Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-01-26
HENRY CLAY'S SPEECH
IN SENATE. Wednesday. Jan. II. 1882

ABDUCTION OF DUTIES.
The following resolution submitted BY Mr.
CLAy, on Monde lasts, being the special or
desof the day, was taken UP for considera
aion
Rasolped, That the existing dutieS upon
ar'lcies imported from foreign countries, and
not coming into competition with sinliar az.
ticles made or produced within tbs United
States, ought to be forthwith abolished, ex
sspt the duties upon Wines and Silks, AID
that those ought to bareducsd. And that IL q
Commitsee on Finance be instructed to re
port bill accordingly
The resolution having bsen read. Mr..
CLAY rose and addressed the Senate, in
substance, as follows
have few observations. Mr.. President.
and only few. to submit TO the Senate, on
che measure now before you; in doing which
| have to ask all your indulgence am get
ting old; feel but too sensibly and unafec
teddy the effects Of approaching age; and !
have been. fer some years. very little ia the
habit OF addressing dehberahse assemblies
/ am told,that / hare been the cause.-the
most unwilling Cause. if ! have been, Of ex-
citing expectations. the evidence Of which is
around US regret il; fer however the sub
ject on which am to speak. in other hands.
might be treated TO crafty OF to reward the
presence and attention now given, ia mine,
have nothing but q plain. unvarnished and
unambltious expositisa 20 make.
1t forms no part Of my present purpose,
said Mr.. 20 enter into consideration OF
the established policy Of protection Strong
in the convictions and deeply seated in the
affections Of large majority Of the people
Of the United States. it STANDS self vindica
ted. il the general prosperity. In the rich
fruits which II has scattered over the land, in
the experience Of all prosperous and power
fsl nations, present and past. aud now, In
that Of our own Nor do think it necessa-
ryto discuss that policy en- this resolution
Other gentlemen may think differently. and
may choose to argue aud assail it. IL they
DO, have no doubt that. 10 all parts Of the
Senate, memoirs more competent thaa am.
will be ready to defend and support il. Ny
object now, is to limit myself 10 q prssenta-
ton Of certain views and principles conDec-
ted with tho present fnaacial condition of
the country.
A consideration Of the state OF the public
revenue has become necessary, 10 conse-
quence of the near approach of the entire
extinction Of the public debt; and concur
with you, sir, in believing that 90 season could
be more appropriate than the present session
of Coz, gress, to endeavos to make 9 salts
factory adjustment Of the Tariff. The pub
lie debt chiefly arose out Of the late war
Justly denominated the second contest fo
National Independence. An act, common
Is called the sinking fund act, was passee
by Congress near fifteen years ago, provid
ing for its reimbursement That act wa,
prepared and proposed BY friend Of your.
and mine, whose premature death was not I
loss merely to his native state, of which hs
was one OF its brightest ornaments. bat ths
q whole nation. No mao, with whsm eve
had the honor to be associated IN the iegisla
tive councils, combined more extensiye ant
nsefu information, with more Strmness 0
Judgment and blandness of manner. thai
did the iamented Mr.. Lowndes And WheG
IN the prime Of life. by the dispensalioh 0
an all-wise Providence. he was taken Iron
us, his coantry had reason to anticipate ID
greatest benefits from his vision AID dis
cretIen- by that act. an annual appr0pria
ton Of ten millions Of dellars was made tt
wards the payment of the principal and il
terest of the public debt; and also any q
cess which might yearly be in the treasur,
beyond two millions Of dollars, which it =;
thought prudent to reserve for unforeseen ez
eencIes
But this system Of regular and periodic
application of public revenue to the payne
oil the public debt, would have been unava
@s Il congress had neglected to provide 4