Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-04-05
FOR TIE ENQ UIRER.
LETTER IL.

LETIER III.
Letter from Frank Hitter, Esq, to his friend ia Europe.
DEAR CRoKE,-ln my last letter, we had traced the
progress OF our Tariff TO its second epoch in 1921. That
act gave great additional protection TO every species Of
dom este manufdcture-to those branches which had
proved themselves solid and thriving; those which were
still strugRling through Il sickly existence; aud even to
those, which, not yet undertaken, had only "a potential
being.
This measure, unlike it, predecessor, the Tariff OF 1916.
met with almost unanimous opposition from the South,
with the exception Of Louisiana, who was tempted TO Sc
parate herself from the other slave-holding States, and TO
Join their opponents, by the benefit she derived hom the
nigh duty laid on foreign sugar. The discussion which
the subject had undergone ia the three or four preceding
years, had made such strong appeals To the interests and
passions oil the South, as TO produce there AN unaniInity
which existed in no other part vi the Union. They were
opposed 10 the whole system of protection first, because
II was repugnant TO the simple but very conclusive rea-
sonlng oil all approved political economists, from Adam
Smith down 10 Storch aud Say :-secondly, because il
operated unequally between the Northern and Southern
States, since the latter paid Their full quota Of The impost,
aud many thought more than their quota, while they re-
ceived no return, as the Northern States did, in the pro-
MS oil the they were no exempt
rom that Ill. will with which men naturally look OH en-
Payments that ale foreign to their own, aud of which
hey mud themselves incapable. This incapaciiy does not
'rise from their being shareholders, as many have suppos-
eu' Tor, slaves may be as easily made TO work in a manuiac-
tory as on a farm, and with no greater superintendent in
Tue one employment than The other: but, il arises from the
comparluve 'hlnness OF popuiaion--irom the habhual
preference Tor agricultural pursuits-and, more than all.
from The want OF business habits-(of regularity, punctuali-
ty, and economy i'll little things which characterize the
slave holding States. Alter public opinion, on this subject,
was thus divided by a geographical line, Mr.. Calhoun MA.
turally and wisely sided with the South, and looked to
other means OF conciliating the North and the West. He
was then the known advocate of what have been some
uIsss called the liberal principles of government, though,
III Il dunefeht sense from that which the term has On your
size oil the water. lie Was liberal in expounding the con-
sutution-iberal in the public expenditures-and liberal
IN dispensing executive avors. His manners, too, his adj
uress, ahu The natural asceDdancy OF q superior mind, gain
ed him numerous friends among all those whom business
or pleasure attracted TO Washington.
Mr. olay, however, continued the champion of the
manufacturers; aud although Kentucky had hpeu divided
on me question, yet he had not despaired OF making her a
'arii State although she had made little progress III man
uiactures, and lie finally succeeded. Her whole delegu-
non Of IL voted for the bill; and as the majority in its la
vor was only hive, il could not have passed Without the
support OF MIR. Clay. 1t must be remembered that at this
,"e VI u members from Name, New Hampshire aud
massachusetts, Except one from each State making a
majority OF the members from New England, were oppos-
ed TO a farther increase of duties, and voted with the
southern States against the bill.
but political events subsequently gave TO the Tariff po-
ncy a great accession OF strength. Oi the four candidates
Tor The Presidency in 1924, as 10 one had a majority of
ne whole number oil votes, the election devolved on the
House OF Representatives. In This event, our Con.
su.uuoh requires them to select one of the three persons
having the greatest number of votes, and Mr. era W ford,
one OF The three, being deemed disqualified by a recent
para,ync attack, the choice was confined 10 Gen. Jackson
ana MT Adams. a majority of the delegations OF Ken
lucky and Ohio, with Mr.. Clay at their head, having de-
termined TO vote Tor Mr.. Adams, who had received fewer
votes from the people than Gen. jackson, he was, by this
accession TO hts strength, duly elected. This unlocked.
