Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-04-06
Speech OF Henry CLAW.
IN defence Of the american System, against
TIE british Colonial System, deiirered
inthe Senate ofihe Uhjtea STATES,
on the Dad, Sd AMI 5ih, IF

Cft HS -Hu, Cu uIt,L OtII "
February 1882.
Mr.. CLAY rose and aidrpsscd The Sen.
ale substantially as foIlo"s In one sen,i.
meat, MIR. President, expressed by the
honorable gentleman from South Carolina,
General liayneO though, perhaps, not in
the sense intended 10y him, / entirely con
cur. agree with him that Tie decision on
the system Of policy embraced in this de.
bate, involves the future destiny of this
growing country. One way, | verify be-
lieve, II would lead 10 deep and general dis
iress general bankruptcy and ,ional ru-
IN, Without benefit In any part Of the Union /:
ihe other, the existing prosperity will be
presci we'd and augmented. and the nation will
continue rapidly 10 advance in wealth, pow
er, and greatness, without prejudice to any
section of the Coniederacy
Thus viewing the question, | stand here
as the humble aud Jealous advocate, not of
the Interest Of one State or seven States on
ly. but of the whole Union. And never be-
fore have felt, more intensely, the over
towering weight of that share of RESPONSE
bIty which belongs 10 me in these deiibera-
tons. Never before have had more &C
| casion, than now have, 10 lament my want
of intellectual powers, the possess On of
which might enable me TO unfold TO this Sen
ate, and TO illustrate 10 this people, great
truth intimately connected with the lasting
welfare OF my country. should, indeed
sink, overwhelmed and subdued beneath the
appalling magnitude of the task which lies
! before me, If did not feel myself sustained
and fortified by thorough consciousness of
the business OF the cause which | have es-
poused, and by persuasion, hope not pre-
sumptuous, that it has the appreciation of
that Providence who have often smiled
upon the United States
Eight years agoit was my painful duty
TO present TO the other House Of Congress,
! an rneXaggeratcd picture ofthe general dis
tresS pervading the whole land. We must
yet all remember some of It's frightful fea-
lures. We all know that the People were
then oppressed and bore down by an enor-
nous load of debt that the value of proper
ty was at the lowest point of depression
that ruinouS sales and sacrifices were every
where made OF real estate, that stop laws and
relief laws and paper money were adopted
TO save the People from impending destruc-
ton that deficit in the public revenue ex-
listed, which compelled Government TO seize
upon, and divert from lis legitimate object,
the appropriation TO the sinking fund, 10 re-
deem the rational debt and that our com
merce and navigation we're threatened with
complete paralysis. In short, sir, if
were TO select any term of Z years since the
adoption OF the present constitution, which
exhibited scene of the most wide spread
dismay and desolation, it would be eXactlJ
that term ofseven years which Immediately
preceded The establishment of the tariff of
1924.
have now 10 perform the more pleasing
task Of exhibiting an imperfect sketch ofthe
existing state OF the unparalleled prosperity
! OF the country. On q general survey We be-
hold cultivation extended the arts flourish
ing, the face of the country improved, our
people fully and proftably employ ed, and
The public colntenance exhibiting tranquilli-
ty, contentment and happiness. And, ifw
descend into particulars, We have the agree
able contemplation OF People out of deLi;
land rising slowly in value, Lul in secure
and salutary degree; ready though not eX-
tragagant market for all the surplus produc-
tlons OF our industry innumeial lie fooks
and herds browsing and ganLoling on ten
thousand hills and plains, covered with rich
and vrldanl grasses our cities expanded
and whole villages springing up, as ii were
uy enchantneni our exports and imports
increased and increasing our tonnage for
elgn and Coastwise, swelling and fully Occu-
pied the rivers oiCur interior animated ly
the perpetual thunder and lightning Df count
less steam boats; the currency sound and
abundant the public debt 81 TWO wars near
~ redeemed, and TO crown all, Tie public
treasury o,erhowing, eml arrassing Con.
gress, not 10 find subjects OF taxation, but TO
select the objects which shall lie liberated
from the inll,osl. IfIl Term al 7 years we're
TO lie s"lec ted ,oflhe greatest prosperity which
this People have enjoyed since The establish
ment Of their present constitution, iiwoLld
bc exactly that period of seven years which
Immediately followed The passage ofihe Tar
III Of 1924.
This Transformation Of the condition oflhc
country from gl3om and distress 10 BRIGHT
ness and prosperity, has been mainly the
work oil American legislation, fostering A.
meriean industry, instead of allowing IT 10
( he controlled 10y foreign Legislation, cherish
ing foreign industry. The foes OF q Amer
lean System, in 1924, with great holiness
and confidence, predicted, lst The ruin Of
the public revenue and the creation Of tic
necessity 10 resort TO direct taxation. The
gentleman from South Carolina. General
Hayne) ] beli'ye, thought that the tariff Of
1924 would operate a reduction Of revenue
10 the large amount of eight millions Of dol
lars. ID. The destruction our navigation
81. The desolalion Of our commercial cit
les. And 4th. The augmentation Of The
price Of objects Of consumption and further
decline IN that Of the articles Of our exports
Every prediction which they made has fail
ed-utierly failed. Instead Of the ruin Of
the public revenue, with which they then
sought to deter US from the adoption of the
American System, wo are now threatened
with IFS subversiOn, by the vast amount Of
/ l,o. a. al