The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-11-15
MR.. CLAY AND THE TARIFF

There is no point in respective position in
which Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Van Buren, stand before
the country, (says the Albany Advertiser which
presents more striking contrast than their rela-
ton respectively TO the tariff policy. While, on
the part Of Mr.. Van Buren,, it is sought, in one
State, or section, to make it appear that he is
Jriemdlyto the tariff policy, and the credit of the
present tariff law is claimed for his partisans in
Congress in another State or section, leading
Van Buren, organs are anxiously assiduous to
make known his hostility to that policy and his
denunciation and disclaimer of the existing tariff
act and thus the people are left in suspense and
uncertainty as to his real views, and one or ano-
ther portion Of them must necessarily be deceived
and disappointed should he be restored to power.
How different is the attitude in which Mr..
Clay stands in relation to this great question.
With him there is no doubl e-dealing, no equvo-
cation, no concealment. He does not speak TO
the people with forked tongue on this or any
other subject The people Of each and every
section and State, know exactly where he stands
all the great questions of public policy. There is
is no soft-sawder" as Sam Slick has it, in parti-
san resolutions at State conventions, introduced
for the purpose of enabling popular sentiment to
adhere to him in one quarter and thus making
it necessary to to the expedient Of sending
private letters into another quarter Of the coun-
try, to give a Numerically opposite account Of
his opinions, thus hoping to prevent the aban-
donment of him BY the people of that section.
There is, in truth, nothing sectional and par
tial on any point of our public policy, in MIR. Clay's
opinions, or public career, or character as a
statesman. On the contrary, his long and dis
tinguished career has been marked, in an emf
nent degree, by the breadth and comprehensive
ness Of his views. The whole spirit of his pub
lie life has been national. He has lived and la
| bored for the whole Union and for all classes and
| all interests; and whether any opinion of his
has been acceptable and popular, or not, in this
or that particular district or section of country
| or with this or that particular class, they have
| all, everywhere known exactly what the opinion
was, and precisely where he was himself to be
found in relation to it.
1t is, in fact, this very frankness this decision
and openness, to which Mr. Clay is indebted for
very much of his popularity even in those very
quarters of the country where the people have
usually given majorities against him aid his lead
ing views; and il is, in our estimation, honorable
| to the people of those sections that such is the
tone of sentiment among them.
| His opinions have, in truth, gained strength
from this very irmness of adhesion to them and
it is to this cause, taken in connection with the
ability with which these opinions have been
maintained, and with the experience of the coun-
try, in relation to them, that they are at length
gaining converts among those who have hereto
fore been almost unanimously against them and
their supporters; and it is to these causes all
combined and cooperating that the Wing party
and HENRY CLAY do, at this day, stand so
united and strong before the American people,
and with the omens of success so rapidly multi
| plying about them in all quarters of the land
J Concord Journal.