Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-11-28
POLITICAL.

|
MR. CLAWS NEW PROGRESS AFTER HIS RETRoGRaDE
| FROM TIE HIGH TARIFF ON THE COMPROMISE
| ACT
| Ia our last notice of Mr. Clays preparation to ad
vance at the Extra Session upon his old hobby the
Protective Tariff, we brought TO view the hardihood
with which he brought Distribution of the public de-
10 aid his object We quoted his speech showing
that after he returned to the Senate in 1882 he had de-
cared that f there anything perfect in our inst
tutions it the system for dsposng of tae public
lands that this, 'more than twenty-five years be-
| fore, he "was tDld and cautioned against rash
innovations in il, by the fathers Of the Government
that "hs subsequent experience fully satisfied him Of
the wisdom of their counsels"-.lat he hoped ",hat
that great will be cherished and dedicated 10
come National purpose worthy of the Republic" &c.
Al this tme Nj. Clay secuted all ''lhe mad and Wild
schemes but the maddes and widest of all, Chap
commended by the Secretary Of the Treasury for
squanderng the public domaln-a proposition 10
render 1t terms 10 the States He was for "preser
wing it for the present generation and posterty it
had been received from unces,ors-a rich and
bountiful inheritance" Unuckly, Mr. Clay found
the inheritance too rich and bountifu He found that
ii would be necessary bring about the exigency in
the Treasury which would furnish pretence for the
overthrow oi the compromise ac., and the reesabsh-
ment of the protective policy The system for disposlng
OF the public lands "!or National purposes must first
be violated; and this among the preliminary mea
sures OF the Extra Session. shall see, which was
made to precede The revenue BILL then introduced by
Mr. Clay.
But there another important preparatory step TO
be taken, to make the contemplated Tariff advance
permanently, and not subject to retrogresson, which
| Mr. Clay had found inevitable on the cxtnguishment
OF the national debt: and that was to create another
tonal debt. In the way of s also, stood Mr. Cay's
sentiments as announced in his first speech in January,
| 532, on the Tariff lie then perceived the general
JOY expressed at the e3lIngushment OF the debt; and
he could withhold his congratulations at the event.
although General Jackson had FASTENED the consum.
nation "Whoever (said Mr.. Cay) may be entitled 10
the credit OF the payment of the public debt, |
graduate you, Sir and the county, mos. cord ally,
that 1t is al hand" But, before the close Of the
Tariff contest of that PERIOD, Mr.. Cays calculations
taught hun that the stability Of hts American system
might be found TO altogether the foundation of
national debt; and then he changed his tune. This
passage in subsequent speech made by MIR. Clay in
1882, will show the apprehension which had
taken possession of HIM, who, but little while before,
full Of rapures at the exlingushment of The pub
| lie debt:
'ltis propos'd to abolish the sys, I'm 10 which
owe so much of the public prospsriiy and 1t is urged
that the arrival of the period of the redemption of the
public debt has been confidently looked to as present.
ing suitable occasion u rid The country of the evils
with which the system is alleged 10 be traught Not
inatebi observer OF passing events have been
that among those WHO mcst earnerly press
ing the payment Of the public debt, and, upon that
ground, were opposing approprat to their great
Interests there were some, who cared lees about tie
debt than the accom- lishnent of otIer objects But
the people Of the Uuited States have not coupled the
payment of public debt with the destruction Of
the protection OF THEIR industry, against foreign laws
and foreign industry They have been accustomed to
regard the extinction of The public debt relief from
burden, and not the infection of IL il sto
be attended followed by the subversion of the Anne
rican system, and exposure Of our establishments
and productions 10 the unguarded consequences oil
the selfish policy OF foreign powers The payment Of the
public debt will be the bt.eresl of curses. Its fruit will
| be like the fruit
'of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Bought death INFO The world, and all wo,
| Win loss Of Eden."
1t is evident from this, that Mr.. Clay looked upon
the getting out of debt getting out Of paradise; the
loss OF the tariff bouniies, TO these who fed his amb
tion loss of Eden. If the people should gain the
knowledge that they loaded with taxes--not to
support their Government TO pay the debts incurred
in the national defence, but 10 pamper the monopozng
casses-tbat discovery, tending TO rebellion against
the lords OF the spinning jenny, as they called in
Engand) would, Mr.. Clay conceived, be like the fruit
Of the forbidden which taught mans "frst disable
diface"
Under such impressions, it is not to be wondered
that Mr. Clay, when he frat clui ;hed the full power
of Congress in cil, should hast III 10 overthrow the
system for dsposEg of The rich inheritance of the
public domain, which he at one tune much extolled,
but found had contributed to keep The nation out OF
debt. Nor can we be surprised tlnl he addressed HIM
self in earnest to the immediate creation of a new
debt, the extinction of the old having resulted in
reducing the bonus to his manufacturing friends from
an average of more than ~ per cent tax for their
profit, TO % per cent limitation on their exac-
tons.
The fruit of all Mr. Clay's movements at the extra
session will be found when come 10 revert 10 the
| procee dngs-the creation Of public debt-aDd his
MEANS the alienation of the public domoin--eatfava-
CANT appropriateness National Bank founded n
Government loan--and loans for supplies TO
| increase wasiefrl expenditures.
!