Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-10-19
p0,hIEIGAEa
ftom 0Is Bannsr II ule CONCENTRATION.


MIR. CLAY AND THE AMERICAN SYSTEM
full report Of the speech delivered by Mr. Clay on
the Sd Of Augustlast at Cincinnati has been published
containing in detail his views upon the several promi
nent questions which now divide public opinion II oc
cupies seven columns and half of the National Jour
nal, and may bs looked upon confession OF the poll
teal faith of OF the candidates for the Presidency
The only portion of it which We propose TO examine
at this time is part of what relates the tariff ques
ton; and as the doctrines advanced by Mr. Clay may
be considered supported by the strongest reasoning
oil the strongest man whom the American System can
bring into the field, think that if they can be shown
not to be sustained the laws OF honorable warfare re
qulre that the contest should be abandoned and that the
peace and harmony Of the country should longer be
Jeopardized, by vain and futile attempt to ad
here to system which is altogether founded on falla
eles In discussing topics OF such complex nature
those which connected with the restrictive policy
we are aware OF tho great labor which is nse parable
from an analytical exposition. single falacy uttered
In dozen words, may require whole pages 10 reiute
inasmuch as such faacy may be the conclusion 20
which person has arrived, after long process of rea
sonlng the iallaceusness Of which only he shown
by travelling over the whole ground, and pointing out
step by step, the assumed truths The ra
difference between the the trade SIDE
and those on the restrictive side, consists in this and
is observable to any who will take the trorble
examine it, tina; the former position which
they do not support by logical proof the latter assume
% uuths, me rery points IN dispute, and then draw
conclusions from them plausible appearance true
enough, u the premises from Which they RoDed
true.
Thus. fer example, in the speech before u.s. Mr.. Clay
lays down as maxims, the following positions
i. That Tho sroat object Of tho American system is
10 the independence of our country to augment
its iwealth, and diise tho comforts of civilization
throughout society"
We, on the other hand, deny that the means pursued
can accomplish either of these ends for the simple
reason that the American System restricts the prodnc
I'VE power oil the community, and where there is any
restriction upon industry, such exist where any
one man Is compelled by law 10 follow business which
his Interest would not lead him follow without such
comPusion, the total quantity OF things produced must
be less The independence here spoken Of is that
which enjoyed by laboring man. who is obliged to
work ten days. 10 pay for American made coat when
he could purchase foreign one oil as good quality bv
working five days for it. The augmented cealfh is
that which family would enjoy, who had to paw double
price tor all their clothing and groceries, and the com
forfs OF civilization would resemble those experienced
by the twelve thousand females in Philadelphia New
YORK; and Baltimore, described by Mr. Carey as not be-
ing abs to earn twelve and a half cents day,
2. That the American System "mav be called .y.-
tenn OF real reciprocity, under the operation of which
one citizen or one part Of the country, exchange
one description OF the produce of labor, with another
CITIZEN or another part of the country for different do.
scrlPion OF the produce o; labor"
And pray, would not the free trade system be as
much system OF reciprocity this? Would il pre-
vent any Individual from trading with another If il ,pas
his interest 10 do SOP Would throw any obstacles in
the way OF an interchange OF commodities between dit
ferent sections Of the country? On the conrary-.wouId
1t not enlarge the sphere Of Reciprocity by throwing
open TO the competition of the word' But perhaps
Mr. Clay means, that if duties Of hundred per cent.
were not imposed upon cotton fabrics the people of the
manufacturing States would have nothing TO exchange
with the people Of the planting States, That might
possibly he, but in the name of common Justice if
carolina planteris compelled by law give Rhode Is
land weaver bale of cotton for 300 yards of CLOTH
when foreigner would give him for il 600 Yards cali
thus any thing but reciprocity If reciprocity Of bcne-
mis- Is intended. The term is gross misnomer and ia
not at all adapted express the operation of the sys
tom, which neither nor les. than authorizing
Peter TO rob Paul OF fifty cents, and Paul rob Peter
OF dollar which the latter would think ne r,cinrocv
ut all. ''
B. THAT ait is system which dsvelopos, improves
and pereet,, the capabilities Of eur common country
and enables ne to avail ourselves of all the resources
with which Providence has blessed US"
So far irsm this being tie case it produces the onpo
ste euects may, indeed, turn farmer into spin.
ner and take him from the field where he brsahes an
atmosphere oil purity, freedom, and independence and
COOP him up IN workshop, 10 nhae sagnant air and
to vote the ticket put into his hand by his employer
IL may convert sailor into weaver and thus deprive
the nation oil one OF the main pillars Of its defence
Eery, and civilization Of of the great instruments of
its conveyance from the enlightened 10 the less en-
Ighiened portions Of the human family. But what de-
VeioPsmen OF capabilities would this display? The bu
slness oil 9riner and mariner require quite as much
mental capacity as that Of spinner or weaver and SO
lar en the neral power Of the country being advanced
by tie conversion into manufacturers of be.e ,xbo
would otherwise embrace agriculture and conmercs
should consider II decidedly as retrograd. NOV.
Inent' As 10 the resources with which Providence has
blessed US, Of the principle are these. moro
than hundred millions Of acres Of land now unoccr
pied, (and capable Of sustaining many people which
can be bought at dollar and quarter an acre; un.
bounded forests OF ship timber; locality on the globe
when gives US advantages 10 carrying commerce
with the West Indies, with Mexico, and the whole O
South America, which Europe does not enjoy; ant
aDoVe ' an ensTPrisng, yenturssorne industrious anC
Iberty-Ioying people, whose faculties would haze
much airer chance Of development by iraverng The
Temosst regons OF the earth, whitening everv sea win
thsir canvas, and bringing home 10 exchange for the
products Of agriculture and Of the natural u0n,f,r
fWo Of The country. Of which there are many tb,,
need not the ad Of taxation 10 support them the pro
auctions and fabrics Of foreign dimes, in far create,
abundance hen Beeo
home by the application Of the sumo quantity Of labor
Ihat"to the leboring classes n is nvsuabe since
HDofeasss and mulupes the demands for their Undue
n.y. sud gives hen sn option Of emPloynents."