Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-05-05
SHPF y 49,,
ALBANY, March, 81. ls42.
MR. cLAY,s ANSWER.

( communication HuiLn , W wv hiS VIC "St-
or to transmit TO him for me on The 3ist
ultimo, and have perused il with lively
and grateful senslblity. Such a testimo-
NY, proceeding from source highly dis
tinguished and respected, presented at the
close Of my public life, will be cherished
by me in my retirement with the highest
satisfaction, and will add great strength
10 the consciousness feel that, in all the
public statious 10 which have been cali
ed, have honestly Iabored faithfully TO
perform my whole duty to the public.
In the brief bot flatteriog review which
you have taken Of my public career you
have Justly conceived the motives oil my
conduct. With respect to the measures
themselves, to the adoption OF which |
NAV have contributed, will not under
take 10 pronounce any decisive judgment.
OF their influence upon the interests, the
honor, and the character Of the nation,
the present generation, and posierlty, II
recollection Of my agency 10 maturing
them shall survive me, are and will be the
most competent and impartial judges OF
them and of me. But you have truly at
tribu,ed to me genuine American spirit
in whatever concern have had in public
affairs, and especially in reference to a
great system Of Naiional Policy.
Divided as mankind are, ever have
been, and will continue to be, into distinct
nations. il is the solemn duty Of each,
whilst it deals justly and literally towards
others, constantly and sedulously to ad.
vance, protect and maintain its owe sepa-
rate interests. To attempt to leglslate Tor
them, or to expect or permit them to le-
gislate for US, would be alike vain and I'M
proper.
Ii was Wow Of this condition Of the
world, and instructed by lessons OF expe-
rience drawn from history, and the pfac-
tice Of other nations, that early led me to
a conclusion in favor of the protection oil
the home industry Of our own country.
Nv convictions have acquired additional
strength from every reflection could give
the subject, and from both past and pre-
sent experience in the United Stats.--
Free trade is beautiful vision, existing
only in the imagination of philosophers
and theorists, aud practically regulated
by all nations. An Indispensable eondi.
ton in the adoption Of it by any one ma
ton is its adoption by all. But, instead
Of regulating their trade according to that
theory, we every where behold restrlc.
tons, burdens, and prohibitions /; and
those nations which make the nearest ap.
Proclamation to il, are in the least pros
porous state. During the last nine years,
about one-half of our imports have been
admitted free Of duty and, as to the other
moetv, descending scale of duties has
been in progress, which is now rapidly
bringing them down. Ii there were any
reality in the boastlul promises Of the par.
tizans Of tree trade, our country ought at
this moment to be 10 the enjoyment of an
enviable prosperity. Bot directly the re.
verse is its melancholy condition. Never
were the products Of agriculture selling at
more discouragIng prices; and the great
Southern staple Of cotton, which was to
have been SO highly benefited by reduc-
ton of duties, is now sold II price less
than it has commanded at any time since
the last war with Great Britain.
Nothing can be more erroneous than to
suppose the existence Of any real lncom-
patibity- between the interests Of agricul.
ture, commerce, and manufactures. A
conflict between them would be Just as
unnatural and absurd as between the
members ofthe human body. Each pros
per most when all of them flourish. Ag-
riculture requires but little protection, be-
cause its position secures il against much
foreign competition; or, rather, protection
TO commerce and manufactures is the best
form Of aiiordlng protection 10 agrlcul-
ture.
Without a 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, fear, rise from our en-
barrasScd condition until we produce,
within our own country, more Of the sup
plies necessary TO consumption, and de-
pend less upon foreign countries. Until
that object is accomplished, we shall be
constantly exposed to an exhaustiEg drain
Of the precious metals, and to sudden al
formations Of dcluslvr prosperity and real
adversely. One Of the obvious modes Of
accomplishing that object is the regula'
ton Of our foreign trade by means of
properly adjusted tariff stimulating pro-
duction at home and diminishing importa-
tons from abroad. And all experience
has shown that, on whatever object our
manufacturing industry has been success
fully employed, its price 10 the consumer
has been almost invariably reduced. -
This IS tho necessary etfocs Of the law of
/ competition.
! The question is sometimes asked, how
/ the manufactured can be benefited by an
increase OF duties if the effect be to reduce
prices The answer is, that he is bene.
fitted by obtaining possession Of a greater
extent of home market, and by the great
er steadiness which prevails in it, whilst
the foreign producer, in order to share
any part Of that market, is obliged first
to submit 10 a reduction in the price of
his commodity equivalent to the duty, and
his commodity is finally excluded from
the market, by the operation OF the prin.
ciple Of domestic competition.
Fortunately for the harmony OF the DIFF
! ferent nnrts OF the Union and without the