canvass? But be that as it may, one thing is certain that British gold is now being freely used to defeat the election of Henry Clay. That the leaders of the Locofoco party are more hostile to the protection of American industry than to any other prin ciple avowed by the Whigs, is a well settled question it rests no longer in doubt. They are the deadly foes of American labor; and in this they share the earnest sympathies of the British capitalists. The British man ufacturers know that the election of HENRY CLAY and a Whig Congress would be the death-blow to all their hopes. They know that the Tariff of 1842 would then be impregnable to their assaults, and that American me chanics and American laborers would then furnish American citizens with what they use and consume. Their object is to manufacture everything for us, and, as Lord CHATHAM said, not to let us have even so much as "a horse-shoe or a hob- nail," which does not come from the workshops of Eng land. And they know further, that, in this, they will meet with the active co-operation and assistance of JAMES K. POLK and the leaders of his party. Hence arises the deep interest these British manufacturers have taken in our elections, and their anxiety to see him^President of the nation. He is the fast friend of their interests, and to secure his friendly offices as President, they will very cheerfully spend two or three millions of dollars to help him on his way. It is, in every respect, a regular business transaction, planned by DUFF GREEN with the Cobden Free Trade League, whilst in London, and to be consummated by JOHN C. CALHOUN, through his follower, JAMES K. POLK, for whose fealty McDuFFiE, and PICKENS, and RHETT, are pledged to the disunionists in South Carolina. Nor will the British manufacturers lose anything by this profuse expenditure of money to con trol our elections. On the contrary, it will prove a profitable investment ; for if they can by this means elect JAMES K. POLK, he will repay them with interest compounded. But how is this to be done? we may be asked. Not by taking the money directly from the public treasury, it is true; but by destroying the protective policy by encouraging the importation of Mritish manufactures and by giving to the English manufacturers the monopoly of the American market ! Such are the leading features in the democracy of JAMES K. POLK, the Presidential candidate of American Free Traders, backed and sustained by the gold of British manufacturers and British capitalists! Therefore it is that we are enabled to copy the following paragraph : From the London Times. " A subscription was recently opened to raise funds to circulate Free Trade Tracts in foreign countries. ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY THOUSAND POUNDS WERE SUB SCRIBED. Some of these tracts are to be printed in New York, FOR CIRCULATION is THE UNITED STATES," These subscriptions, it appears, were procured in different parts of Eng land, Manchester, one of the greatest manufacturing towns, has subscribed its .20,000, nearly $100,000 ! ! A late Manchester paper says of a meeting there : " Mr. Murray read the following list already received, the announcement of the re spective suras being received with loud and hearty cheering by the audience : The Hon. the Lord Provost 100 A. & J. Denison, George Square 200 Charles Tennant & Co. 200 William Dixon 200 Samuel Higginbotham 200 Dunlop, Williams, & Co. 200 Buchanan, Hamilton, & Co. 100 A friend 60 Neal Thompson 50 James Scott 50 Alexander Graham 50 D. McPhail & Co. 50 William Stirling & Sons 50 S. D. & Thomas Brown 50 J. & A. Anderson 50 William Gemmell 40 Robert Dalgish 40 John Whitehead 30 George Smith 30 JohrTKer 25 James Oswald 25 W. G. Mitchell 21 A. & D. J. Banatine 21 John Young 21 Robert Stewart 20 Andrew Mitchell 20 Alexander McGregor 20 &c. &c." There can be no doubt that this money is sent to the United Stales to be used in favor of the election of a President and Congress pledged to repeal the Whig Tariff Act of 1842. There is no other purpose for which such large sums can be needed. It certainly is not wanted lo influence the peo ple of England, for they are already clamorous for "Free Trade and low duties," and to spend money to strengthen them in the faith, would, indeed, be ridiculous excess. We are not, however, left to speculation and doubt on this point, for the London Times tells us, in so many woids, that a fund of 440,000 has been raised to "CIRCULATE FREE TRADE TRACTS IN FO- I:KK;.Y COUNTRIES, SOME OF WHICH ARE TO BE PRINTED IN NEW YORK, FOR CIRCULATION IN THE UNITED STATES. 