Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-03-07

he bad co-operated to support the protec.
tive system, was that, IN consideration oil
nine and a half years Of peace, certainty,
and stability, the manufacturers relIoqnish
ed some advantages which they now en-
loved What was the principle which
had always beeu commended for IN this &
in the other housee That. after the &C
emulation of capital and sklll, the manu-
facturers would stand alone, unaided by
The government, 10 competition with the
imported articles from any quarter. Now
give us time; cease all fluctuations and ag
( itations, for aine years, and the manufac
! turers. in every branch, will sustain
themselves against foreign competition. IL
we can see one way clearly for nine years,
to come, we can safely leave to posterity
to provide for the rest. II the tariff be o.
verthrown, as may be its fate next session
the country will be plunged into extreme
distress and agitation. !. said Mr.. Clay,
want harmony. wish TO see the restora
ton Of those ties which have carried us
triumpbantly through two wars. delight
not in this perpetual turmoil Let US have
peace, and become more united as band
Of brothers
|, may he said that the farming interest
cannot subsist under twenty per cent ad
valornm duty. His reply was, Sufficient
for the day is the evil thereof" He would
leave il TO the day which the reduction
took effect. to settle the question. When
the reduction takes place, and the farmer
cannot live under it, what will he do?
/ will tell You, said, Mr.. Clay, what he
ought to do He ought TO try it-make a
! fair experiment OF it, aud il he cannot
live under it, let him come here and say
that he is bankrupt, and ruined. II then
nothing can be done 10 relieve him-Sir,
| will not pronounce the words, for will
believe that something will DO done, and
that relief will be afforded without hazard
ing the peace aud integrity Of the union
This coniederacy is an excellent contri
vance, but il must be managed with deli
! cacy and skill There was an infinite va.
riety of prejudices and lo;al interests 10
be regarded; but they should all be made
to yield to the union.
Ii the system proposed cannot lie con-
tinued, let Us try some intermediate sys-
tenn, before we think of any other dread
full alternative. Sir. it will be said, on the
other hand-for the objections are made
by the friends of protective principals
that the time is too long; that the interme-
date reduction are too uncomfortable,
and that there IS no guaranty that, at the
end of the time stipulated, the reduction
proposed would be allowed to take effect.
Ia the first place should be recollected the
diversified interests Of the countrywide
measures Of the government which proceed
ed the establishment; Of manufac lures
the public faith in some degree pledged
for their security; and the ruin in which
rash and hasty legislation would involve
them. He would not dispute about terms
Ii would not, in court of justice. be
maintained that the public faith was pledg
ed for The protection of manufactures; bu,
there were other pledges which men oil
honor are bound by, besides those Of which
the law can take cognizance.
| five excite, in our neighbour, a reason
able expectation which induces him &c
take particular course of business. we
are IN honor bound to redeem the pledge
thus tacitly given. Can any man donb
that large portion of our citizens believ
ed that the system would be permanent:
4 The whole country expected it. The Sc
curity against any change Of the system
proposed by the bill, was in TIE character
Of the bill, as compromise between two
conflicting parties. If the bill should be
taken by common consent, as we hope il
will be, the history of the revenue VIII be
guaranty OF its permanencc. The cir
cumstances under which it was passed
will be known and recorded--and no one
will disturb system which wa. adopted
with view TO give peace and tranquility
to the country
The descending gradations by which he
proposed to arrive at the minimum of du-
ties. must be gradual. He never would
consent to any precipitate operation to
bring distress and ruin on the communi
| ~.
| Now, said Mr.. C. viewing in this
light, it appeared that .here were eight
years and half, and nine years and a
half. taking the ultimate time which
would be an efficient projections; tine
remaining duties would be with drawn by
biennial reduction. The productive prin.
ciple must be said to be. in some measure
relinquished at the end of eight years and
a half This period could not appear un
reasonable, and he thought that no mem
Der of the senate, Of any portion Of the
country, ought to make the slightest object
ion. 1t now remained for him TO consider
the other Objectionable want ef guaran
tee TO their being an Interior continuance
Of the duties imposed by the hill on the
expiration of The term which il prescribes
The best guarantees would be found 10
the circumstances under which the mea-
sure would be passed If it was passed
by common conseht-ifi it was passed with
the assent of a portIon-a considerable
portion of those who had directly hitherto
supported this system, and By consider
able portion of those who opposed tiff
they declared their satisfaction with the
measure, be bad no doubt the rate of du
ties guaranteed, would he continued after
the expiration of the term, if the country
continued at peace. And, at the end OF