The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-04-30
MIR. CLAY'S LETTER.
WASHINGTON, 18Th April, 1912.

MADGE. the communication which you
did me The honor to transmit TO him for
me, on the 3lst u,imo; and have perused
it with lively and grateful sensibilty.
Such testimonial, proceeding from
source highly distinguished and respec-
Jed, presented at the close of my public
life, will be cherished by me, in my re-
tirement, with The highest satisfaction,
and will add great strength to the con-
sciousness feel that, in all the public sta
tons to which have been called, have
honestly lahore" faithfully to perform my
whole duty to the public.
In the brief but fal,ering review, which
you have taken of my public career. you
have justly conceived the motives of my
conduct. With respect to the measures
themselves, to the adoption of which
may have contributed, ! will not under
take It pronounce any decisive judgment.
OF their influence upon the interests. the
honor and the character of the nation, the
present generation, and posleriiy, if re-
collection OF my agency in maturing them
shall survive me, are and will be the most
competent and impartial judges of them
and of me. But you have truly altribu-
ted to me genuine American spirit, in
whatever concern have had in public af-
fairs, and especially in reference to a grea,
system of National policy.
Divided as mankind are, ever have been
and will continue to be, into distinct ma
tons, it is the solemn duty of each. whilst
it deals justly and literally towards 9th
ers, constantly aud sedulously to adj
vance, protect and maintain its own sepa-
rate interests. To attempt to legislale for
them, or to expect or permit them to le-
gislate for US, would be alike vain and i'm
proper.
II was view Of this condition Of the
world, and instructed by lessons of exper-
fence drawn from its history, and the
practice of other nations. that early led
me to a conclusion in favor OF the Protec-
ton of the Domestic Industry of our own
country. My convictions have acquired
additional strength, from every reflection
could give the subject, and from both
past and present experience in the United
STATES. Free trade is beautiful vision.
existing only in the imagination of phi
losophers and theorists. and prac,icslly re-
pudia'cd by all nations. An hides
pensable condition to the adoption of it,
b, any one ration, is its adoption 10y all.
But instead of regulating their trade, ac-
cordng to the the, ry, we every where be-
hold restrictions, BURDENS, aud prohbila-
tons. And those nations which make
the nearest approximation to it, are in the
least prosperous state. During the last
nine years. about one half OF our imports
have been admitted free of duty, and as to
the other moiety descending scale OF
duties has been in plogress, which is now
rapidly bringing them down. If there
were any reality in the boast(ul promises
OF the partisans OF free trade. our country
ought, al this moment TO be in the enjoy
ment of all enviable prosperity. But d.
reclly the reverse is its melancholy con
diiion. Never were the products of az
ricullule selling at more discou'aging pr
ces; and the great Southern staple oGco,-
ton. which was 10 have been so highly
benefited by reduction of duties. is now
sold al price less than il has command
ed a, any time since the last war with
Great Britain.
Nothing can be more erroneous than
to suppose the existence of any real i'll
compatibility between the interests of Ag-
ricullure, Commerce, and Manufactures.
A conflict between them would be just as
unnatural and absurd, as between the
members of the human body. Each pros
pers most when all of them flourish. Ag
ricullure requires but little protection, be-
cause lis position secures it against much
foreign c"mpetilon; or, rather, protection
to commerce and manufactures is the best
form of ahording protection to agrcu!
lure.
Without diversity in the occupations
OF society, if all are engaged in one COM
mon pursuit, there can be no subjects pro-
duced for mutual domestic exchanges;
and consequently no home market, by far
the best, most steady, in war and peace,
and most valuable of all markets.
We shall not, tear. rise from our pre-
sen, embarrassed condition until we pro-
duce, "ithin our own country, more OF The
supplies necessary to consumption, and
depend less upon Foreign oun,ries.
Until that object is accomplished, we
shall be constantly exposed 10 an exhaust
ing draiu of the precious metals. aed to
sudden alterations of delusive prnsperi-
ly and real adversely. One OF the obvi-
Gus modes of accomplishing that object is
tie regulation of our Foreign trade by
means of properly adjusted Tariff, slim
uislng production at home and diminish
ing in.nortalions from abroad. Aud all
experience has shown that, on whatever
Object our Manufacturing industry has
been successfully employed, its price 10
,bo consumer },ac been almost invariably