Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-09-14
Mr.. Webster the accuser Of MIR
Clay.

Mr. We6S1er the 0CCt1ScT Oh NIX
Clay.
1t is pretty we'll understood that for sew
eral years past no great degree Of love has
existed between Mr.. Webster and Mr..
Clay, notwithstanding they have both &C.
cupied conspicuous places before the coun-
try as leaders Of the great wing party.
Motives Of policy have hitherto operated
so as to prevent an open rupture; but from
certain disclosures recently made in the
Madisonian, which show Mr.. Webster TO
have been secretly plotting the destruction
Of Mr.. Clay, whom he now supports mere
ly for the purpose Of retaining his position
in the wing ranks, it is hardly possible the
truce of peace can last much longer.
For the last several years the two dis
tinguished gentlemen named have been
vieing with each other in their endeavors
to recommend themselves to the favor Of
Tbs Raasa!a ss,is 81 domestic piodoc
ton from foreign competition. Mr.. Web
ster, it now turns out, stood by the princi-
pie Of protection when Mr.. Clay proposed
to give it up; and an opportunity having
presented itself Of making this important
but hitherto concealed fact known to the
country, Oi ho,d he's nn,ne being used, his
love for his rival could not permit him to
let it pass by unembraced. He thus be-
came, according to the following extract
from the statement of the Madisonian, the
voluntary accuser Of Mr.. Clay; and it will
be for the friends Of the latter 10 justify
or condemn, as may suit their inclinations,
the secret stabs aimed at their idol BY his
New England competitor:
"About the time, indeed at the time (lSla)
when q bitter controversy was going on between
the Hon. Henry Clay and the Hon. Henry A.
Wise, in relation to the unfortunate Cilley duel,
Mr.. Wise being prevented from expires ing his
views on the tariff, by some rule Of the House,
announced his purpose to imbody them in an ad-
dress to his constituents, which would be pub
lishcd in the newspapers
Immediately after the announcement was
made, Mr.. Webster, being then Secretary Of
State under Mr.. Tyler, and taking most active
part IN the vindcation Of the administration, and
in opposition to the assaults Of Mr.. Clay and his
friends on it, sent to the Madisonian Office.
where It was known the address Of Mr.. Wise
would be published, the following note, desiring
it to be inserted in the address, as separate and
distinct paragraph, which was accordingly done.
81 am informed and authorized, bv one who
saw the manuscript draught Of the act of 1883
before it was offered, to state that swhen Mr..
Clay drew the act Of 1888, and showed It to his
friends in his own handwriting, after the clause
which provides that only such duties shall be
laid as are necessary for IN economical admin-
istration of the government, after the 3Oth Of
June, 1912, the following words, or other words
precisely equivalent, were added, to wit: Sind
s'sca dsti's shall Be laid DitAoat resresce to the
protdrtion Of any domestic articles Ehatepey.v II
may fairly, therefore, be claimed that the great
author Of what is called the American system
himself has, in the most direct manner, acceded
TO this principle at least. that duties must be laid
primarily for rere~se and not for protection alone.
This is the leading principle to which the faith
Of the nation has been solemn'y pledged, and
one from which it will never be safe for the great
protected interests themselves to Depart
son the margin Of Mr.. Webster's note there
Sas P. s. in pencil mark, which ran a. follows:
The words quoted beginning At sAnd,' and end
ing at whatever are literal copy from the or;.
,,nal draft in Mr.. Clay's handwriting.
b. W.
Until Mr.. Clay contradicts the truth Of
this siatement-which no one suppoees he
will or can dot will receive general
credence. And in what an unenviable
light does it exhibit him before the coun-
try? Ready at one moment 70 give up pro-
lection in even it, most moderate share.
and the next crying out for scale Of du-
ties but little short Of prohibitory-wear-
ing southern face to-day and a northern
one to-morrow-he sports with the public
interests in utter disregard Of conss-
quences, % that he can succeed in the -
oomplishment Of his own ambitious d.
signs- The Light il which his conduct
wss vieYsd b the frisnds ri protection.
T he psrisd alluded 70 b wsbssv, nav
b sesa Iron ths fbllswips lstssr fss.,tks
Hoo. HAnuAn Urunr. - \. a.