Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-11-10

FTEHVI' 10 H.i'I"TI ~ u or VIN'aI TWTIs UEUtI WHICH
he oppressed the industry OF TIA, section, Mr.. Clay
wrote this letter TO Geosgja:
"Asul>Sp, Sept. -, Ici3
"Dear Sir: | received your favor, addressing some
inquiries To the III respect 10 the policy of protecting
American interests. On that subject | have very fe
gently publicly expressed my sentiments within the
las. two years. In Tie Senate Of the United States,
early last year, | fully expressed my views, and what |
said was published. About the same tim. commune
Gated them III the answer which I transmitted to a let.
ter addressed 10 me By 4 committee of the Legislature
OF New York, which vas also published. | again ex.
pressed NY opinion IN rep'y 10 a letter which receir-
ed from a fellow citizen o. Phiiadeiphia, requesting me
to state the principles "t the Wing party. 4 statement
OF them, as understood by me, vas accordingly made.
and II rs now consp'cnocsiy published Al tie head Of
many newspapers. The la>, expression OF my opinion
IS contained IN Il letter which recently addressed 10
Nashville, aud o. winch ] now transmit you d COPY
Ii you had seen these various expressions Of The opin>
IONS which hold on the subject OF yoar letter, pre-
sumo you would not have deemed II necessary 10 at-
dress ine.
"The sum and substance Of what conceive TO to
the true policy Of the United States, m respect 20 u
Tariff, may BE- briefly stated. In conformity with the
principle announced IN the COMPROMISE act, | think
hat Whatever revenue Is necessary 10 m economical
and honest administration OF the General Government,
ought Ia be- derived lGon dates imposed on foreign M
ports. Aud believe thai, 10 establishing \ TART Of
those dnlies, such a discrimination cucht Ia he made ~
will incidentally afford reasonable protection 10 cur ma
uouai interests
81 think there is 10 danger al a high Tariff being
ever established; that OF ls2S WAS etatnen,iy deserving
that denomination. vas not IN Congress when it.
passed. and did not vote for it; bat, with It's history,
and with the circumstances which gave birth to II,
am well acquainted. They were highly discredttable
TO American legislation, and | hope, tor lis honor, will
never b. again repeated.
'Aiter my return 10 Congress in 1891, my efforts
were directed 10 The modification and reduction of the
rates OF duty contained in the act Of I>23. The act
of lo32 greatly reduced and modified them; and the
act ii 1883, commonly called the compromise act, still
further reduced and modified them. The act which
passed at the extra session Of I-ii. y hich ! supported,
was confined TO the free articles. had resigned my
seat IN the Senate when tie act of i-i2 passed. &C.
morally, the duties winch 1t imposes are lower than
those in the actof 1892; and, without intending to ex.
press any opinion upon every KEN # ihis last Tariff,
| would say, that ihink the provisions in the main,
are wise and proper. Ii there be any exccsses or de
fec,s in il, (ol which have not the means here of
judging they ought 10 be corrected.
"My opinion, tina. there ~ no danger hereafter of
a high Tariff, is founded on the gratifying fact, that
our manufactures have now taken a deep root. In
their infancy, they needed n greater measure OF p:o-
lection; but, as ihry grow and advance, they acquire
strength and ~staaii.ty, aud consequently viii reqGirc
less protection. E.en now, soue blauctes cf them are
enabled t. mainlair, 10 distant markets, successful com
petition vita riv"l foreign manufactures.
'iioping TIA, this letter may be satisfactory 10 yon,
and afford all The Information you desire, md tender
n. NY grateful achaowirit incats 10, the friendly
tI' ''z" Hf' * "iAAAI" $50 81 - " !8I o6t
me, am, With great respect, your obedient servant,
"i. CLAY"
Mr.. Clay does no, 70 behind the epoch Of lo2S. in
reviewing his course on the TurN In the discussions
Of 1882, he boosted tia, Cor sixteen years, he had de-
voted himself 10 build up the Protective System. But
we wi! star, with him at the point which he has de.
signatej as 'ihe high Ta!iii, that of ISIS, which, lac
says, 'was eminent!y deserving tina, denomina,on,"
for Which, he says, he 'd'd not vote, aud tina. il was
What was Mr.. Gay 5 course III trutop" "',""> .w-
6 ,t.u;n,t,,nss Mr. (iaV.ays- an hs teOT0Ga let
ter After my return 10 Congress IN ISL, my efforts
were dlrecled 10 The modification and reduction OF the
rates OF dntg contained IN II, act Of l-2-.' How, We
shall snow from lis own words.