7 Nor should we be surprised at this movement. It is very natural that the aristocracy of England should seek to operate upon the legislation of this country by the liberal distribution of money and bribes. England knows full well that it is the only avenue to success. We have twice beaten her in vigorous war, upon the land and the ocean, and she remembers to her sorrow, the fields of Yorktown and of New Orleans. It is not at all singu lar, therefore, that she goes to work insidiously, nor that, when she finds traitors here who will do her bidding t if paid for it, she should forward them gold, as the price of their treachery. She has found in the Locofoco lead* ers willing instruments for her service, and she pays them in advance, be cause THE MONEY IS NECESSARY TO GIVE THEM THE POWER TO DO WHAT SHE HAS BOUGHT AND PAID THEM TO DO, Now what say you, independent voters of the Union, to this interference of a foreign power with the freedom of your elections ? Are you disquali fied to decide upon the merits of HENRY CLAY and JAMES K. POLK, that BRITISH GOLD must be brought in to help your understandings? Will you tamely submit, to this British interference this use of British gold to bribe American citizens to vote for James K. Polk? Will you not, as your fathers did of old, resist this British influence and British gold ? Will you not rally to the rescue of your country, and prove to the world that you are still unseduced and unterrified ; and that like the incorruptible Reed of Revolutionary memory, " Great Britain is not rich enough to buy you ?" We find, in connection with this corruption fund, that the Fnglish papers are strong in approbation of JAMES K. POLK and his anti-protective princi ples. The London Economist, in a long tirade against the Tariff of 1842, says : " The consequence of the present United States Tariff is to prevent the people of that country having cotton and woollen goods, paper, cutlery, types, machines, &c. &c. as cheap as they might, and T PREVENT THE MANUFACTURERS OF ALL THESE ARTICLES IN THIS COUNTRY" FROM OBTAINING SO MANY ADDITIONAL, AND, WE SHOULD HOPE, PROFI TABLE CUSTOMERS." It is easy to show that JAMES K. POLK is side by side with the British press on this question, and we shall therefore, to prevent misunderstanding, give his opinions also. . In his organ, the Nashville Union, of June 26, 1843, we find an address of Mr. POLK to the people of Tennessee, from which we make the following extracts: From the Nashville Union, of June 26, 1843. EXTRACTS F.ROM GOV. FOLK S LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE. " Upon the subject of the Tariff, 1 have but little to add to what I have heretofore often declared to the public. All who have observed my course, know that I hate at all times been opposed to the protective policy. I am for laying such moderate duties on imports as will raise revenue enough, when added to the. income from the sale of iands and other incidental sources, to defray the expenses ot Government economically administered. I AM IN FAVOR OF A TARIFF FOR REVENUE, AND OP- POSED TO A TARIFF FOR PROTECTION. I was a member of Congress during the period that this subject excited greatest interest. I was opposed to the pro tective Tariff of 1828, and voted against it. I voted for the act of 1832, because it re duced the Tariff of 1828 to lower rates. That made some reduction, though not as much as I desired to have made." * * * " /. AM OPPOSED TO THE ACT OF 1842, not regarding it to be a revenue Tariff, but in many of its provisions HIGHLY PROTECTIVE AND OPPRESSIVE IN ITS CHARACTER. I AM IN FAVOR OF THE RESTORATION OF THE COMPROMISE ACT OF 1833." "MAY 17, 1843. JAMES K. POLK." These are the views of the candidate our opponents have put up for the Presidency. He " has at all times been opposed to a Tariff for protection," and is opposed to the Tariff of 1842, which he declares to he " highly pro tective and oppressive in its character" In view of this, it is reduced to a certainty that his election would be the death of the Tariff, and secure to the English manufacturers the fulfilment of their highest hopes. To make this clearer still, let us look for a moment to the declaration of his leading friends in Congress. Mr. THOMAS H. BENTON, in a speech on the Tariff, in the Senate, on the 25th of April, 1844, said : " The question itself is now on trial before the great areopagus of the people, and must have its solution from that tribunal before we meet again. THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION INVOLVES THE FATE OF THE TARIFF, and to that fate a future Congress will have to conform, be our action now what it may. Now, as in the year 183^, the fate of the high Tariff is staked in the person of its eminent champion its candidate for the Presidency f the United States. That champion was defeated then, and his system with him; and he may be defeated again." The defeat of HENRY CLAY, says Mr. BENTON, is the destruction of the Tariff! Tariff men, friends of protection are you prepared for this? Again : Mr. THOMAS J. HENLEY, a Locofoco member from Indiana, said, about the same time, in the House of Representatives: " I can tell gentlemen that the present tar iff will be reduced so soon as we are in full power. We knew it was no use to pass it in the House now, as we had not the ma jority in the Senate. Give us a majority there, and see if we do not pass the bill ! We will do it, FOR SUCH is OUR RESOLUTE DETERMINATION!" Here, then, is the development of their purpose ; the Tariff of 1842 will be repealed so soon as the Locofocos have full power. It cannot be mis understood, for it is spoken by authority in the Halls of Congress. But we have not done with the English press, which takes the same ground as Mr. POLK, and his friends Messrs. BENTON and HENLEY. The London Atlas says, and we beg the reader to mark its language: " The election of Mr. Clay must, WE FEAR, be looked upon as, to a considerable extent, the confirmation of the principle of commercial restriction. He has always been the consistent advocate of a PROTECTIVE TARIFF, and the cause of the Whigs has always been identified with that of the New England manufacturers, who aim at acquiring * monopoly of the home market by the aid of prohibitory duties. Nor can we wonder that such is the policy of the most respectable and intelligent statesmen of America, when we consider that by our corn laws we shut the door in the face of any attempt lo negotiate a commercial arrangement on the footing of fair and substantial reciprocity. We take nothing from the United States but that which we cannot possibly do without their cotton and tobacco excluding the staple produce of the great agri cultural States of the west, by a sliding scale ingeniously framed so as to throw the maximum amount cf impediment in the way of access to the English market. Is it to foe wondered at, then, that they retaliate and meet high duties on American flour by high duties on English manufactures? A liberal commercial policy three years ago would have prevented the passing of the restrictive Tariff of the United States, and would have given a decided ascendancy in that country to Free Tiade principles and the Free Trade party. A liberal commercial policy ten years hence, as from present indications would appear to be the probable result, may very possibly fail to recover what previous blunders have cost us. To offer to admit American and German corn in exchange fi.r British manufactures when the manufacturing systems of Prussia, Saxony, and New England have acquired strength and become consolidated, will be very much like what the old saying dercribes as barring the door after the horse is stole en. And now, fellow citizens, what have you to say to this? Will you suf fer the manufaclurers of Manchester, Sheffield, and Leeds to say who shall be our President? Will you permit them to stake down the Tariff of 1842, on the permanency of which depend the prosperity and happiness of your country? Will you remain inactive in the present crisis, and let the Locofocos, tainted and corrupted with British gold, elect JAMES K. POLK to the highest office in the gift of a free people? Will you, the sons and descendants of the gallant freemen who triumphed over British gold and British arms in the war of the Revolution, show yourselves ready to receive the chains that have been forged to bind you? Will you thus be come the instruments of your own degradation and ruin ? These are se rious questions, and they address themselves to every man in the nation. The facts are before you, and it is for yo^u to consider them. Gold has been sent here from England to advance the political fortunes of men whose first act would be to repeal the present Tariff. The Locofoco leaders are using that