Litchfield enquirer., 1843-11-30

which has been brought to Light through the lnds-
cYetion of Mr.. Richie of the Richmond Enquirer,
in which that gentleman makes known his utter
opposition to the principle well as the details OF
the existing Tariff, we now lay before our readers
an interesting correspondence between Henry Clay
of Kentucky and certain persons in Georgia on the
same subject, together with preliminary remarks
by the Editor of the N. Y Tribune on the circum-
stances under which the correspondence igina-
ted, and the base and shameless use which has
been made of it to the prejudice Of Mr. Clay and
his wing friends in Georgia. From this source our
readers will learn in the first place, that Mr. Clay,
unlike his slippery competitor Mr.. Van Buren,, is
in favor of the principle of the act of AZ, in 9TH
er words he goes for reasonable protection to all
branches of national industry, and in the next place
he approves of the details of the bill. He says'1
think the present tariff in the main is right and
working much good"
No doubt either Mr.. Clay or Mr.. Van Buren, will
be the next President of the United States. The
conflicting claims of these gentlemen will consti-
tute the grand issue to be within few brief months
submitted to and decided by the American people
On that issue will hang the great question wheth-
er the industry of the country is to be fostered and
sustained by wise and judicious legislation, or
whether our best and most important interests are
to be sacrificed in the chmercal hope of attaining
the blessings of universal free trade Let the peo
pie of Litchfeld County make up their minds to
wise choice in the alternative thus presented.
Here follows the correspondence.
From the Tribune.
.l-~a Dbl. I
Focos) of Georgia, wrote letter to Mr.. Clay (gv-
| en- below intended to draw from him an answer
which could be used to defeat the Wing candidates
this Fall and njuro Mr.. Clay In the Presidential
canvass. Mr.. Clay answered them frankly, init
mating at the close that he did not to be hung
course seemed to intimate that his opinions were
subject of mystery or equivocation. The gentle
nne,, who had drawn out this letter (writing
frends) did not publish it, but they made great
deal worse fit, by using its contents, dressed
with their own sauce, to brighten the Planters of
Georgia. This induced Hon. James A. Meriweth-
er, Wing Member of the last Congress, to write
to Mr. Clay, asking permission to procure and pub
lish the letter so used, to which Mr.. Clay prompt
| ly acceded. But now one OF the gentlemen Bran
| ham) who had no scruples as to using private
letter to the prejudice ofits author had become all
at once squeamish as to allowing its publication!
and it only by the most strenuous exertions on
[ the part of Mr. Meriwether and Gen. Bledsoe that
\ DR. Branham could be induced to give up Mr..
Claws Letter! But it was obtained at last, and
here it is, with the questions which drew it out,
and the relevant portion of Mr.. Clay's letter to
Mr. Meriwether, consenting to its publication, viz:
Extract from MFR. Clay to Mr. .Mer;scether.
| ASHLAND, I'd Oct, 1S43.
"You are right, so far as the record is concern
ed lin your statement that did not vote for the Tar
iff in 1916 and 1924 but supported their princi-
Piles, and have always admitted that was in favor
| of them.
81 did not vote for the Tariff in 1925 for which,
however, Mr. Van Buren,, Col. Benton, Gel. John
son, Mr. Wright and others of our present oppo-
| nents did vote. And it is remarkable that from
that period my exertions in Congress have been di-
rected to the reduction and moderation of Tariffs
Thus in 1882 supported the Tariff, which greatly
modified and reduced the Tariff of 1928, insomuch
that it supposed by reasonable men that it
would or ought to satisfy the Nullifers of South
Carolina. The next year 1888, brought forward
| the compromise. In 1911 supported the Tariff
of that year, which was limited to the free articles
never was in favor of what regarded as high
Tariff And my present opinion is in perfect
incidence with that of the whole Wing party of the
United States, including Georgia, as | understand
! it. We believe that the Revenue from the Gener-
al Government should be derived from the foreign
imports to the exclusion Of direct taxes, and the
proceeds of the sales of public lands and that no
more revenue should be levied than is necessary to
an economical administration of the government
but that in levying it such determinations ought
to be made as will afford moderate and reasonable
protection to American interests against the rival
and prohibitory policy of foreign powers.
should have preferred that the compromise in
all its parts (ncluding the Home valuation) could
have been adhered to. But you well know from
what quarter the opposition came to the home val
uation, without the incorporation of which In the
Compromise Act, that act never could have passed
think the present Tariff in the main is ght,
and working much good. There may be excuses
or defects in it, of which have not here the
to Judge; and if there be, they ought to be correct
ed by supplemental legislation.
/ am your friend and obdt servant,
HENRY CLAY.
The Hon. J. A. MER1wEr1IER.
The Correspondence referred to-Questions:
EAroNToN, Geo., July 18th, 1913.
DEAR SIR: Conflicting opinions of the prnci-
pies you now entertain in relation to the protec-
ton to Domestic manufactures are held by many OF
the citizens of this State, while all who have &C
quainted themselves with your public course on
this subject acknowledge you to have been the dis
tingushed advocate of the system of Protection.
Many have been induced to believe and to assert,
that your views of it, have undergone if not an en-
tire change at least some notifications.
The opinion we have always entertained of your
frankness, candor and independence, and of your
unwillingness to conceal your principles, or to suf
fer them to be misrepresented, induce us respect
fully to PROFOUND the following questions:
Are you in favor of Tariff for the Protection of
American Manufactures?
Have your principles in respect to this subject
undergone change or modification!
A reply will oblige Very respectfully, sc.
JOEL BRANHAM,
ROBT BLEDSOE
The Hon. HENRY CLAY, Lexington, Kentucky.
Mr. CLAUS PROMPT a0s,ceT.