The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-10-05

pudistors also pfols6s 20 beIlpye, that upon the
action Ofshe people On iiiit subject, depends
the honor and prosperity, Or the disgrace and
ruin Of orr beloved State. How then can We
blink this question
The honor ycu have conferred by your sps-
cial invitation, seemed to require from me
something more than an expression Of my
thanks for your civility--yet fear that Ihave
unconsciously extended my letter farther than
was warranted BY the occasion. ! viii close
by the assurance ofthe high regard and esteem
ofyour fellow citizen,
ia. QUITMANs7
In to-dayss paper we give genera 1outl'ne
ofthe course of argument pursued by Mr. Clay
ton 10 the discussion, which was had at this
place on the 2Jih uIt between himself and his
competitor Gen. Brown. The sketch. which
we furnish. gives very imperfect idea OF the
speech; indeed we are not certain that we
have in every instance stated Mr.. Clayton's
position correctly, though we have endeavor-
ed to do so as accurately as our memory would
enable Us.
We have not attempted to furnish aerepor
of anything Gen. Brown said. There was so
little connection in his speech, 50 little arrange
mont that it would have beensa difficult matter
for the most skilful reporter to make an accur-
ate report of this incohereut eFusiOn. After
the General had gone through his exordium'
which he repeated with no listle pretensicR TO
an oratoEical flourish, there was nothing but a
continued slipping and sliding around the points
Of argument, which Mr.. Clayton had placed in
his way.
All 1.-The Generals faculties were called Gin
requistion to carry him through this difficult
operation. Occasionally he would mako dem
Onstrations of marching boldly up TO the posi-
ton which his opponent had takens and whilst
you were exerting your imagination in conjec-
turing how he would commence his assault
upon il, you would all at once discover that he
had gone around il and was emerging from a
cloud of dust, which he had raised to conceal
his maneuvre. He laughed, he told old stale
aQecdotes, made ridiculous one about pig
and an opossum, was occasionally very funny
in his manner, but went over the whole subject
of Reputation, without adducing one solitary
argument why the bonds should not be paid,
or extricating himself from solitary inconsis-
tency, in which he stood in relation to this
question. There is not an individual in this
County, who undertakes to address the people
Oh this subject, that does not invariably make
a speech containing at least more the appear
ance of an argument against the payment OF
the State bonds, than this.
In his objections to a tariff, Gen. Brown ex-
hibited degree of ignorance of the subject,
that was remarkable in any man of ordinary
capacity, who had been so much engaged in
politics. and who especially had spent twcses.
sions at the seat of government as a member
of Congress. Heshowed that he was totally
ignorant of the frs. principles Of productive in
dnstry. and the sources of national wealth.. he
seemed to have heard. scmathing. slsicha did
not comprehend. ebe..4 4l.-- -.-s.-,-A- -
try afording some criterion. BY which to Judge
of a nations prosperity; and he ISId il down as
a proposition in political economy that the
quantity of exports from a country is the mea-
sure of its national prosperity. 1t had never
occurred to him that nation might be SO sit
uated as not TO export solitary article of
merchandise, and still be rapidly increasing in
its wealth. This result might be produced by
its applying its energies 10 the general i'm
provement of the country and its adaptation |
to agricultural purposes by the increase of the |
number of its inhabitants and the production
OF the necessares of life, by the building up of
its towns and villages, and the erection Of man
ufacturing establishments, by the working of |
ITS mines and the general reduction of the ad. |
which nature aft ,rded, to the purpo |
ses and uses OF man. These, and thousand
other means, by which the wealth of nation
may be greatly increased, without its exporting
a solitary articlc.seemed never to have occur.
red to his comprehensive mindin his Investiga |
ton of the sources of Irrational wealth But he /
had directed his vi'ws on this subject exclu |
slvely in one direction, to the amount ofexports
o; country. and that had SO completely filed |
his mind, that he could think of nothing in con.
nectioD with national prosperity, but the a.
mount of exports.
Mr.. Clayton in answering his remarks on |
this subject, had said; that the UGlae of the ex
ports must be taken in connection with the /
quantity. to arrive at correct estimate of the
addition. which they make to the general
" S"'So VI COunltys Tor instance, said 1S q |
large crop OF cotton. by furnishing a supplv
create! than the demand. may have to be for
ced on at so low rate in foreign markets. that
re proceeds may not amount to as much 81 !
smaller crop sold at higher price proJu %
All w.lo have had much experience IN MAN
ing are familiar with this fact. In repsv -
his, Genrl. Brown with degree of so1h,s
r l that was at once ridiculous and contemn-
IDLE, attempted To controvert Mr.. Clavtors.
POSITION. He said that his (ATr. C,sl Dos Sn
amounted to this, ''Let US suppose thai : nlan
er comes to market with his crop Of cot cot
on and goes to merchant and saws T 49,
'rotght in, one hundred bags Of co nass
'ow much will you give me for ia TIL
merchant says 1 win give you Eve thousand 1
ollars; to which the planter agrees and ! hn"
am 10 made. After while the nlan,s. Oaa-
nrns and says. find thai have Is bale mo &C.
nan thought had which / wish Sr, ,,O - |
axe also a. The same rate yon gave e. - ,s Y ,
undred. The msrchons replies I'd ,v;i 1Os ne
e twenty i've additional bales. but cannot mot
I'VE nve thousand dollars for the whols s..u
er Of one hundred and twenty five i,aes "u -.
,ih give you four Thousand dollars "a 80 ~.