Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1843-08-26
From the Richmond Wig
MR.. JEFFERSON THE AMERICAN
SYSTEM AND Mr.. CLAY.

In Niles ncSlStCL WI iooO-tHdt tHoS
,aluable compendium Of American histo
,v--we find the annexed letter from Mr.
IsHerson. 1t tells a tale new to many
who are 10 the habit Of swearing by al
Mr.. Jefferson's opinions who, never
theIess, through ignorance, or some les
excusable cause, are accustomed to quot
him as authority for their denunciation
of Mr.. Clay and the "American System,
From previous letter, written in 1917
il appears that he was the man who frs
called the Tariff the american System,
and gloried in its adoption.
From Niles Register, July 3rd, 1870.
ain early liie--in the yigor of his intel
lect, MI. Jefferson certainly was in favor
of The protecting system. His report on
the fisheries, soon after he was called to
the department Of state by President
Washington, an hundredssof other things
are ready in proof Of it, Among them he
suggested high duties to induce manufac-
turtles to come into these States, and in
his FIRST message TO Congress he spoke Of
the protection OF manufactures-in lat
ter one, reproductions to insure such pro-
lection! And what says his letters to
Messrs. Austin and Leiper, with that in
serted below, and large number of 9th
ersi Yet some would make him out to
have been an enemy to the American Sys-
TEN! BY this letter Of the 29th June,
1917, published in our paper Of the 18th
ultimo, page 294, it appears that he was
the author Of this significant term
which term is fully recognized in the lei
ter below, and to the greatest extent that
the most ardent among US contend for.
He appeals to his sentiments in favor of
the system to the whole of his past life
and policy. He asks why should we
trayeito Europe for suppliesr-Mr. Clay
himself never said any thing stronger
than the third paragraph of this letter,
and yet Mr.. Jetfersonis held up to delu.
ded people in the south as an enemy Of the
projecting principle; all letters of this
character sing suppressed-and others
Of different tendency, or at least that may
bear a different construction, are pro-
claimed and repeated. ,asf
oils name, with the venerable one OF
Madison, IS also used by the "nullifiers'
to support their unholy purposes which
equally bring shame upon those concern
cd, If respect they have Tor the lllustrl-
GUS author Of the Declaration Of lnde-
pendence, deceased, or the revered father
OF the Constitution, still living.
The Rhode Island Literary subaltern
of the 25th inst contains an interesting
letter, which we subjoin, from Mr. Jeffer-
son sto distinguished manufacturer and
capitalist Of Massachusetts.
"Monticello, May 25h 1928.
Dear sir-I have received your letter
Of the 10Th of this month, and at the same
time was delivered me by Capt. Barlow a
piece Of domestic fabric called negro cloth
containing twenty-six yards for my ac-
ceptance and inspection. ! thank you tori
the kind and very fattering expressions
contained in your letter, and the hand
some present of the cloth, ! should be
happy 50 sS:sss ;;c something more solid
than empty thanks.
fhaye examined the cloth, and although
| lam Of opinion that it is well calculated
for the dress of negro slaves, who reside
in South Carolina and the more general
climates Of the South. am fearful that 1t
would not be found adequate to the wants
of tho Virginia slave.--For the summer,
il would be too warm-for the winter too
cold: still, If you can improve the fabric
by putting . little more wool in the filling,
and mixing little with the warp, | do
not know but it might be found adequate
TO all our purposes.
You ask my opinion Of the American
Systemg Relating TO that somewhat abb
sorbinr question, should hope that the
whole Of my past life and policy had given
4 satisfactory reply. have always been
of the opinion that their exigencies de-
rnand. If they can do so, and that they
can do so without applying to the wor-
sllops Of England, France and Germany,
who will doubt? Col;ons and woolens we
make in rare abundance, and of quality
quite good enough toaanswer all our wants
and demands; why should we 60 to En-
Yope for our suppliesi For our silks and
linens. we must for some time to come 60
10 the workshops Of Europe; but apPre-
bend that the day is not far distant when
even they will be manufactured by native
industry. i
You ask my opinion of the merits oil
Mr.. Henry Clay and his policy for the
protectlono Of domestic industry and man.
iactures, These are questions which
feel some delicacy about answering, first,
because Mr.. Clay is now candidate Tor
the presidency; secondly, lneyer yet tui-
ly understood to what ends his policy ex-
tends, and although ] will advance my