Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-11-16
MR.. CLAY AND THE rARIrr.

The letter OF this gentleman to the Editor of
the Lagrange Herald, Georgia, gives Mr.. Claws
opinions on the Tariff, and these will be found
to be in accordance with the sentiments of the
great body Of the Wing party Of the country.
Mr.. G. refers to the Tariff act of 1925, which
has been styled by Southern men the Spill
OF Abominations," aud says he was we'll ac-
Tquainted with the circumstances which gave
birth to 1t, and that "they were highly discred-
stable to American legislation"
A recurrence to the political history of tina,
day is necessary to full understanding of
this remark, which the I.ocos are now at
tempting to distort, and which they seize up-
on TO prove that Mr.. Clay has "lorleted his
character for frankness and candor" This
retrospect, SO far from showing wha, his all.
versaries aim to establish, conclusvely proves,
we think, Mr.. C's manhness and frankness,
on tins as well as other subjects. In 1928,
Mr. Clay was member of Mr. Adams Cab :.
net. The Administration unqueslionably ia
vored then, as the Wings do now, Tariff,
which would yield fair encouragement to
domestic manufactures. At ,ha, period, the
majority OF the Senate, (of which Mr.. Van Blu
rem, Col. Benton, and Col. Johnson. were
then members.) was opposed to MIR. Adams.
when the Tariff bill was under discussion in
that body, MIR. Van Buren,, and other North
crn members in voting for the highest rates of
duty upon Woollens, sc. under the plea of
making the bill SO odious as to produce Ms
uc'eat But what was the establishment of
the South, TO hn'l, that, after ENGRAVING these
objectionable features upon it, Mr.. Van Buren,
voted Tor the bill, and ensured its passage with
oil It's alleged denominations! II was on this
OCCASION that Mr. Tazewel upbraided him (o,
his treachery, bat the Magicion excused him.
self by saying that he ootcd uader Instructions
These are facts well known to thousands.
II was this sort of manoeuvering that Mr.
Clay justly stigmatscd rs "discrediiabIe /,
american legislation" Every man who knows
him, knows that however arden,Iv he migh
Gesire Just protection to American manulac.
lures, he would scorn TO achieve his puyposf
by indirection, or by such method as lba
resorted to in 1928.
1t should also be distinctly brought to :he
recollection of the American people, that the
Tariff OF 1882, which led TO Modification in
South Carolina, ,cas passed By a Jackson Con-
STeSs, and could not hare been enacted with
out the concurrence of the dominant party in
both houses, and the sanction of the @Old
Hero" himself. 1t was this Tariff that Gen
Jackson issued his proclamation to sustain.
and 1t was this that he ordered the army Ia
the South TO enforce by the bayonet 1t was
ioT attempting TO resist this Tariff that he
threatened TO hang Mr.. Calhoun and his coad-
Jutors--and it was to prevent this dread issue
that Mr.. Clay in 1888 introduced, and by his
great influence always felt when the peace of
the country is imperilied) secured the pas
sage OF the Compromise Bill. Let Southern
men remember that Mr.. Clay never went so
far i'll his Tariff views as to run the risk Of
shedding the blood of his countrymen. That
task was reserved for the head of that Party
which now preends in one quarter to be
Anti-Tariff and i'll another insists that "Pro,ec-
ton is part OF the Democratic creed.o
MIR. Clay has always been for moderation.
even when Manufactures most needed Pro-
lection and he now declares that a,odcru-
ton and stability are the essential features of
Just Tariff The Richmond Wing truly
says :-'There is no reason to doubt The sin
cerly of Mr. Clay, contrary as hypocrcy is to
the openness and magnanilniiy of his charac-
ter. He has declared elsewhere. and where
ne did not address himself to ears exclusively
anti-Tarifi, that he thought no man desired,
at this time of day, high protective Tariff:
il really must be the bitterness of faction, in
It's very worst shape, that can find fault with
this letter."