Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-03-07
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MARTINsBURG. M.scn I. 1888.


cause of much surprise and speculation
throughout the country, from one end
Of the union TO the other. He has been
STYLED the great head of the American
e..-.em.-the champion of protection
t'v,ational industry--and after ably
and successfully advocating them for a
number Of years, he has fearlessly
thrown himselfinto the breach between
the high tariff and free-trade parties,
and offered terms of compromise, which
have met the decided and unequivocal
appreciation of considerable majority
of both houses of congress. Many of
those who have lately been his warmest
and most enthusiastic friends and ad-
mirers, have cooled in their feelings
towards him, while on the other hand,
many who have hitherto opposed him,
have done justice to the purity of his
motives, and accorded to him full cred
it for his patriotism and sagacity.
We regard with feelings of profound
regret, the imputations, attempted to
be cast upon hismotiyes, by many who
have in the recent political conflict,
portrayed his character as altogether
bright and beautiful. Such persons
should be content with imputing to him
erroneous judgment, for we are free to
confess, that Notwithstanding our ar
dent admiration for him as man and
statesman, we cannot place an i'm.
plicit reliance in the efficacy of his
mediatorial proiet. The strength and
convincing eloquence Of his speech up
on the introduction of his Tariff bill,
(which Mr.. Walsh has been pleased to
term "the weakest, most illogical and
8incongruous, which he ever delivered" y
has gone far to induce the conviction,
that his policy is the true one. Has
he, as has been minated, deserted the
cause of protection to the industry Of
the country? The whole tenor of his
course upon his recent bill, not less
than his former life, contradicts and
repudiates the charge. What is the
condition of the manufacturing inte-
rest, and what the relation which it
bears to the nation? 1t is true pro-
tective tariff law passed congress and
received the executive sanction at the
first session of the late congress. But
where is the guarantee of its perma.
nency? Is it in the reelection of the
present incumbent of the Presidential
ohair2 Gen. Jackson has uniformly re-
commended the reduction Of the tariff
to the Revenue standard. Mr.. Clay
was put forth against him as the tariff
candidate. Ifprinciples governed votes
in the contest, what inference is to be
drawn from its result, but the determina-
ton Of the majority to reduce the tariff
according to the Presidents recommen-
dationl We begto be distinctly under.
stood. We do not believe that votes
were regulated by any principle of this
administration; but we do believe that
the same blind, infuriate spirit which
in '2s elevated Gen. Jackson to the
presidency, when he shrunk from the
avowal of any principles, reelected
him in '32, when his administration had
presented heterogeneous mass, con-
sisting of little of every thing and a.
ny thing. Yet he goes into power, and
a new congress go in with him, under
the auspices of his recommendation for
the reduction of the tariff to the Reve.
nue. standard. Upon what then does
the protective system standl We re-
peat the question-Where is the guar
antee of its permanency? Is not the
government bent upon its destruction
With these facts staring him in the
face, added to the earnest and unceasing
but respectful complaints of the united
South, with the exception of one State,
whose menaces are unworthy Of re-
gard,) Mr.. Clay has stepped forth,
rncL less aS he has nvnr heen of nerSnn.