gold unsparingly they are paying their Free Trade orators, and printing and scattering Free Trade tracts, almost broad cast over the land. The issue is one of fearful and startling import. It is a struggle, not only with those who are against PROTECTION, but with the moneyed power, and the bloated aristocracy of England ! Manufacturers and Farmers ! Mechanics and Workingmen ! we appeal to you. The result of the Presidential election is of vital importance to YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES ! It is for you to say whether the Tariff shall be RE PEALED OR PRESERVED ! Let it be repealed, and the country will be flooded with the products of PAUPER LABOR, and you will either be thrown out of employment, or forced towork for low wages ; and, it may be, you will not 6 have bread to put in the mouths of your starving children ! Let it be preserv ed and your prosperity will be permanent ; and your families comfortable and happy ! Think well upon these things ! Reflect deeply and seriously be fore you act ! The result of the Presidential election is, we candidly as sure you, big with the fate of millions. It involves the fate of the Tariff, and, consequently, that of the people and the country ! If then you would preserve the protective policy, and give steady and adequate protection to every branch of American industry, vote for its champion HENRY CLAY. On the other hand, if neiiher the interests of the country, nor your own interest, give you any solicitude if you are willing to see both go head long to destruction if, in fine, you are lost to a sense of duty, and un mindful of the rich legacy of republican freedom bequeathed by your fathers, then vote for JAMES K. POLK, to whose support it is now boldly attempted to bribe you with the gold of British Lords and British mami- facturers and capitalists ! We have now performed our duty, do ye yours. We have warned yon of the danger that threatens your liberties and the peace and security of the Government, and forewarned, be ye forearmed. APPENDIX. JAMES K. FOLK S VOTES, TAKEN FROM THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. It has been deemed proper to give the votes of JAMES K. POLK on the Tariff, from the Journals of Congress, authenticated in due form of law ; and in this form they are submitted to the people of the United States for their consideration and reflection. THE TARIFF WOOL AND WOOLLENS. The bill to amend acts imposing duties on imports to protect woollen manufactures and wool growers, passed yeas 106, nays 95. James K. Polk voting NAY Journal of H. of R. 1826-7, page 282 ; Feb. 10, 1827. The amendment imposing on Brussels, Turkey, and Wilton carpets, &c. r a duty of 70 cents per square yard; on Venitian and ingrain carpets, &c. 40 cents per square yard ; on all other kinds of carpets, &c., of wool, flax, hemp, or cotton, &c., 32 cents per square yard, was agreed to yeas 125 r nays 66. James K. Polk voting NAY. The amendment, " On woollen blankets, 40 per cent, ad valorem," was rejected yeas 78, nays 105. James K. Polk voting NAY. f* The amendment, "On worsted stuff goods and bombazines, 35 per cent, ad valorem," was rejected yeas 73, nays 107. James K. Polk voting NAY Journal H. of R. 1827- 28, pages 487, 489, 491 ; April 7th, 1828. The Tariff bill of 1828 passed yeas 105, nays 94. James K. Polk vot ing NAY Journal H. of R. 1S27- 2S, page 607; April 22d, 1828. The amendment to reduce the duty on wool and woollens rejected yeas 68, nays 120. James K. Polk voting YEA Journal of H. of R. 1S29- 30, page 626; May llth, 1830. A question of consideration of motion to reduce the duties on iron, wool. woollens, and cotton baggine:, decided in ihe negative yeas 66, nays 114. James K. Polk voting YEA Journal of H. of R. 1830- 31, page 59; Dec. 14, 1830. The amendment of 40 percent, ad valorem duty on unmanufactured wool was agreed to yeas 113, nays 75. James K. Polk voting NAY Journal of H. of R. 1831- 32, page 922; June 22d, 1832. The amendment to raise duty on woollen yarn to 50 percent, ad valorem was agreed to yeas 110, nays 79. James K. Polk voting NAY Journal of H. of R. !83l- 32, pa<?e 910; June 22d, 1832. The amendment to raise the duty on mits, gloves, bindings, blankets, hosiery and carpets, &c., except Brussels and Venitian carpets, from 25 per cent, ad valorem to 30 per cent, ad valorem, was rejected yeas 90, nays 94. James K. Polk voting NAY Journal of H. of R. 1831- 32, page 991 ; June 27,1832. The