Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-09-07
LETTER FROM Mr.. CLAY.


9th ul,Imo. the following letter from Mr.,
Clay. ADDRESSED TO the editor Of the Ten.
nessee Agricultural. I, is Justly charac.
'erised Us expressing, IN a condensed form,
the views OF public policy IN regard TO the
great Interests of the country, To the main.
tensnce and diffusion OF which SO many oil
the 'llustrious oritor's greatest speeches
have been devoted. II Breaches also tia
spirit Of enlightened brnevolrnce and
comprehensive patriotism which d stu
guishes his private and public character:
ASHLAsp, August, 1S43.
To The Pu5iishcrs she Team State agricuI.
sarist
GENrLEnEN:--I duly received Your
letter requesting my present views as TO
the station that the Me hani al port on oil
our population should occupy IN the I'm.
ted Ststss, and also as to the suhjec, oil
Home Industry and Manufactures. Al
though have often had occ ,sion public
~ to express my opinions on these mat
ters, ! take pleasure 10 communicating
them TO you.
II has always app ard TO me. Gentlemen,
that the task OF administering our com
mon government would not b v.ry d FIJI
cult, il honesty, Iiberality auj reasona Bile
information we're carried into the iblic
councils. /, was instituted 10 omo,e
the general prosperity by faithful exer-
else OF wers granted by the Cons,itu.
ton. All parts OF the I'm on. and all the
gre =, inNe rests nf the country should there
fore, receive the p.iental esre and aiten.
ton Of The government. No one section,
and no one interest should desire or tx
pect TO engross its exclusive regard.
The main pillars Of Society are Ayr.
culture, Commerce, inc u ling Novigation,
and Manufa, lures, including the Mechan-
ic Arts. Owing to the peculiar position
of the United States Agri ;ul,ur. requ res
bn, little rrotert"n, and tha, confined
TO few Branches Of II. |, is otherwise
with the other two Interests. They re-
quire som" protection against the 8 fish
legs att, n and the rivalry Of Foreign pow.
ers, which, 10 make II beneficial aud Of
fectuaI should posses, Two quelti s, mod
Grafton and stability, intnatly connsc.
ted with each othe-. Witbou, m ,dera.
ton, other interests would feel that they
had been unju.,ly dsnIts BY. dissatisf ,ction
would ensue. and ,hat stability in legsl,-
tiou, so desirable IN all business and pur-
suits, would not be servel.
Protection to Manuf.ctur. and Com.
meroe is in fact, whatever it may be in
form. encouraeem' nj tn Agrit ul urc.
The cultivator OF the so is conscious nf
the great advantage Of having alongside
Of him the Blacksmith. the VIII 'elwrght.
the Sader an Harness maker, the Tailor.
the Ha'tr, the Sbo IN ,ker, the Cabinet
maker, and Mssons and Carpenters. His
com 'orts an thar $ are b 9TH Increased by
such proximity, and they c enabled l.,
augment their Z spective p,odu, tons.
Blu, of what avs,l would II be to multiply
them. wIthoJ, Commerce. for-,gn aud do.
mest'c, whose Office 10 IN distribute the
surplus pro luce Of Agriculture aud Of the
fabrics Of the Mechanic and Manufa-.
turerl
am so far friend To fee trade as TO
think that, within the limits ot the Uuon,
!, sh uli be entirely unfit cred, ond
prrf ely equal betwe, all interests and
al parts Of our un,ry. Bot to tn I Il
trade, which would throw wide open our
ports to Foreign productions. without du
ties. theirs remaining closed 10 US or our
admission allowed only upon the condl-
ton of high duties and severe restriction;
which would compel resort to direct
taxation. instead of the Custom. hous :, I,
supply the wants of the Fed raj Treasury;
and which would leave our domestic IN.
dustry unprotected. and exposed in an un
equal contest with the rival productions OF
Foreign powers. | am utterly and ,recon
cilsbly opposed. had hoped. and sup
posed, that ri, would have chos fully raj
lied around Tariff which, seeking to
supply tho Tr asuiy with an adequate
revenue, for an honest aud .couop cal
administration of the Government, should
at The same time. incidentally, by proper
discrimination. extend reasonable pro,ec-
ton to such branches Of our domestic in
dus.ry as needed il. That 10 all which is
now asked or insis.,d upon. But even
that moderate AMI roU,tatl. basis for the
final settlement &c the g,est aud yex, d
gu s,ion, encounters strong aud decijed
ofpos;t'on.
The Mechsnlc Arts. from the con-
mencement Of the operation Of our pres.
= mt Constitution. have constantly ENJOY, d
some d"gree Of protection from Govern
mont. in the form Of duti imposed ON
fabrics Of foreign Mechanics and th nix
Il ought to be continued.
With respect to the station which that
portion Of our population gagged in Me-
chemical pursuits ought to occupy m the
United States, | think that all Chizens,
native and naturalized, without any re-
gard to their respective vocation, should
enjoy such consideration 10 Socl.ty, ns Is
due TO thoir virtue aud intslig nee, their
industry, sob,ie.y and general dsPort-
ment.
Wth cordial acknoa isdgment, Gen
tlemen, FOL the sentiments Of esteem end
which you have done me the
honor to express towards me.
! am your friend
and obedient servant.
II. CLAY.
Mes.rs. CAMERON d FALL.