The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-11-06

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struggle pretty much IN The same way, 6g1ras
lively speaking, and no doubt with the uIti-
mate intention of resuming his old habits after
the contest is decided; he is eisurely laying aside,
one by one, garments by which The outer man
has been known for thirty years past; and his
friends are lending an active hand in stripping
their fayorite champion Of every thing that may
hamper him. He is not to stdie with harness
on his back"
Three years ago, such a letter as Mr. Clay
has lately written to DR.. Bronson, Of Georgia,
would have been al once pronounced an impu-
dent forgery but, after the Lexington speech Of
April last, no one could doubt its genuineness,
and it is now merely regarded as impudent
attempt TO deceive the People Of the South.
In this letter, he tells DR.. Bronson that I" the
sum and substance" of his opinions with
respect to a tariff is briefly this: Il think
that whatever revenue is necessary to an eco
nomicaI and honest administration of The Gov
+ evrnment ought 10 be derived from duties mpos-
ed on foreign imports. And believe that in es-
tablishing a tariff of those duties, such discri-
minaion ought to be made as will Incidentally
afford reasonable protection to our national IN
terests.n He further tells him that he was not
in Congress when the high tarif Of 1928
was passed, and that he thinks it was g highly
discreditabe to American legislation" After his
return to Congress his " Efforts were directed 10
the modification and reduction of the rates Of
duty contained in the act of 1923. He was not
in Congress when the act Of 1912 passed, and
has emo means Of judging" whether there are
any excuses" in that act; but if there be
"Ihey ought to be corrected"
Ii is true that Mr.. Clay was not in Congress
at the precise times specified but his friends
were--the same friends who had showed them
selves such devoted followers and instruments,
ON occasions when~he was present, in aiding
him 10 force other high-handed measures on the
country. But he" the Disturbances at
tempted we presume, TO offer any advice or
suggestions to his friends in Congress, unless
he happened to be in Congress with them. Of
what occurred during his absence he knows no
thing and has no means OF judging"
And the country has all this time been griev-
ously mistaken in supposing Mr.. Clay to be The
Father of the American System. II is an IN
lucky. mischievous bsntling, Of which he has
no desire and no right to claim the paternity
and which was begotten and fostered by The
Lord knows who This is Dose we think,
for the Jew Apea.
Now, if Mr.. Clay had not intended TO deny
or equivocate respecting theory and project
with which his whole public life has been noto-
riousy identified ever since his return from
Europe. 1.-the sum and substance" of bis
reply to DR.. Bronson would have been
somewhat after this fashion; =" am surprised
that YOU should, at this day, inquire what my
oninions are respecting a Tariff They have
been so repeatedly and SO explicitly made known
in innumerable speeches, addresses and letters
intended for publication, and have occasloned
so much violent debate and opposition, that hard
" any man who has ever heard my name men
toned can well plead ignorance Of them. They
are the same now that they have been for thirty
wears past; and can assure you that neither
the opinions, nor my expression Of them, are
likely to be modified by any views or wishes
that may nave formed Tor my friends for me
respecting The result Of the next Presidential
election. BE pleased to Communicate this reply
to all in your neighborhood who may be endea-
voriog, through ignorance, Or under pretence of
friendship, TO make me appear guilty OF a lergrv-
ersaiion which my soul abhors." Such reply
would have been manly sndifnot characters
tic Of Mr.. Clay, as he really e, at least worthy
Of the high reputation which he has enjoyed
II is understood that Mr.. Clay expressed the
utmost surprise and indignation on hearing Of
Mr. Webster's declaration that the Bank was
an obsolete idea" Mr. Webster we think,
NAV now return tie compliment, withsny mea-
sure OF mingled astonishment and dsdain that
NAV be convenient Here is a Rowland for an
Oliver, with vengeance: mutual misunder-
standing cleared up almost as Practically as that
Of The two short-sighted sons Of Erin who chal-
lenped each other by mislake-each supposing
the other 10 be some one else who had affronted
him. and did not discover the buuder until they
were placed on the ground, face TO face, within
good seeing distance. "Ar'nt you oDougher-
ty z" cried one in amazement. mo and you
are not O'Brien Why, BY Us, its nai'her
of us"
We remarked that Mr.. Clay's friends, hackers
and botle- holders, were very busy in helping hin
10 peel or dis-equip himself of his politcalreg
mentals Some ten days, or a fortnight ago, The
editors of the National Integencer, in th'
simplicity Of their hearts, came out with an in
accent proposition that in the approaching con