Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-23
Eighteenth Congress.
MR.. CLAY'S SPEECH,
In support Of an american System for the pro-
tectiou of 4mer;ro,, T,J,efr,

".
Delivered in the House Representatives on the sotb and
,r 3ist of March, 1924.
Inc gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Barbourl
mas embraced the occasion produced by the
proposition of the gentleman from Tennessee.
10 strike out the minimum price, in the bill,
on cotton fabrics, to express his sentiments al
large the policy ofthe pending measure and
IL IS scarcely necessary for me to say that he
mas evnced his usual good temper, ability.
and decornm. The parts of the bin are an in,
term'ngled and interviewer together, that there
can be no doubt ofthe fitness Of this occasion
10 exhibit Its merits or its defects 1t is nv
Intention, with the permission of the Com
fnittce, to avail myself also of this opportuni-
~, present to its consideration those general
views, as they appear to me, Of the true policy
OF thls country, which imperiously demand
the passage ofthis bill. I am deeply sensible.
Mr.. Chairman, of the high responsibility of nv
present situation. But that responsibility
inspires me with no other apprehension than
that shall be unable to fulfil my duty with
no other sol;cltude than that NAV, at least.
| IN some small degree, contribute TO recall nv
country from the pursuit of fatal policy
winch appears 10 me inevitably TO lead to its
impoverishment and ruin. do feel most
| awfully this responsibility And, il it we're
allowable for us al the present day to initiate
ancient examples, would invoke the aid of
the Mosr HIGH. would anxiousIy and
iervenily lmplore His Divine assistance that
lie would be graciousy pleased to shower on
! my Country His richest blessings and that
He would sustain, on this interesting oc
casion, the humble individual who stands be-
fore Him, and lend him the power moral and
physical, To perform the solemn duties which
now belong TO his public station
Two classes Of politicians divide the people
OF 'he United States. According TO the sys-
tenn oil one, the produce of foreign industry
shou'd De suhJscted to no other impcst than
such AS may be necessary TO provide public
revenue and the produce of American in
dustry should be left to sustain ITSELF if it:can.
with no other than that incidental protection.
III It's competition, at home, AS well as abroad.
with rival foreign articles. According TO the
system OF the other class, whilst they agree
that the Imposts should be mainly, and NAV.
under any modification, be safely relied on as
ht and convenient source of public revenue.
they would So adjust and arrange the dunes
on foreign fabrics as tu afford gradual but
adequate protection to American industry. and
lessen our dependence on foreign nations, by
securing Certain, and ultimately cheaper
and better supply of our own wants from our
own abundant resources. Both classes are
equally sincere in their respective opipiuns.
anu
OF advancing the prosperity ofthe country. In
the discussion and consideration of these on
posIte opinions, for the purpose of ascertain
ing which has the support of truth and rea
s9o we should, therefore, exerercise every in
duJSence, and the greatest spirit of mutual
moderation and fcrbearance. And In our
deliberations, on this great question, we should
look fearlessly and truly at the actual condi-
ton OF the country, retrace the causes which
have brought us into il, and snatch, ifpussible,
a'iew Of The future. We should, above all,
consult .experience-the experience of other
nations, as well us our o,.n, as CUR truest and
most unerring guide.
In Casting our eyes around us, the most
prominent circumstance which fixes our at
tention, and challenges our deepest regret, is
the general distress which per'sdes the whole
country. 1t is forced upon us by numerous
facts OF the most incOntestible character. II
IS Indicated by the diminished exports of ma
tive produce by the depressed and reduced
state OF our foreign navigation !; by our dimin-
lshed commerce by successive unthreshed
crops of grain, perislring in our barns and
barn-yards for the waN of market; by the
alarming elimination OF the circulating me-
dium; by the, numerous bankruptcies, not
limited to the trading classes, but extending
TO all orders Of society by an universal com
plant OF the want of employment, and con.
sequent reduction of the wages of labour !;
by the raveDous pursuit after public situations,
not for the sake of their public duties, but as
a means Of private subsistence by the reluc-
tant resort TO the periIous use of paper
money by Intervention of legislation in the
delicate relation between debtor and creditor
and, above all, by the low and depressed state
OF he value of almost every description of
the whole mass of the property of the nation,
which has, on an average, sunk not less than
about fifty per cent. within few years. This
distress pervades every part Of the Union,
every class OF society all feel it, though il
may be felt, at different places, in different
degrees. 1t is like the atmosphere which sur
rouads us-al must inhae IL, and none can
escape it, 10 some places il has burst npon
our people, without single mitigating cir
curDstance to temper IFS severity. In others,
more fortunate, slight aIeviati0us have been
experienced in the expenditure of the public
revenue, and IN other fayOuring causes. A
few years ago, the planting interest consoled
itself with IFS happy exemption but it has
now reached this interest also, which experi-
ences, though with less severity, the general
suffering. II is most painful to me 10 ATTEMPT
to sketch or 10 dwell on the gloom Of this pic
ture. But ] have exaggerated nothing. Per
feet fidelity 10 the original would have author.
lied me to have thrown on deeper and dark
err hues. And it is the duty Of the states
man, no less titan that of the physician. TO
survey with penetrating, steady, and undis-
mayed eye, the actual condition Of the sub
iect or which he would operate to probe TO
the bottom the diseases Of the body polite, il
he would apply eflicacious remedies. We have
not thank God, suffered in any great degree
for food. But distress, resulting from the abb
sence Of a supply the mere physical wants
Of our nature, is not the only, nor, perhaps,
the keenest distress, TO which we may be ex-
posed. Moral and pecuniary suffering is, if