Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-12-15
MIR. CLAY AND THE TARIFF.


readers, friends or adversaries Of Mr..
CLAY, To the article, under the head of
"Politics of the Day." which we copy
from the Richmond Whig If it had no
other merit than as composition, It
would well repay perusal Its generous
spirit, its noble disdain of prevailing pref
udices, its manly eloquence, are worthy
of the cause in which it is embarked
the vindication of a high-minded, talent
ed and prosecuted statesman.
I But the article has deeper merit
than that of style and temper. 1t opens
with becoming freedom, n great ques-
ton, which is to be settled by the Con-
grcss now about to assemble, and which
is probably, in the course of it's discus
sion, to agitate the nation to a degree not
experienced since the adjustment in Con-
gress of what was called the Missouri
Question. Without having had any
commune alton directly or otherwise,
with MIR. CLAY on this subject, we have
no doubt hat his general views the Ia
riff question ure faithfully represented in
this article. We believe so, perhaps,
because We hope it:for they accord almost
entire Y with our own. When the Nation
al Debt is paid of, we know should no un-
toward political events occur in the mean
time, that the duties on imports must be
reduced We are satisfied, further, that
prospective and gradual reduction is the
only safeguard against the disastrous
consequences Of any sudden change in
commercial policy. In such a plan there
is nothing appallingro the friends of In
ternal Improvement, and Of due pro-
lection of Domestic Industry, whether
that Industry be employed in Agriculture,
Commerce, Manufactures, or the Fishe-
ries.
With the Editor ofthe Whig, we have
no faith in the efficient operation Of Ell
ther fact. or eloquence, upon the State
of Virginia, in reference to the canvass
for the Presidency. With all the intel
ligence and manliness of character which
distinguish her citizens Individually,
prejudice, sedulously cultivated, steels
them against conviction. Not preju.
dice against MIR. CLAY, exactly, but a
gainst the policy Of which he has been
VIZ o'So'y hu'oCutC lIotli lOlc, WUcU
nearly all intelligent Republicans ap-
rlauded the stand taken by himself and
Mr.. CALHOUN in favor Of national i'm
Provement, to this day; policy which
has built up the national prosperity to
such height as no human wisdom has
ever been able to elevate that of any 9TH
er nation. The causes Of this pre- ejudice
1t ls not for us to investigate-the subject
is in far better hands. 1t is enough that
1t exists. The merit Of independence Of
1t in any Nirginian in public life is so
much the greater.
With the Editor of the Wing, howev-
er, in one thing, we do not agree, in o.
pinion. We do not believe that the OBJ
ject Of those who distinguish themselves
by the title Of "Nullifers" is limited to
the reduction Of the Tariff "to the stand
ard of the actual wants ofthe Treasury. "
We believe that the reasonable opponents
OF the Tariff will be satisfied with such
reduction, but that the unreasonable will
not. We have been distinctly told by
them, that nothing will satisfy them but
repeal of all duties which operate to
protect Manufactures; and, for fear that
we should misunderstood them. this il re-
peated every day. Mat Int.