Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-09-04


ecuton.
Blu, the principal topic ON which Mr. Clay dwclt
most. that of the Protecting Tariff He desert /
bed ITS origin, its object it's means its SUCCESS and
the dangers which threated it. 1t was system in .
tended to deveope the to cherish the arts,
and to protect tine industry of our country; to
increase our domestic markets, and to ensure GER
tain and cheap supply of articles required by our /
wants, and essential to our independence of foreign
powers IL WAS properly called the american sys-
tem The mcaus of Introducing, perecting aud
securing it. were to tax the articles Of foreign pro-
ductlon which rival and compete with own IN
rcsortimg to it We follow the example of the most
prosperous OF their, and obey the great law Of self
preservation.
Here Mr. Clay a.'ver,ed to some of the arguments
which had been urged areinst this policy. 1t WAS
really amusing said he, to mark the contradictory
arguments which the foes Of the system had employ
cd to defeat or subvert it. In It's origin they pro
nounced that we were not ripe for manufactures;
that we had not the capital skill necessary to their
success ono OF them seriously cnnteded that nature
iad doomed us to perpetual dependence on England,
ny giving to her climate admitting d! more pcrse
VerIns eXrtton OF the physical powers than could be
exercised IN our own more relaxing and less blessed
country They insisted hat the consequence Of the
adoption OF the policy would only Ire TO suhicc; con
sumption To an euornOuS tax, III the purchase OF
rndcr, dearer, and worse articles. 1t was in vain,
said Mr.. Clay, that we told them that the invention
and powers of machinery had placed civilized nations
upon footing OF greater equality III respect to pro-
duction-t'at we lad capital enough, and more than
commerce could employ-at skill and enterprise
we've We'll estabilshed-lhat III the origin Of Que OF
our great interests. the murine failure had been pre-
dic!cd, bur the prophets had proved false. We told
them that competitio ut koas you'd at distant day
supply us with articles III creator abundance cheap
ness and perfection, than had been in the habit OF
purchasing from Europp and that tie time,
by those mutual exchanges beneficial to the coin
MUMMY II home market would I've created. agriculture
relieved from It's rotimg supplies, commences supplied
With fresh alment ana all orders of protected.
animated, aud encouraged. On these controycrted
md is pt If nSs
rcricncC,
Our manufactures have ,nlao astonishing advances.
Got IN Their variety andu their excellence they have
exceeded all calculation. Possessed of large pOr
ton OF the market at home they arc vcntlrng abroad
i'll the rcniotcst depths Of the Mediterranean Sea;
beyond the Cape OF Good Hone, in Asia beyond Ga pc
Horn, III the Isles Of the Pacic,-Amrrican manu-
iactureS are successfully c"mendnT with the fabrics
-of Europe, although oiten Struggling with unequal
bt'rthens imposed by foreign powers.
Int Clay here referred to information recently
derived from distinguished al officer CDus. ~
gers we think concerning cur trade in Tie 6Iedierra-
nean.1
Or supplies at innlo, Confirmed a!r c. arcc,carer
more abundant, and OF better quality, than prior to
the introduction OF the policy. All orr productions
are rapdly fulfilling r.ler the influence ofthe ali pow
ei!Jl principle ot competitions To such extent has
1t been pushed So great IS the power OF production
under I;s operation and that OF machinery, ercal.
Improved by American ingenuity, that markets at
home or abroad Cannot be found for many articles
at HEim. prices. The consequence is much dis
tFess to the manufacturers themselves. emitting them
to The generous sympathy and liberal patronage of
the public And now said Mr.. q. this embar,a ssi!lrnt
resulting from the OF the productions is relied
on to destroy manufactures by the very men
vino denied It's competency to produce bare supply!
Well, said he, do our opponents vet rive up? do
they admit that tier prophecies have failed; do they
acknowledge that the community is not Obliged 10
bny coarser, dearer, and articles of cunsu.np
tom DO they confess their error Withdraw their
opposition, and yield 10 the verdict Of experience?
Not they. Prepared for every eXigency, they stand
ready to oppose the SYSTEM whatever may be its prac
c"i OF beneficial results. Whether it fails or sue
cceds-whcther manufactures cheaper or dcarer,
good or bad-whether the condition of the manu-
tacturcr Is prosperous adverse-thcir opposition
Is nnremit!ng. And, said he those here assembled
may be assured that they viii persevere in the eX'h
ton OF 1t in every possible form direct and indirect
He hoped, however, that It's support would be by
eNei tions equally unremttiug. IL the system
OF the Farmer, Of the Merchant, OF the African of
the babonrer OF the poor m'n,-of every who
earns his breG by the sweat OF his brow. And, next
to that good book which gIidcs through tnis 10 a
better world deserves to he pressed closest to his
bosom.
Every assault upon tho system opnn, and masked.
which can he made, viii be mndo. Shortly il the
public revenue Is properly applied, the public debt
will be paid; and then yOn viii b. approached under
the dellslon OF tightening ynhr bIrthcns by the re
moVai OF taxes i our rulers viii roueal 1ufi,.s
on any objects not produced by our own industry
they viii be entitled to thanks. Such objects eX st
IN abundance for the manifestation OF all their kind
symPatmcs tor our distresscs. But if orr 6ur;hens
are TO be liGhtcncd by the overthrow Of our system
OF protection II taxes are to be dispensed with on
tIc!es OF European fabrication coming IN competition
with rival articles of American ongm--onr rulers /
49, infiict curses instead Of bGstowing blessings
upon us Every tax repealed upon the European n !
Val OF American fabrication. is IN fact II not form,
a ttT taken o1 the EaJoPesu Sutjec&, and Jut upoa
he ,70lericGH citizen.
Another mode OF assailing tho American system
had, through tn: public newspapers and rubhc ru-
ciadu hut ,p Hnot anil,
credit it upon any evidence which he had Yet seen.
Il said that the President through the Sccrcta
ry oi State ne presumed of course, ii there wercany
foundation for the runor, had asccgtuin"d by consul
tntlons with the British Minister the views and wish
g Of G Britain; and that instruction had been
given to our newly appointed Minister accordingly,
TO mako an arrangement with that gOycrument by .
which the respective productions OF the counties