The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-05-25
From the Mecklen6urg Jcgersonalan1.
CLAY AND THE TARIFF.

CLAY AND THE TARIFF.
A correspondence has just taken pace pc
tween the Wing members ofthe New York , Le-
pislature and Ex-senator Clay, to few passages
of which we would call public attention IN the the.
South. There is no longer any doubt that: a
Protective Tariff is the great end and aim ofthe
Wing party, and that Mr. Clay, their leader, has
boldly once more unfurled that piratical flag.
The Committee III their letter to ne: Gay say:
ait is not within the compass ofoar%desiga to
dwell upon the numerous monuments OF your
wisdom and'your patriotlsm-they 1--we IN inc
History of the Republic. But there is one great
measure which more than any other has occu7
pied your care, and to which we may be permit
ted particularly TO allude, as demanding IN an
especial manner the thanks Of your ellow-cit,
zens-we mean THE PROTECTION OF
HOME INDUSTRY.
This vital policy was adopted By You at the
commencement of your political life in the L.
gislative halls of Kentucky. Ifwas the subject
of your first effort, and constituted your rst trl-
umph on entering the Senate ofthe United States
in ls09 you re-cstablished it after the return OF
peace in 1916, and was its successful defender
in the great debates in 1920, 1874 and 1867.
10 this Mr.. u. gratefully replies. -,
"It was a view of this condition OF the World
and instructed by lessons of. experience drawn
from its history and the practice of other nations
that early led me to a conclusion in favor OF the
Protection of the Domestic Industry of our own
Country Free trade is beautiful vision, eX-
listing only in the Imagination OF philosophers
and theorists, and practically repudiated by all
nations. An indispensable condition to the adop-
ton of it, by any one nation, its adoption by
ALL. But instead of regulating their trade, &C,
cordng to that theory, we every where behold
restrictions, burdens, and prohibitions And
those nations which make the nearest approx
nation to it are in the least prosperous state II
there were any reality in the boastful proml-
ses of the partzan of free trade, country ought,
at this moment, to be in the enjoyment OF an en-
viable prosperity. But directly the reverse Is
its melancholy condition. Never were the pro-
ducts of Agriculture selling at more dlscoura-
gng prices; and the great Southern staple OF
cotton, is now sold at a price less than 1t has
commanded at any time since the last war With
Great Britain.
agriculture requires but little protection,
because its position secures it against much tor-
eign competition; or, rather, protection to COM
merce and Manufactures is the best form OF al
fording protection to Agriculture.
"Fortunately Tor the harmony OF tne uiileIeHI
parts of the Union, and without the danger OF re-
viving old topics which formerly agtated and
exasperated parties, the actual wants OF the
Treasury now require Tariff which, while 1t
supplies necessary Revenue, may be so arrang
ed as to afford incidental protection to Manufac-
lures without any material departure from the
principles of the compromise act. The oppo-
nents of the protective policy have never con-
troverted the right of Government to give such
incidental protection; and the friends of that poll
cy, looking to the substance rather than the
name of things, should think, ought to be con-
tent if their object is attained, whcthcrt be made
in the form of Revenue Tariff or PROTECTIVE
Tariff - u
hieiits: Ber0Te fosPer7,y rlfust nave a "pro-
tectire etarif;"-"Agricuh needs but littlepro-
tecton!" and "fortunatel, the actual 'oants ofthe
Treasury now require Tariff! You sec here
fellow5citizens, the reason why Mr.. Clay was
so keen to give away the proceeds of the public
lands to the States-it was to so impoverish the
public Treasury, that its wants would demand
PROTECTIVE TARIFF, and thus afford him hob
by on which he might ride into the Presidential
chair. Mind, he is writing to the northern Tar
ifites, and rgoiccS at the bankrupt state of the
national Treasury, and says it is "fortunate,"
for we now have an excuse for laying aprotec-
tive tariff-we can now tax the South for your
benefit, and say its to furnish revenue! This is
vancouver worthy of such leader, and such
a party as he leads. -,