Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-10-14
PROM the National In,Onisenesr. oe,. u.

A LETTER FROM MR. CLAY.
We had In the New York papers the following
Letter from MIR Clay, written in reply to a eomuu.
nicstion from some gentlemen at Syracuse, in thu,
Btate. Who rsarded to him present Of quantity
of Salt;
ASHLAND, Sept. %. lsta.
0rwrlrMtx: have tho pleasure to aekoow-
ledge the receipt Of your iieodly letter OF the l0h
instant. Transmitting an invoice Of twenty three
barrels of salt and one box, embracing all the vate-
ties manufactured at Syracuse, and a list OF my
friends who have done the favor TO contribute II.
In consequences OF my experience OF the superiority
ct the Onondsgi salt in the preservation OF meat,
and ali other usos to which that article is applied,
4 requested my friend, MIR Spencer, 10 have Tor
watjei ms a small supply. had not the slightest
expectation that my request would have attracted
any other than the usual attention. much less that II
should have elected present. % LIBERAL ard which
comes recommended to me by so many hattering
anl fsieadly circumstances. sm advised this morn
ing Of the safe arrival Of the salt al MaySvile, and
n will re ich this place IN q day or two.
| know not how TO express, IN terms correspond.
log with my feelings, my great Obligations for this
acceptable present. request you 10 offer for II to
those who Contributed , collectively and indlvldu'
nlly nv cordial and grateful aekno .ledgments.
They have done me the honor 10 send II to me ns
n testimonial Of their confidence and esteem, and
e'ptcal in consequence OF my devotion to our n
nero IN and domestic interests. can never Cease
sontleeu TO regard il duty, not to bc neglected
lection To those interests The form OF that pro,cc-
ton is question Of subordinate consequences. Tha,
is bsSt which commands the most satisfaction and
pro niseS the greatest durability. l had supposed
that man would controvert the power and the
duty Of Government, in imposing duties for revenue,
TO make liberal Discrimination Tor the benefit OF do
mes,ic industry. About tho period oflS2i, when
the power OF ntfordns direct protection was hrsI
strsnuously contested, that Of incdontal protection
was freely and unresetvedy conceded. But nothing
c,n conciate or appcase the spirit ofvsionlry Free
Trade. And We behold the dawn ofopposi'
ton al protection. either direct or incidental The
tariff Of 1852 was famed under the hope that 1t
would quiet oil disconen,s and produce general re-
cancellation. II moderated the pre-exisiing duties.
The tariff Of 1872, recently passed, provides scale
OF duties generally lower than that OF 1881, Yet u
Is scarcely passed before the war-cry Of Repeal is
raised against il.
The purity opposed to the Wings, during the pro-
gross OF the bill, with the land clause, through Con-
grcss professed to be anm,ted only by opposition
90 that clause. The bill pissed, and then the Veto
was applied A majority OF the Wings adopted the
painful but patriotic reso u,ion TO make temporary
sacrifice Of the principle Of distribution to secure the
passage of measure demanded alike by tue neeess
lies of the Peopl, and Of the Treasury. How did
their opponents NEE, them7 Hers was fine OPP
portunuy to mi nes' the truth and sincerity Of their
profession that the land clause was the exclusive
cause OF their dissatisfaction with the BILL But when
stript of that clause we h0d them, with but few
cepiions as unrecniing and determined in their op
position as ever. And when they cannot invoke the
hid of Veto and ditto, they illuminate denunciatons
of Rspeali-as If the country were 10 be kept in q
state OF perpetual agitation, and no repose or secu
ri;y was 10 be allowed TO its great business con-
csrnsi
trust that the cooler reflection OF these gentle
men will prompt them TO abstain from any attempt
totally to repeal the law, and lint their exerIions
10 ius improvement, by suitable amendments, It
any shall be found necessary. Bot, It they should
pefsevece ia their announced purpose, the People
are competent TO apply the proper corrective.
In my humble opinion there is no jlst objection
20 the salt tax. It's equality is undeniabe. All
it, and pay in proportion 10 their consump'
ton; the rich who use most paying the mes,
LIS tendency, moreover, is TO equalze the price o
the article between the inhabitants Of the s.abolrC
who use marine or foreign salt, and those Of tn
interior who use that OF our salines. And the com
petition between the two descriptions is sure to keel
the price within reasonable limits.
Wishing revival and long continuation OF In
prosperity of the salt manufacture OF your town
and health and happiness TO yourselves and thos
whom you represent,
am, faithfully, your fciend and ob't ssrv't,
II. CLAY.