Ut result created a violent clanor against MIR. Clay and his
associates, not only for having disregarded what was called
'S POPuidT VIII, enough MI. Adams had a larger number
y "e Vo'esoi reemen than Gen. Jackson0 but also be-
cause they had gone counter TO the known wishes of their
own states, which was probably true. The election had
scarcely taken place, before a coalition was formed bv the
iriendso OF Gen. Jackson, MIR. Crawford, Mr.. Calhoun, aud the
dlscontented party in the West, to oppose the new admins
rauon, TO prevent MIR. Adams reelection, and to put down
Mr.. Clay. Ii might have been difficult To resist their
combined efforts, under any circumstances, but they were
greatly aided III their purpose by MI. Clay's acceptance of
.he oihce oil Secretary OF State, which Dir. Adams had
ind"n"d IN nher him from every consideration of gra-
utnde, htness, and respect for the claims OF the W est Ii
afOrded evidence, adapted TO the comprehension OF the
multitude, and likely TO receive credit from the Inercena-
ry' me suspicious and the unchantable of all classes, that
The oilce was the stipulated reward for MIR. Claws vote,
anu "l'hout which stipulation the vote had not been
given.
The administration were soon made to fee! the force of
the weapon which they had thus put into the hands of
lheIr Opponents; and they set about certifying themselves
IN The public estimation by all the means in their power.
lhey manifested extraordinary zeal in the cause of puJIic
i"ProVemcnts-by which term is understood here, roads
"'u CdHdfS; ana uey proposed TO use all the surplus revc-
'ue "i the government, which was even now ~considera-
pie, and would be, by and by, immense, in carving these
facilities of transport TO even nook and corner of the CONN.
uy. The chiei othces oil honor or profit were distributed
WIN The view OF confirming the wavering, OF soitcning the
ulsaiiected, and even OF neutrahzing hostility; whilst the
tried and efficient friends OF the administration were over.
looNeu' or postponed TO the second term, which never
came. But, above all, it was important to favor the pro
tectIye policy, now chriseEcd the "American System"
as IL had most friends III those States i'll which the admins
Tauon had lewest. MIR. Adams, then, and his adherents in
Massachusetts, were obliged 10 abandon their doctrines of
tree trade, and support the Tariff. This change derived a
shew OF justification from the fact, that under the encour-
agement afforded by the Tariff of 1924, many OF the Mas.
sachusetts capitalists had embarked heartily and exclusive
ly in manufactures.
The same motives which had induced Mr.. Adams and
Mr.. Clay TO exert themselves in behalf OF the Tariff poll
cy, prompted Mr.. Calhoun and his friends to re,loubIe
their efforts against it. But they had a further aud strong.
err motive. Their purpose was but half effected by sub
shutting General Jackson for MIR. Adams i'm the Presidcn-
cy. Their object was TO secure the appointment of his
successor Mr.. Clay, though about TO be sent back TO pri-
yate lille, was not likely TO remain there a cypher. He
might live down the suspicion OF a corrupt bargain, and
his character might shine out all the brighter Tor the um-
popularity which had for a time overloaded il. He pos.
sessed advantages, natural and acquired, OF 10 common or.
der. In eloquence, sagacity and address, he had 40 SUI
perl0r' lie was endeared to the great body OF manu-
lecturers and artisans throughout the nation. Ii was
not likely 10 be soon forgotten in the land of steady ha-
President TO the United States. He was moreover born
In Virginia, a State which has been happily Iikened to
The Roman matTon, who regarded her sons as her most pre-
cious ornaments; and although he was then out of her favor,
yet IN The ever-changing posture OF public affairs, tile re-
Cancellation of such a mother with such a son, was ex.
lretnely probable. Most of the recommendations which
MIR. Calhoun possessed, were also shared by Mr.. Clay.
lie was known to be equally favorable TO the power OF
making roads aud canals under the Federal Constitution.
lie had, indeed, been so much more jealous and efficient
an advocate OF this power, that here, as in the protecting
policy, his popularity bad thrown Mr.. CaIhoun's Into the
native of a slaye-holding State, a fact of importance, il the
subject Of slaves should ever, either openly or secretly, be
brought TO bear on the Presidential election.
IL was on these accounts important, that the opposition
TO the tariff, the only point OF national policy in which he
had any advantage over Mr.. Clay, even in The Southern
States, should be turned 10 the best account. BY milan.
ing the passions of those States on this point, they were To be
bound together by the ties Of common feeling and interest;
and their undivided vote, amounting to near a third OF the
Union, would be certainly withheld from Mr.. Clay, and