amendment imposing on flannels and baizes a specific duty of 16 cents per square yard, was agreed to yeas 93, nays 91. James K. Polk voting NAY. Journal of H. of R. 1831- 32, page 1009 ; June 27, 1832. The amendment to raise the duty on Brussels carpet to 63 cents per square yard, was agreed to yeas 98, nays 92. James K. Polk voting NAY Jour nal of H. of R. 183l- 32, page 1006 ; June 27, 1832. The amendment of the Senate, increasing the duty on Merino shawls, .and other manufactures of wool, to 57 per cent, ad valorem, was rejected yeas 84, nays 91. James K. Polk voting NAY. Journal of H. of R. 1831- ^32, page 1123; July 10, 1832. The amendment imposing on cloths, kerseymeres, merino shawls, and other woollen manufactures, a duty of $35 for every $100 in value thereof until March 2d, 1835, then a duty of $30 until March 2d, 1836, and there after a duty of $25, was agreed to yeas 106, nays 73. James K. Polk voting NAY. Journal of H. of R. 1832- 33. page 356; February 18th, 1833. IRON, COTTON, HEMP, ETC. The amendment imposing on cotton bagging a duty of 4^ cents per square yard until June 30th, 1829, and thereafter a duty of 5^ cents per square yard, was agreed to yeas 112, nays 77. James K. Polk voting NAY Journal H. of R. 1S27- 2S, page 496; April 7th, 1828. The amendment on other manufactures of hemp and flax, a duty of 30 per cent, until June 30th, 1829 and thereafter an annual increase of 5 per cent, until the whole ad valorem duty shall amount to 40 per cent. was rejected yeas 48, nays 143, James K. Polk voting NAY Journal of H. of R. 1827,- 28, page 494 ; April 7th, 1828. The amendment on bar and bolt iron, made wholly or in part by rolling, a duty of $37 per ton, was agreed to yeas 117, nays 71. James K. Polk voting NAY Journal of H. of R. 1827- 28, page 515; April 9th, 1828. The amendment to reduce the duty on iron, hemp, flax, cotton bagging", molasses, indigo and cotton goods, was rejected yeas 70, nays 117. James K. Polk voting YEA Journal of H. of R. 1829- 30, page 627: May llth, 1830. HATS, SADDLES, BOOTS, ETC. The amendment imposing on cabinet wares, hats and caps, of fur, leather, or wool, whips, bridles, saddles, and all manufactures of leather 8 not otherwise specified, carriages and parts of carriages, and blank books, a duty of 30 per cent, ad valorem ; on boots and shoes $1 50 cents per pair, was agreed to yeas 105, nays 78. James K. Polk voting NAY Journal of H. of R. 1831- 32, page 927 ; June 22d, 1832. SUGAR, COFFEE, AND TEA. The House refused to consider a resolution repealing the duty on sugar yeas 83, nays 98. James K. Polk voting YEA Journal of H. of R. 1830->31, page 49 ; December 13th, 1830. The amendment to strike out the duty on coffee was agreed to yeas 117, nays 57. James K. Polk voting NAY Journal of H. of R. I&32- 33 page 390; February 21st, 1833. The amendment to strike out the duty on teas was agreed to yeas 108, nays 62. James K. Polk voting NAY Journal of H. of R. 1832- 33, page 392; February 21st, 1833. CERTIFICATE OF THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, > to wit : Comity of Washington, ) Be it known, that on this, the 16th of September, A. D. 1844,1, the un dersigned, a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, in and for the county aforesaid, having examined the Journals of the House of Representatives in the Library of said House of Representatives, and compared therewith the foregoing votes of JAMES K. POLK on questions on the the Tariff. I DO HEREBY CERTIFY said votes are correctly copied and transcribed from said journals. ISFAT 1 Given under my hand and official seal, the day and year above written. N. CALLAN, Jr., Notary Public and Justice of the Peace ~ DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, County of Washington, set : I, William Brent, Clerk of the Circuit Court of the District of Colum bia, for the County of Washington, do hereby certify that Nicholas Callan, jr., esq., who has given the above certificate, and thereto subscribed his name, and affixed his notarial seal, was at the time of so doing a justice of the peace and notary public in and for the county aforesaid, duly com missioned and sworn. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereto subscribed fSFAT 1 m y name ) an d affixed the public seal of said court for the county aforesaid, this 17th Sep tember, 1844. WM. BRENT, Clerk. REC D UD 17 66 8.PM LD 62A-50w-2, 64 (E3494slO)9412A General Library University of California Berkeley