Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-08-12
COMMUNICATED .

III PROGRESS " ShoW mat MT. Sldy mas q.
bandoned his long cherished doctrine OF a
= protective tariff, and occupies a position
on that subject no longer obnoxious to
southern principle and policy. These men
condemn themselves out of their own
mouths; for at the same time that they as.
severa'e that Mr.. Clay is now with the
south upon the tariff, they are boisterous
in boastlng that Mr.. Clay has never chan.
ged his political doctrines, except upon a
sing subject, and that is National Bank,
when no one will deny that until very re.
Gently, at least, he was the champion of
the protective system, was considered by
It's friends its most steadfast advocate, and
often Wanting y identified himself with its
fortunes.
In the distress which his southern sup.
porters now feel at the manifest odiousness
OF his darling tariff doctrines at the south,
they have seized upon passage of
speech delivered by him in the United
States Senate, March LIST, 1912, and this
is stereotyped and heralded at the mast
head Of their presses with protestations
that 1t is all the south wishes in relation TO
the tariff. Hero is the PASSAGE:
Let me not be misunderstood, and let
me entreat that may not be misrepresent.
ed. am not advocating the revival of a
high protective tariff. am for abiding
by the principles of the Compromise Act:
| am for doing what no Southern man oil
fair candid mind has ever yet denied
giving TO the country a revenue which may
provide for the economical wants of the
Government, and at the same time give an
lpcldentl protection to our home industry.
If there be here single gentleman who
will deny the fairness and propiiety of
this, shall be glad to see and hear who he
Isl"
Now, even if Mr.. Gays real opinions
we're to be gathered from the above pas.
sage, there is latitude enough allowed, in
conneXion with his acknowledged opinions
upon other kindred subjects, for protec.
tive tariff 10 the hearts content of any
proectionist in America. He is for "giv-
ing to the country revenue which may
provide for the economical wants of the
government, and at the same time give an
INC dental protection to home Industry
What Mr.. Clay considers the economical
rantS' of the government, he has not sta
ted in this speech--but when we consider
his long and constant advocacy Of inter-
nal Improvements at the expense of the
general government, whereby its wants"
could lie increased to any amount that
might be necessary for the support of its
twinn sister, protective tariff; and his
bantIing project for taking away from the
government all the money arising from
the sales of the public lands, thereby
throwing all the "wanis" of government
upon duties on importations; we are at no
loss to perceive that the incidental proiec.
ton he would give to northern manufac-
turers, is as substantial to them and as op-
pressiye 10 the south, as any protection a
vowing the constitutional principle. In
fact, The discerning and unprejudiced mind
cannot but see in this disguised aspect OF
Mr.. Clay's position, his old hobby, the A.
merjcan System, so much execrated at the
South, vamped up in such manner as Ell
Their TO deceive his southern supporters, or
70 enlble them to make dupes of anti.tarilf
wings.
But we are not left 10 onjecture as to .
The tlIlng out of the plan of protection so
darkIy Swallowed forth by Mr.. Clay in the q
above extract, nor as 10 the reasons for bis r.
seemingly altered position. Unfortunate {
y Tor those who would deceive The south o
nto The support of Mr.. Clay, he made an h
'ther speech touching the very points pre-. v
ented in the above extract, on the 23d of d
March, 1912, and the last he ever made in c
ne Senate on that subject. The follow r,
ng is full extract from that speech, and 81
bears direct reference to the passage of d
is speech OF lst March, 1912: Il
"But ask again, as | have done once d.
etore, that may not be misunderstood it
am not espousng the cause of any high W
reflective tariff of duties. | am for such n,
scheme of duties as will preserve all the :,
Ssen'al principles ofthe compromise act, ~ ~
understand them. I hare Rped and r
'aH DIG IN the conviction of the risdona of W
P OrOtpTfiro ,,o3;c,,