Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-14
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
coMMuNrcATED.
To the Jouneymen Hatters throughout the u
,[fnIss j. L.

neymen HatterS OF the city oil Baltimore drew I'D
and signed memorial addressed to Congress,
praying them to lay an additional duty las pro-
tectiye duty on the importation of all English or
foreign hats, into the United States. They also,
at the same time addressed the hatters throughout
the different states, earnestly soliciting their &C.
tive cooperation on this important subject. They
unanimously assented to the views contained in
that memorial; and accordingly their different
memorials, with the one from Baltimore, reach.
ed the city of Washington, within few DAYS Of
each other, abau, the sitting Of Congress, 1915,
their petitions being read to the House BY the
speaker. were immediately taken up by the Hon.
Henry Claw, who. by his interchangeable and un.
firing exertions. during the period Of several
days. fpalIy succeeded in carrying through the
House OF Representatives Bill, imposing iu.
" of so per cennm on all English or foreign
hats. TIE bill passed the Senate and became
law in 1916 The sond effects of this law, very
soon hece,oe visible. the shops, stores, and ware
honscs. ahich heretofore had been the exclusive
vendrrs.ui this foreign article, now gradually be-
cam emptied. and the manufacturers Of Ameri-
can hats sour received that encouragement. Of
which they bad been so lung, and so unjustlv de.
priv.d, while hundreds Ut worthy mechanics. who
had been thrown cut of employment, now OBJ
tained genteel and competent living; that pre-
iudice too. which short time before strong
as 10 Impress many a gentleman with the idea.
that his bead could not possibly endure the meri
dian RAYS of a solar sun, unless protected from
it, lgGaence by London beaver. now yielded
to the seifeyi5ent fact, that at much reduced
pr,,e. ne eoad furnish himself with an American
hat, possessing equal beauty, trmness and dura-
bliity; and it especially T., the fostering
and zea.oas devotion of Mr.. CLAW to the interest
of mechanics. and particularly of the hatterins
class. that they are chiefly indebted for that in
dependence and comfort which they have ever
since enjoyed. But we have still later demon.
stra,ion OF Mr.. Clay's devotedness to the cause
and interest of mechanics, and TO a general sys.
TEN Of home made manufacture.
| Daring the last session, when an attempt was
made to reduce the tariff, and to take ca the
duty ali the protected articles. and again to
throw open our ports for the reception OF for
egn manufactures; when the American system
was asssaiied with all the Ingenuity and violence
OF faction driven almost to desperation; when
the champions of the south and OF the north,
were all marshalle.l into battle arrav, TO give
final. and mortal stab to the American system;
and when it was publickly declared on the Sc
nate floor land that too bv asenatnr from Mary.
land.) that the class ct mechanics called batters,
were in point of numbers, i1consderable, and
| consequently WltnouI tlil uepTee OF l1HupDCe,
which was necessary TO entitle them to any pro.
tectinn at ali: ii was then, we say, that Henry
| Clay. IN an eminent degree, was again the hat.
ter's friend. 1t was then, that like lion rous-
ed, by insult, from his peaceful abode. he stood
furb in thu power of his might, single handed
against the Phi,stsn host. That youthful elo-
quence which first burst forth in his native state
and which. like purng stream. then flowed in
tiffident and faultsring accents from bis lips.
had now become matured. he had drank deeply
the pyrean stream, and the small rivulet had
now grown to a mighty ocean. The wind OF
caiumny and ie.raction had blown rudely over
| tit had become aaitated--his country's well
fare was at stake, then sin great attempts 'tls
glorious ev'n to fall' to have fallen in this great
effort, and trying conflict, in any except Henry
Clay. would indeed have been even glorious:
bu; not so with Henry Clay, whose powerful in
t-,lect was competent to the highest literary
test Conscious of the exhaustess resources OF his
own mind, he shrinks not FROM the conflict. but
IN q display uf oratory scarcely ever equaled,
los the space Of three successive DAYS, he rivets,
in breathlpss anxiety, the deep interest and al
fsnl,0n Of the Senate and listening multitude,
while from his lips roll in resisless torrents,
fiuod Of eloquence and argument which carries
such weight and force to the minds Of his audi
ence. tia, even his opponents are convicted,
contuuntletl, beaten. and retire IN hismay, from
the ,untest To the extraordinary talents. and
per.evering exer,ions then, Of Henry Clay, are
the hatlers again indebted, that the duty on bats
was not taken of.
We might advert TO many Of the bright acts of
Mr.. Cav, we might take you to his adopted state,
and there show you the many monuments of his
fostering care: there the arts. agriculture, and
respectable mechanic, hail him as their common
father. we might then approach the theatre Of
his real glory, and name 10 YOU. the Cumberland
Road speech on the Missouri Question,
his speeches On the Jew Bill. the Land Question.
the Bark, &c., these are topics which only the pen
Of the historian will be competent to dol justice to-
nor need we selecta few of the NAVY glorious
achievements Of Mr.. Clay, to prove his devotion
to his country. His whole political life is mark
ed by that uniformity of action, untiring per.
severance. unfiinchins integrity. and profound
craftsmanship, which must ever be the sure