Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-03-02
LATE AND INTERESTING FROM
WASHINGTON.
Correspondence ofthe NJ Y. Com. .4dr.]
WASHINGTON, February %.

IRkNENUE HAS PASSED THE SENATE!
To-day the Senate chamber was the scene
'of the most powerful attraction. A debate
-on the tariff of the highest interest. during
which we listened successfully to the hur-
mouous and delightful eloquence of Clay
the vigorous and indignant oratory of Cal.
!. lhoun-and the splendid and impassioned de-
-clamalion Of Preston.
The question was on the final passage of
the bill.
Mr.. Clay entered upon historical review
'df the circumstances that led to the passage
'of the compromise act Of 1888 The present
administration came into power with profess
Biohs calculated to delude both the north and
The sonth-by inducing in the one quarter,
the belief that the protective system was to
be maintained, and in the other that it was TO
be abandoned. Mr.. Clay never trusted their
professions of favor toward the system lie
had looked to acts rather than words, and he
thought the dominant party aimed ut the total
destruction of the protective policy. Such
was his belieftoo in 1888, when also the con-
federacy was threatened with civil war from
its members. For the double purpose of saw
ing the protective system, and preventing
those disasters which were then impending,
he brought forward n healing and soothing
measure. The compromise bill originated
WIFI nltn-HOt ueTc--Dut III
where lie was called upon by numbers of in
'ielligent capitalists, who believed the inter-
r'ests of the manufacturers were in great dan
ger Of being utterly destroyed. 1t was to,
them not to his friends in Congress, he ap-
.pfied, to know whether q lease Of protection
would not be more satisfactory to them than
She uncertain and vascillatng condition they
rwere then in. He conferred with the manu-
Tiacturers themselves, and the result OF his
communication was concurrence on their
part, that the worst evil that could befall them
'was an uncertain and vasciating policy on
THE part of the government. Among his
friends in Congress there was great diversity
"of opinion; and finally he acted on his natural
asnd settled conviction of what was right, and
iimroduced the bill Mr.. Clay declared most
ssolemnly that he had never had any confer
'ence with Mr.. Calhoun,or any other southern
SSenator, on the subject, prior to the introduc-
'tiou'of the bill. Afterward, of course, con
'versa,ions and explanations took place, and
mir. Calhoun and others from the south went
,into,'the support of the measure.
This statement, trust, will put at rest the
"misGrable caumnies uttered in the Senate by
such men as Mr.. Benton,and repeated by the
Even;ng Post, the Globe, and other kindred
prints, about the compromise act having been
sooncocted by Messrs. Calhoun and Clay, and
about its being merely Of the nature of bar
.Eain between those two senators. Ii the
measure is to be condemned let it be on its
own merits, and not OIL the false and arbltra-
ry assignment of evil motives and intentions
'tOthe men, whom partisans, tor their own
purposes, wish to make out to be its authors.
Mr.. Clay dwelt with great effect on the
advantages which had accrued to the manu-
'facturing interests, from their being separa-
xrI Iuri tbo lac rtv ppl-
'itics. He maintained that there was an obi
gation on the part of Congress, to continue to
secure this happy state Of things, and to up
ah0d the bill which Produced it; not so much
'on account of any thing contained in the pro-
visions Of the measure, but on account OF the
circumstances in which { orginated-the oh.
.ijeots it was intended to acconplsh-the con-
iidence reposed in Congress for its mainte-
,nance-the arrangements which had been
entered into and founded on its pernanency.
Mr.. G. made an animated appeal to the
SSenators from the South, to think of the Mis-
souri, compromise. Is not that bindDg?-i
What would they say, if the people of the
North should step forward to violate that?-,
1Ie'asked them how they could urge viola
lion Of this sacred agreement, and yet seek
10 hold the South to the preservation Of the
other?
rie referred to the complaint Of Messrs.
tuthbert and Rives, and others, that the rep
resefiatives of the manufacturing interests
hadthcmselves given 10 pledges OF adhcr-
'ence TO the compromise. Why? Because
they have never thought them necessary.T
They have never manifested any intention to
touch the measure. Is it not preposterous
sthat'the party who call for pledges, are the
great body of the delegates from that section
sVho are calling loudly on Congress to pay no
regard to the compromise act-to dsturb-to
hbredk II up!-while those upon whom they
cG1l are silent and acquiescent in the provis-
iuns of the measure? But, indeed, the North
ihas given pledges. Look nt the resolutions
ifrom Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, to
(which would have been added others from
nmany different states, if it could have been
l.believed that there was any serious design
to. disturb the compromise act. Look at the
t6urst Of acclamaton that followed the passage
'of'thot measure-the acqniescence of every
department Of government in 1.-THE House
of Representntives--the President-these
sshow the public sentiment to be in favor OF
1T. They are better than thousand pledges
Mr.. Clay addressed, with great spirit and
,energy, the Senators from different states, in
succession, and told them to beware, lest, if
they set the example by violation on tho
articles embraced in this bill, their own fa-
>vorite and cherished articles light follow.
Ibis closing passages were full of that i'm
'passioned and effective eloquence for which
1he is distinguished above any speaker in Con-
'gress. He entreated the majority to stop III
their reckless career! Is it not enough, he
said, to tamper with the currency? Are all
,the great interests of the country to be trlf1ed
with? Is every thing to be dragged into the
4 II.