The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-03-21
SPEECH OF HENRY CLAY

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SPEECH OF HENRY CLAY,
In the Senate Of The United States, Feb. Cd,
3d. and 9Th,
IN DEFENCE OF THE AMERICAN SYSTEM
(coNcLUDED)
] regret, Mr.. President that one topic has, |
think unnecessarily been introduced into this de-
bate. alIude to the charge brought against the
manufacturing system, as lavoring the growth of
aristocracy. If it were true would gentlemen
prefer supporting foreign Accommodations of wealth
by that description of industry, rather than in
their own country? But is it correct The Joint
stock companies of the North, as | understand
them, are nothing more than associations, some
times of hundreds, by means of which the small
earnings Of many are brought into common stock
and the associates, obtaining corporate privileges
are enabled to prosecute, under superntend-
ing head. their business to better advantage No
thing can be more essentially democratic or better
devised to counterpoise the influence of individual
wealth. In Kentucky, almost every mandatory
known to me, is in the hands of enterprsing and
self-made men, who have acquired whatever
wealth they possess by patient and diligent labor
Comparisons are odious, and but in defence
would not be made by me. But Is there more ten
dency 10 aristocracy, IN mandatory, supporting
hundreds of freemen, in cotton plantation
with its not less numerous slaves, sustaining per.
haps, only two white iamiies-that of the master
and the overseer
pass, with pleasure, from this disagreeable top
ic, to two general propositions which cover the
entire ground of debate. The first is that under the
operation of the American System the objects which
it protects and fosters brought to the consumer
at cheaper prices than they commanded prior to
its Introduction, or than they would command if
1t did not exist. Ii that be true, ought not the
country to be contented and satisfied with the Sys.
TEN, unless the second proposition, which me an
presently also to consider, is unfounded And
that is, that the tendency of the System is to sus-
tain, and that it has upheld, the prices of all our
agricultural and other produce. including cotton
And is the fact not indisputable, that all essen
tlal objects OF consumption, effected by the tariff
cheaper and better, since the act of 1924. than
they were for several years PRIOR to that law |
appeal, for its truth, TO common observation and
to all practical men. appeal to the farmer of the
country, whether he does not purchase on better
terms his iron, salt, brown sugar, cotton goods
and woollens for his laboring people And ask
the cotton planter if he has not been better and
more cheaply supplied with his cotton bagging {?
In regard to this latter article, the gentleman from
south Carolina was mistaken in supposing that |
complained that under the existing duty the Ken
lucky manufacturer could not compete with the
Scotch The kentuckian furnishes a more SUBJ
stantial and a cheaper article, and at more uni
form and regular price. But it was the frauds
the violations OF law, of which | did COM
plan Not smuggling, in the common sense of
that practice. which has something bold, daring
and enterprslng i'll it, but mean, b4refaced cheat
ing by fraudulent invoices and false denomination
plant myself upon this FACT, of cheapness
and superiority, as upon lmpregnable ground
Gentlemen may tax their ingenuity and produce a
thousand speculative solutions of the fact but the
fact itself will remain undsturbed Let US look
into some particulars. The total consumption of
bar iron, in the United States, is supposed to be
oh g n-T
made within the country, and the residue import
ed, The number of men employed in the manu-
facture is estimated at 90 PSI. and the total num-
Der OF persons subsisted by it, at 49, 273 The
measure of protection extended to this necessary
article, never fully adequate until the passage
of the act Of 1928 and what has been the conse-
quence! The annual increase of quantity since
that period, has been in a ratio of near TWENTY-FIVE
per cent. and the wholesale price of bar iron in
the Northern cities, wis in 1928, Sl05 per ton, in
1929, 500, in 1880, $50, and in 1881 from SS5 to
S75-c0nstantly diminishing. We import very lit
tie English iron, and that which do, is very in
terior, and only adapted to a few purposes In in
shutting comparison between that inferior arti-
Gle and our superior iron, subjects entirely differ
ent, are compared. They made by different
processes. The English cannot make iron of equal
quality to ours at a less price than we do. They
have three classes, best-best and BEST and ordina-
ny. 1t is the latter which is imported. OF the
Wnole amount imported, tneFe Is only about 4UUU
tons Of foreign iron that pays the high duty the
residue paying only duty of about thirty per cent
estimated on the prices Of the importation of 1929
Our iron ore is superior to that of Great Britain
yielding often from sixty to eighty per cent. whilst
theirs produces only about twenty-five. This fact
is so we'll known, that have heard of recent expor-
tations of iron ore to England
1t has been alleged that bar iron, being raw
material, ought to be admitted free, or with low
duties, for the sake of the manufacturers them
selves But | take this to be the true principle,
that, if our country is producing raw material Of
prime necessity, and with reasonable protection,
can produce it in sufficient quantity to supply our
wants, th-it raw material ought be protected, al
though it may be proper to protect the article also
out of which it is manufactured The tailor will
ask protection for himself, but wishes it denied to
1he grower of wool and the manufacturer of broad
cloth. The cotton planter enjoys protection for
The raw material, but does not desire it to be ex-
tended to the cotton manufacturer. The ship
builder will ask for protection for navigation, but
does not wish it extended to the essential articles
which enter into the construction of his ship
Each, IN his proper vocation, soicts protection,
but would have it denied to all other interests
which are supposed to come into collision with
his. Now the duty of the statesman is, to elevate
himself above these petty conflicts; calmly to sur
Hey all the various interests, and deliberately to
proportion the measure of protection to each &C
cordlng to Its nature and to the general wants OF
society. 1t is quite possible that, in the degree OF
protection which has been afforded to the various
workers in iron, there may be some error commit
ted, although | have lately read an argument OF
much ability, proving that no injustice has really
been done to them If there be, it ought to be
remedled.
The next article to which would call the at
tentlon Of the Senate, is that of cotton iabrics-
The success of our manufacture of coarse cottons
is generally admitted. 1t is demonstrated by the
fact that they meet the cotton fabrics of othel
countries, in foreign markets. and maintain sue
oessiul competition with them. There has been {
gradual increase Of the export of this article which
is sent to Mexico and the South American Repub
lies to the Mediterranean and even to Asia. The
remarkable fact was lately communicated to me
that the same individual who, twenty-five year.
ago, was engaged in the Importation Of cottor
cloth from Asia, for American consumption, is nov
engaged in the expectation of coarse American
cottons to Asia, for Asaic consumption And m,
honorable friend from Massachusetts, now in m,
eye, (Mr. Silsbee) informed me that, on his de
parture from home, among the last orders whicl