Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-11-21
Mr.. Clan and IY;ob Duties.

Mr. Clay and High Duties.
We have copied from a Georgia paper some
additional proof of MIR. Claws sound views on the
subject of n Tariff: II will there be seen, that
more fully than in his letter to Or. Bronson,
he states his opinions and explains what he means
BY saving that the Tariff bill of '2s was discre.
ditable to American Legislation. Ifhc is not yet
explicit enough, there is very little doubt but that
Gov. Tazewell could remove any remaining Oh
security. He is now a Democrat. and his testimo-
ny could not he excepted TO 10y any Democrat
He was IN Congress at tho time. and priyy 10 the
secret and dsCreditablc history of that bill. cNm
mon fame has not grossly mSreprcsenicd the facts.
he charged Van Buren, with duplcity. and made
TO HIM the memorable remark: 81 You hare dscsir-
ed as once, that rs your fault; If you dcccirc as
again. IL l-W be ours" 1t is to this conduct OF
Mr.. Van Buren, that Mr.. Clay in part refers-and
because he does refer il, and that il damn
ing TO the character OF Mr.. Van Buren,. rs man
of candour and fair dealing, that the Old Hunkers
are enraged against Mr.. Clay, and attempt
ing 10 fix upon him the charge of Inconsistency.
But they bde a .6ie. That great is proof
against all the foul aspersions, which all his enc
mics can fabricatc. Even the efforts to saddle
upon him letters which he never wrote. rs was
mond Enquirer and the efforts to suppress his real
opinions by publishing garbled extracts from his
letter. as is shown by Mr.. Meriwether. was at.
tempted in respect to the letter which We publish
to-day-will fail to work him any INJURY. Such
disgraceiul means 10 do mwrong will recoil upon
the heads of those who employ them.
And the prcpoStcrous attempt OF Ritchic and Van
Buren,, To convict him Of inSinccrity and nconss-
tency will share the same fate. II such charge,
coming from two men. notorious above all others
of the age. for want of candour, and all manly
virtues, did not rciue itself, the whole history of
Clay's life, and of the legislation of the country.
would do ii. From the beginning, hc has main.
tanned that Protection was only temporary mea-
sure-designcd To foster domestic interests, and
enable them 10 take such root, as to defy foreign
competition. Richie. and the rest of his squad.
denied ths:-they affirmed that il mere pre-
text TO catch votes. and that II the manufacturers
once got toot-hold, they would go on increasing
their eNactons to the utter ruin Of the country.
Now that Mr.. Clay repeats what he has always
siid-and what these gentlemen as constantly de.
MED: thew have the unutterabe etironery 20 forget
their own false predictions and to arragn MIN for
inconsistency and disingenuousness Thomas
Richie, and Martin Van Buren,, imputing insnce-
rity to Henry Clay and actually charging him
with the dirty trick for which Van Buren, is IA.
mous-that of writing different letters, to suit diff
iercnt laiitudes This is done, Of course, on the
shallow principle OF the thief who !, the first TO
raise the hue and cry of stop thief
Mr.. Clay does not like Mr. Van Buren,, assert.
in letter written for Northern consumption, that
discrimination, (or rather pro:ection,) is demon-
ded By considerations Of justice. humanity, and
sound poIicy'-and in private letter TO the South,
"dsnounce, and utterly d;sclam," discriminating
Tariff lie did not pretend 10 he Free Trade
advocate, while he supported the "Bill of Abomi.
nations" of lS23. He does nothing of this sort.
He leaves such frank, candid, and ingenious acts,
TO that illustrous practitioner Of candour, Martin
Van Buren,! He has never denied the constiiu-
tional power of Congress to protect-he has
yer asserted that some protection was not demand
cd by the best interests of the country. lie holds
these principles or opinions Bur he is not for
prohbtion-he is not for more duties Than are ne.
CURED by an economical administration of the Go
vcrnment, and for more protection than will
sustain the great and important interests Of the
country. But all these matters are fully explain
ed in the admirable letter, which ono Of the Lo.
coocos to whom II was addressed, gnrbIed, and
attempted To suppress. See it in another column.