The Somerset Herald And Farmers' And Mechanics' Register

LOCOFOCO CONSISTENCY.

It cannot escape the notice of the most casual observer that the Locofoco party is ever playing a double game with reference to a protective tariff. Pending important elections, when this question is generally most agitated, they always aver that they are tariff men; but no sooner are the elections over than they endeavor to prove that a protective tariff is injurious to the country. They are afraid to encounter public opinion on the subject in times of high excitement, when the people are alive to its importance, but seize upon every intervening calm to disseminate their pernicious principles. In 1844, pending the Presidential election, they even went so far as to say that "Polk was a better Tariff man than Henry Clay!" but since Mr. Polk has destroyed the Tariff of 1842, they indulge in lengthy arguments to show that free-trade is better than protection. We do not complain of this, because we always knew that they held free trade notions; but what we complain of is, that they do not always fight under their own colors, but steal into power under false pretences--professing one thing whilst soliciting the suffrages of the people, & practising the contrary when clothed with authority. We think, however, that they are beginning to be pretty well understood by the people, and that hereafter they will be less successful in the practice of their deceptive tricks.