Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-06
a. NyEyszzE.s,--
MIR. CLAY'S SPEECH.

III support q an american System for HE pro-
,ect,om 81 .Imer,c"n Industry.
o'st Of March, 1924 -(Concl,niei)
10. The next objection Of the honorable
gentleman from Virginia, which shall brief
notice, IL, that the manufacturing system IS
adverse to The genius OF our government, in
- tendency to the accu,nula tim of large
capitals in a few hands in the corruption OF
the public morals, which is alleged To BIZ Incl
dent tn it; and ia the consequent danger tn
the public liberty. The first part uC The OH
lection wonld apply 10 every lucrative bust
ness, tn commerce, 10 planting, and t. the
learned professions. Wand the gentleman
introduce the system of Lycurgus f? Ir his
principle be correct, il should be extended To
any aud every vocation which had Il similar
tendency. Tue enormous fortune; in our
country the nabObs nf The land have been
chiefly made by the profitable pursuit of that
foreign commcicr, IN more pgupi;iaus times,
which IN" honorable gentleman would so care
fully cherish. lmmrn-e estates have also
been matie in the South. The dependents
are, perhaps, not more numerous upon that
wealth which Is accumulated in manufactures.
Than they are upon that which is acg tired by
commerce and by 80. ic,liurr. We may SAT.
" c".i ir in the Laws uf distributions, and la
fha dbsenc" the rule of prime 5cniturr, for
the dIssips ION, perhaps too rapid, Of large
fnrtun-s Wnot has become of those which
wtre held two or three generations back in
Virginia Many of tn: dcscrndi ants of the
ancient aristOCVacy, as il was called of thai
state, are now in The must INDECENT con-
dition. The best security against the de-
moralizltlnn of society, is the constant,
and profitable employment Of its mem
herS. The greatest danger IL public liberty
= from Idleness and vice. If manufactures
r,rm cities, so does commerce. And the
disorders and violence which proceed from
liz c"p'asion of The passions, are as f,rqu"nr
~ one description of those communities as in
The other. There is no doubt but that thu
YP0manry ola country is the safest depository
"f public liberty. Ii all line Ia come, aud un-
deI any probable direction ofthe IabOur of
our population, the agricultural class must be
elach the most numerous and powerful, and
nili ever retain, ms II ought To retain, prrpon-
lGrating iGhntacc in our councils. The cx-
tpnt aud The fertility of our lands constitute.
an adequate security against an excess in
sranhfacfuros, and also against oppression on
ts'c part Of capitalists tn.sarls tue ihbpuring
3 tpofliuk=5i so community.
Thp objection, with notice Of
ai;i, sha. o'.bIc thr Ctm,nittep, IS, that
4eEonsGiutio. s,1As npt aunorize the pas
sfs.. ai the bill 'ei:e gentleman from Virginia
Il res not Assert, indeed, that it j. inconsistesl
WITH lie express rr0ysij5s of that instrn-
rnent. bat he Thinks II Incompatible with thr
asstl lor tbs internal improvement Of the
country, the Constitution, according to Sums
gentlemen, stands in our way. Ii attempt
rs protect American INDUSTRY against furcigT
- hey and the rivalry OF foreign indmsii y, the
Constitution presents an insupcrable obstoclr
This Constitution mast be a inpst singiinr in
stfumeut ! Il seems in be made for any Other
people than our own. Its action IS alio9cthct
foreign Congress has power 60 lay duiict
and inPosia, under no other limitation what
trttr than that of their being uniform through
OF The United Stat 5. But they can only hi
imposed, ace ,rdIS % the honorable gentle.
nan, for the sol, purpose nf rcrCnun. Thj
is FPsttction which We do not find in tn
Constitution. No doubt revcnut was prin
ripal object with The Trainers of the Censiiu
lion in investing Congress with the power
i'uf, ~ executing it, mny not the duties au,
r'uposts be- SD laid tO srCurc dom ste Ia
'rrrsts Or is Congress denied 81 disc, piinr
a. to- the amount or Tive distribution of tn
duties and iaposts
TIE gentlemen from Virginia haa, however
c1jrrly mistaken The clause uf the Constitution
n1 which rely II is that which gives 4
Congress the power to regulate commerc
cih foreign nations. The grant is plenar,
without any limitation Whatever, and include
tiii whDle power ,f regulation, az which ~
subject TO DC regulated is susceptible 1t is q
f'Ill and complies grant of tIlr power, as tina
rs 20 declare wa. What - n regulation q
rpmmeFce Il implies the admission or OK
ruson Of the objects of it, and the t4rmr
i'nder this power snmc articles, by the c~istin
,,ws, are admitted freely, others are subj fc'c
- duties SO high rs to amount 10 their prob
iitlon, nnd various rates Of dutps are applir
80 othcrs. Under llIis power, laws of tots