The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-03-09

Cess
1npy be considered by others, is, TO IA
matter OF little consequence. The friend
oi Mr.. Clay may .Iaud him as clamorously
Cor the destruction of the American Sys
item, as they have heretofore for being it,
founder and most able advocate ;-the,
may pourtray the evils ofcivil discord ana
the dangers.that already threaten vs. frosr
a continuance ofthe protective duties =
thsy may exagerate the dangers to which
tho system itself is exposed from the poll
cy and principles ofthe present admins.
tration = they may exut IN all ahe ad.
vantnges, real or imaginary, which Mr..
Clay's bill possesses over Mr.. Yer
planck's and call shat manoeuvre, by
which those advantages have been tenn
porarIy secured, master-stroke of ,po-
litical sagacity ;-yet, Notwithstanding all
this, and much more that has been, and
may still be said on the, subject, we can
not but regard the measure as both i'm
polite and premature and the course of
Mr.. Clay ss destitute Of firmness and con
sissency-
Conceding the complaints Of South
Carolinato be just, which is by no means
the general impression, nor ours,-are
the laws of lhe General Government to
be abrogated or altered, at the will and
pleasure ofa bare majority of single
state, because those laws, in their general
operation, may be prejudicial to the in
tercsts ola particular section This is
the principle which has been sanctioned
by the passage Of the bin H'under consider
alton and, if once established, it is a
virtual surrender of the Constitution for
what law has the wisdom of man ever de-
vised, which is wholly and absolutely e.
quail in its operation
{. With Wow of obviating future difficult
ties, anc allaying the excitement at the
South, the Tariff bill Of 1892 was brought
forward. This bin, after undergoing the
most thorough examination, in reference
othe various and complicated interests
which it affected /; after being subjected
to the fiery ordeal Of debate during almost
the whole session, made all the concess-
ions, and provided for all the interests
which the general good ofthe whole coun
try seemed to demand. Perhaps in the
history Of federal Legislation, this subject
has not been more thoroughly investiga-t
ted, or more impartially decided cvon
Mr.. Clay himself has expressly declared
it to be the very best bill that the assem-
blcd wisdom of<he nation could possibly
devise Where then is the necessity, the
CONSISTENCY, or the propr;sty, of forcing
thus prematurely on the country a law
which was hastily conceived, and hurried
through both Houses in such manner as
to be almost inconsistent with the dignity
Of legislation;-which not only prscludes
the promised benefits of previous enact
ments, but virtually surrcnders the prin-
clple on which they are founded Dis
guise it as we may, the passage of MIR.
Clay's bill can be viewed IN no Other
light than as concession to the demands
Of Modification /; and we cannot see with
what justice or consistency Congress can
refuse to alter, modify, or annul such 9TH
er laws, as the Legislature or Convention
Of any particular State may demand. An
plications ofthis nature may now be made,
not only with the representations Of local
grievances, and the menace Of secession,
as heretofore !; but with all the force and
| authority ofprecedeM. We have, per.
haps as high an estimation Of the talent:
and services Of Mr.. Clay as others, who
have been more lavish in his praise bu
oar zeal in supporting the cause Of nc
man, or set Of men, shall ever lead Us L
sanction such measures as manifestly
tend to the subversion of the first princi
pies Of Government,--by encouraging
the opposition Of a single State to law
lpassed by the proper authorities, to pro
mote the interests and protect the right
of the whole. To preserve the integrit
of the Constitution, and to support jus
and impartial administration Of the laws
are as conclusive tests in our opinion, @
1.-The ability, firmness, and patriotism Of tn
Statesman; as to secure peace, by sacri
} ficing great national interests, and th