President Jackson having naid I'll tbs public debt,
The snrgluses acc!uing ~ the Treasury, beyond The
wants Of the Goveramsnt, admonisaed the manHIac-
turing interest, that n reduction 81 duties must neces-
sar;ly f"ilow. Nj. Clay, the champion OF shat interest,
for the first time after his Preside a,Iai defeat, appeared
in Congress at that crisis, no! instantly struck ont The
course which he resclu;ely struggled 10 MAINTAIN, 10
preven, the slightest abatement IN The protective do
ties. IL took has position "a HE following restitution
.RcsJ'rcd, Trai The cXsunr dnucs upon articles
imported from foreign countries and not coming ~
Competitions with similar att,cies made or producfd
within the & 5, oognt 10 BE forthwith abolished, except
the duties upon vines AMI silks, anG that those oughtio
be reduced: md that the Committee on Finance be m
siruc,ed To- report a bill accordingly"
Ia his elaborate public speech on this resolution, he
thus explained the causes winch rendered a reduction
Of duties inevitable:
"Whoevcr may be entitled 10 the credit of the pay
mcnt of the public debt, congratulate you, Sur, and
the country, uiost cordially, that - - 50 near at hand.
It is 30 near being totally tstinguished, that We may COW
safely inquire whether, without prejudice 10 any esta
blishcd policy, sc may 10: relieve t'e consumption of
the country, by the repeal or reduction Of duties, add
cuftail, considerably, the public revenue. In making
tbs inquiry, the first question which presents iiaei. Is,
whether II ; e%xpedteai 60 preserve the existing du-
ties, in order 10 accumulate n surplus IN the treasury,
f. the purDoSe uI subsequent Distribution am0nY the
several States. Think nos. II the collection, Tor tis
purpose of snch a surplus, 3 to be made from The peck
els Of one portion O! The people, to be alternately re-
turned TO The same pockets, the process would be al
tentcd with the certain loss arising from the ~chargeso Of
/ collection, and with the loss also ii interest while The
money is performing the unnecessary circuit; and 1t
would, therefore, be unwise. If 1t Is 10 be collected
from one portion Of the people, and given to another,
il would be unjust. If it Is To be givenio The Statesin
their corporate capacity, TO be used by them in their
public expenditure, know Of no principle N the Con-
s,l,ulion which eu'hutizes The FEDERAL Government 10
become such n collector 10, The States, nor Of any Prin-
ciple OF SAFETY or ProPrc'y winch aGr,''s OF me states
becoming such recipients ot grallity from the General
Government
Sir. Clay then points olt sbe various modes Of c!-
fectiug the reduction He says:
''Ihis recu,tIon may be effected IN various way,
ana on different prime pies. Only three modes shall
now be noticed
"ls:. To reduce the duties on all articles in the
same ratio, without regard to the principle Of pro
lection
's2d. To retain them on unprotected articles, and
augment them on the protected articles.
s'And Sd. To abolish and reduce The duties on un-
protected articles, rriaintng and enforcing the faithful
collection Of those 90 the protected articles.
ITO the first mode, there are insuperable objections.
1t would lead inevitably to the destruction Of our home
manufactures. II would establish a sort Of bed Of Pro-
crus,es, BY which tie duties on al! articles should BE-
blindly measured, without respect to their nature or the
extent ot lhei. consumption. AID II you'd be defoga-
tory Of every principle Of theory or practice On which
The Government has hitherto proceeded.
stThe SECOND would he still m"re Objectionable TO the
f,cs Of the Tariff ,hal c;aor Of The others. But It
carnot BE- con'royer,sd, hat ~ sug~enlIng consltera-
by the dates on the ~pr"trc;,G lass, so as to carry them
TO the point, or near to Ike confines OF absolute prohibi.
lion, the object in vicw, Of ~efIeciing the necessary re
duclion OF the public revenue, may be accomplished
without touching The duties on the unprotected class.
The consequence of such on augmentation would be
4 great din.inut'on in the importation Of the foreign
article, and. nj course, in the duties upon il; but against
entire prohibition except, perhaps, IN a :ew instances)
| have teen alwats and still am, opposed. by leaving
he door open to the foreign rival article, the aeneft IS
secured of a salulary competition. II !, be heEineii'
cally closed, the danger is incurred OF monopoly.
lTLa did pn,Ia = g., ,,g.t ruuItnhlp and rgasCIu-