Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-12-07
GeWs, As1lities, cts.
MR. CLAY ON THE TARIFF.


1t appears that in July last Messrs.
Branham and BIedsoe, OF Georgia, though
opposed to Mr.. Clay in politics, wrote to
him letter designed to draw from him
an answer on the subject Of the Tariff, to
be used, il possible, to the pr JUDGE OF
the Wing candidates in Geogia. Mr..
Clay answered them with his usual frank.
ness, and intmated al the close Of the let
ter, that he did not wish to have it pub.
lished as it might imply a senstiveness
which he did not feel on the subject OF his
opinions, which were already sufficiently
promul gated. The letter was not pub.
hshed-but extracts were taken from it,
distorted, put In wrong connections, and
accompanied 0y comments still more per-
versive Of the true meaning. These
garbed and perverted extracts were pub
llshed. Upon the appearance OF such a
| monstrous caricature, the Hon. MI. Meri.
wether. Wing member of the last Con-
gress wrote to Mr.. Clay, asking permis-
sion to procure and publish the letter SO
misused, to which Mr.. Clay promptly &C.
coded. Bun now one of the individuals
(Branham) who had no scruples as to per.
verting private letter 10 the prejudice
of its author, had become all at once
squeamish as to allowing its publication
and 1t was only by the most strenuous
exertions on the part of Mr.. Meriwether
ard Gen. Bledsoe that DR.. Bianhnm could
be induced to give up Mr.. Clay's Letter
But it was obtained at last, aud here it is,
with the questions which drew 1t out, and
the relevant portion Of Mr.. Clay's letter
to Mr.. Meriwether, conserving otis pub.
licatlon, viz:
Extract FROM M-. Clay TO Mr.. .Ne,1petA-
er.
ASHLAND, Oct I'd, 1S43
"You are right so far as the record is
concerned, in your statement that did
not vote for the Tariff in 1916 aud 1924 ;
but lsppportedtheir principles, and have al
ways admitted that was in favor of them.
did not vote for the Tariff in 1928,
for which, however, Mr.. Van Buren,, Col.
Benton, Col Johnson, Mr.. Wright, and
others Of our present opponents did vote.
And 1t is rem rkabie that from that period
my exe;ions in Congress have been di.
recled TO the reduction and moderation
Of Tariffs. Thus in 1882 supported that
Tariff, which greatly modified and reduc-
ed the Tariff of 1928, insomuch that il
was supposed by reasonable men that II
would or ought to sat sly the Nnllihers Of
South Carol ma. The next year. 1888,
| brought forward the compromise. In
lS4l | supported the Tariff ofthat year,
which was limited to the free articles.
! | rever was 10 favor of what regard.
ed as high Tariff. And my prespn,
opinion is in perfect coincidence with that
of the whole wing party of The United
States, including Georgia, as | understand
it. We believe that the Revenue from
the General Government should be deriv-
ed from the foreign imports TO the exclu.
sion Of direct taxes, and The proceeds OF
the saes of public lands and that no
more revenue should be levied than is ne.
cesSary to an economical administration
of the government; bat that in levying
it such determinations ought TO be made
as vii afford moderate and reasonable
I protection to American interests against
the rival and prohibitory policy Of foreign
powers.
should have preferred that the com
promise in all its parts (including the
Home vauation) could have been ahered
to. But you we'll know from what quar-,
ter the opposition came to the home valu-
alton, without the incorporation OF which
in the Compromise Act, that act never
could have passed.
think the present Tariff, in the main
is right, and working much good. There
may be excess or defects 10 it, of which
| have not here the means TO Judge; and
if there be, they ought TO be corrected by
supplemental legislation.
am your friend and obd't. servant,
II. CLAY.
The Hon. ]. A. MrRIwETHER.
The correspondence referred to-Ques-
t'onS:
EAToNToN, Geo, July 18th, Is43.
DEAR SIR: Conflicting opinions of the
principles you now entertain, in relation