Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-10-20

The Hon JOHN NJ. CLAYTON having been cal
led upon by air. Sergeant, President OF the meet
Ing, 20 give Il statement at the circumstances at
tending the passage OF the Compromise Act, and
other political incidents with which he was la-
miliar, and which would be interesting TO the
meeting, and being introduced by the President
10 tho multitude WHO had assembled to hear him,
and observed, that il was said by the disiin-
"uished citizen who addressed ;,e mcetin~ at l1a-
ncuii Hall, IN Boston, few days 400, ,ha, he
never appeared in that Hall that he did 10, feel
that there WAS something in The place that excited
hnn strongly, deeply, too deeply TO allow adc-
9u2te expression TO his emotions. This, said NJ.
Clayton, Is the first time have had the honor To
speak from the place where now stand. and there
is something in this bir,h place Of my country
this spot from whence was proclaimed TIC free
dom and Independence of these United States
that inspires me with emotions which LANGUAGE
IS inadequate 20 express. Tin some future day.
long, long distant May il he, some shaft more
deadly iAan the rest, should be hurled at the ~
mcriran EoGle, and she should fail beneath the
iaiG! blow, here, even here shall she breathe her
last sigh, and on ;his spot shall be uttered tile
last shout for liberty. Great choeTing.l
Fellow citizens, have been cal!cd upon to
speak OF subjects treated of by The DISTINGUISHED
gentleman 10 whom have before alluded, in Fa-
nucil Hail. in doing this | snail endesvor 10
place fairly and impa.iaiiy before YOU the acts
and motives. IN rcierpncc 10 the Compromise, of
that eminent statesman whom you delight TO hon
or am, iellow-citiIcns, buta private ndiyid-
uai; | neither hold nor desire 10 hold Office; but
humble as | am. feel il incumbent duty TO
defend an absent friend Whenever and by whom
SoevGr mIsrepresentod.
The speech OF lhe Secretary of State treated Of
events and circumstances that related cthe Com
promise Act OF 1893. Mr.. Webster has venlured
not only 10 attack the act ITSELF but the motives Of
tie men who were the uutEoJs Of il. ask, YOU
my Fellow citizens, to uo!lcc HE Time whc, this
mia TO-. e
arc about to take place in Maryland, pcnnsvlva-
MA, New Jersey, Dtidwdge, &C.; when it was
impossible for alr. Clay to receive notice in time
even Were he ~ honIe, much less being absent as
ne was kno"n 70 be, To prevent its influence upon
those elections by reply.
MT. Clay ton said he should not in the present
state OF his health, have ventured to contend d.
gainSt so gigantic a man rs Daniel Webster, hat
Tor Tie sake OF truth and justice; and for those
even ne, humble as Ee was, feared moi TO stand M
in defence OF an esteemed and absent friend
Air. &, remarked that he served in the Senate
with Henry Clay am Daniel " ybstcr Tor seven
years. lie was III the nauonai cCUfcis IT tla
time tho Compromise Act MAS passed; had an
Intimate Know ledge of the circumstances attend
ing Inc origin and passage of that act; knew
wei! the ii olives which actuaied Henry Clay i'm
ihe distinguished part he took on that occasion
ana ne ccu'd not, nor would he, stand in silence
ana near The motives Oi the man who stood head
and shoulders taller than any other statesman in
inc country, lmpuGaed.-- cjiiZcrs. am
one Of those who voted for the Compromise Act
ana look upon that vote as one OF ihe.proudest
acts o! my life.
Mr.. Clayton was member of The committee TO
whom the subject was referred in the Senate and
and was fully conversant with the reasons for in
Producing the bill into that body. These reasons
lie hT!Iiy stated. in the early part of that ses-
sion the President or Secretary oil the Treasury
oheFed his project OF Tariff bill which was 10
RAISE but twelve millions OF dollars by duties. Ii
was referred TO the CCmuii,uo Of " avs aud means
I'D tile House OF Representatives,, Of which MIR.
NeTp!ancA, man OF great ability, was chairman.
There could be no doubt but his bill met the
hearty appreciation Of the President, Gen Jack
son, who we all know then exercised an almost
unlimited and irresistible influence over his party
IN Congress, and with the people. MIR. Yer
Planch took the bill il was considered in Com
inlteo and reported TO the House. Ii imposed
cn'Ies upon foreign merchandise not exceeding
70 per cent, upon the foreign valuation, and no.
ing IN some Instances as low as 10 per cent.
forming an average, perhaps, Of Is per cent. and
tis, be 1t observed, upon The foreign valuation
1t was debated in the House Of Representatives
Tor some time, and nothing was more apparent
Than That, without some extraordinary effort, the
bill would become the law of the land; in which
case every American manufacturer would have
been compelled 10 close the doors Of his factory
and send MS workmen to yet employment and
y
Henry Clay, the American statesman ;-Coud
and repeated cheeTing) he who had during lis
whole public life stood up rs the friend and a!vo-
cate OF American labor and Of American interests;
enthusiastic cheers) The father OF the American
system, with the eagle eye Ct walchlul guardi-
an o! the public veal, the danger that threat
ened the existence of his favoriLe system. and de-
ternined TO stretch forth his arm 10 save it, With
that Keen sagaci,y which characterizes hin, and
with lliat tact and talent which so cmincaiy dis
ungush him, lie locked around him Tor the means
Of aveTtlng the threatened fate Of the Protective
Foley. lie saw the President arraved ;oainst
notification, and South Carolina in arms aovinst
the Federal Government. There was an lrgcQu-
clla5le hostility between the nu!iiliers and Gen.
Jackson. lie saw this and ho sought TO turn ii
to the advantage Of his country. He saw that IL
he could get a bill allowing tie duties gradual
descent, through period OF nine and d bail years.
down 10 20 per cent on the home valuation, il
would De Infinitely better for the country than
Alr. NcrrIanck's bill which was 10 reduce them at
would save the manufacturer and operative from,
immediate, utter, and hopeless rain.
MIR. Clay communicated his views TO Mr. Clay
ton and other friends OF the Protective Policy; lie
had nothing TO con"eG; lis object was the GOOD
OF the country, and his motives were honest ard
patriotic. No man is more frank and undsgui-
scd tian Henry Clay. Honest and single heart
ed, he has conCeaiinenis from his friends
scarcely from his enemies, ii was with 10 view
10 crafty his own ambition HAT ne brought for
ward this measure, One Compromise &cl) but
solely with view 10 preserve TIE American svs-
tenn; 30 sustain tho American manufactured. the
American mechanic, and Inc American farmer
and 10 save the American aborcr from The ruinous