Southport Telegraph

We regret to notice the effort on the part of many democratic papers throughout the Union, to make Mr. Polk as good a tariff man as Mr. Clay. We are loth to believe that such is the fact, for we have considered Mr. Polk as entertaining much more enlightened liberal and statesmanlike views on this subject, than we find in the narrow, illiberal and partial course, mainly, of Mr. Clay: and we have considered too that the democratic party were at least a step in advance of their opponents in this particular. If the democrats who endeavor to make Mr. Polk a protectionist, are honest in it, we say Heaven help their democracy; if not honest, we say, Heaven help their policy, for it can be productive of no good. We can win, in a fair and open fight, and when successful, we shall know where we stand, and what the people want. And if we cannot win, we had better stand boldly to our principles, for as they are the principles of truth, they will eventually prevail, and when they do, we shall enter at once upon their benefits, which by a timid and half-way advocacy of them we should probably never do. Our own opinion is, that free trade--the opening of our ports to the commerce of the world--is the true democratic ground, but if such are not the views of the party, we hope at worst, they will advocate only, the lightest possible revenue tariff.