The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-07-22
Tan, John M, CIaytOn's Speech at
MASS MEETING IN DELAWARE.

lam, in this day addressing you, Is TO call back your
,,oniop and that Of the country at large, from the
MANY distracns topics whlcn now "gIla.e 'he Pubic
po'dsn,ia Election. The great question to be de-
In by that election is question of BREAD
,ioH whether we shall abandon the whole prnci-
Y" If protection extended to the abo-ing classes of
Ri. country by the Tariff Act OF 1912, and adopt in
T.o or il, a tariff discriminating for revenue and
",r;os, protecon; a question whether we shall go
S,ck BY our own voluntary act, to that state of colo
iI yossange which existed in this country while
Zealand held us in subsection, and her statesmen
bsIed that they would not permit to manufacture
,Lobnai for ourselves-a question whether we shall
nav surrender to England one OF the most essential
Tps,nps resulting from that independence for which
tbo Wings of the Revolution successfully contended.
IN every rejecting mind il must be apparent, that
I'M, fey subjects Gun be decided TO the satisfaction of
majority Of the people, at single elections and il
be old trick of designing politicians, to escape defeat
nnon subjects in controversy. vitality affecting the
country by multiplying the issues TO be decided, dis
rac,ing the attention Of the people, and dividing the
majority on the dreaded questions, by others of infe-
ror importance These are the tricks of all the en-
emes Of Wing principles of the present day Those
geolemen are well aware that vast ma jority of the
Tpemen of the country nre decidedly hostile to the
modern Free Trade doctrines, & decidedly friendly
IA tbe Wing Tariff of 1912, embracing the Wing
nincipes Of protection TO homo labor. With their
new Democratic doctrine Of Free Trade, all the lead
or, among them conscious that they cannot go TO
Trial before the country without mourning inevitable
defeat Within the past year, the friends Of the pro-
,ecye policy have, every where, routed their oppo
neDs when this question has been raised in the cleo
tons OmlHends have unfrocked the partizans and
ajyocatesofBitish interests in this nution They
have torn the masks from the faces Of those who pre-
fer English 10 American labor The sheep skins have
been stripped from their backs, and the wolves now
Il u, l,,J l,C,rt
triumph in this great question, ourriends have at least
adopted determination, upon which our welfire
enmently depends 10 re Jet with scorn alliance with,
resistance from all cOic-bCys and such rs pretend
WOCcupy neutral position between the contendsg
parties on this question. This is n subject which
tho American people can longer be deceived by
pretended friends or by enemies. And, at this mo-
neHl, you the foes of the American system,
sOus fheir approaching destiny, if the Two issues
shall be submitted to the people, are, every where,
erdeaOrng TO direct public attention from il To other
Subjects presented for ths purpose Of exciting popular
Nsn! Let us guard against the wlIes OF our adver-
IA slfe.
Laae return in all sober seriousness, TO the true
question, as have already stated it-protocton or
wprNNect,oO Cor the country-bread bread for
bC Iaborer is no part Of my purpose to discuss
:hal question At length To enable others 10 UNDER
stand it, have ous to refer them TO the last article
in the March number Of Bnckwoods Magazine We
may there learn how EnsllShmcn reason ainong them
selves when dsGoursing on ioes Of the visionary
doctrine Of rec trnde and we may also enrn ror IT,
how much credit shOuid attach to articles OF u con
nry mpO, written by Engshnen for the American
market tN!sh periodicals written for the purpose of
n beFg readily American citizens have done more iniu
pD he Cause Of ;hohmrricar Iaborer han any equal
number publications on the same subj jet which have
appeared in our country
lncQnnecOn with this subject, my fellow citizens.
ann thnt nnt tho NIL Nf
opponents men who have been bold enough to
charge Henry Clay and Theodore Frclinghuysen, the
chosen champions of Wing principles, with having
abandoned the protective policy, by their votes for
The Compromise Act, of the I'd of March 1888. II is
myday TO defend these, my old associates IN the
pubic councils, against SO un just accusation; and
ha duty becomes peculiarly imperative upon me,
when inquiries are constantly addressed to me las they
nave been Of late, in regard to the true character of
0o VOIes which they gave that memorable oc-
CaSOn' cannot answer all these inquiries by letter.
"H'therelore, this day, attempt to answer them
here for see
"A chiefs amang US takin' notes,
An faith he'll prent em;''
and have reason to hope that this report of what
~" ABOUT TO say may reach those who have addressed
these inquiries TO me-
, was IN the Senate at the time of the passage of
i've compromise Actwas member of the committee
""n reported 1t, and had the best possible opportu
"y Oh knowing the motives and objects of Mr. Clay,
~ "e introduction and passage of that measure. Ills
, us not only TO prevent civil war and tho dis
,ouOn OF the Union but to the PROTECTIVE policy.
la" convinced that, but for the passage of that act,
~o protective system would have been substantially
fnpSIeo more than ten years ago, and every manu-
down. Nor'"o'"' uPo'~ " ''''oNe'
b Nuow mat nothing is more common than for us to
certain Individuals who are utterly ignorant of
# ea' circumstances which existed in the early part
Son year 1888, In spirit of idle bravado boosting
Nns eaVey they would have deied the threats Of the
ibomu1 VIS-now resoIute they would have proved
in boo"' mad tine opportunity been offered them,
reocoa up all The leaders of that faction, and how
,brOnuL uiey would have been in administering,
salptary me s:w'l.y willing agency Of Cen Jackson,
beciIe .' Uasusatlon to what they term ssthe inn
These ,'Tsance and bullying of South Carolina. -
punoo ~ S,nlar remarks generally made for the
for Es w, y. introducing condemnation of Mr. Clay
whjeh ,hs IN the passage Of the Compromise Act,
pie IA say was sacrifice Of the protective prnci
dOpb,p.ro Seut war with the nullifers.. Without
thus OGsn ee courage or the sincerity Of those who
manly 49, ooaS OF the superior firmness and more
that c,iou atl"s winch they would haze exhibited at
these VIII endeavor, briefly, to show you that
meon;D c are ignorant, both of the effect and
''secnred by its author. ''' 0'J''' '''s"'
O,ss 4u"e common error. that the act itself pro
ces ofimnorr,o"aial 1ar!fof20 per cent all ari
The final ros,; las the minimum rate of duties and
lroposed h. ny pace at which the reduction of duties
and uncbovo .'1 act shall cease and stand unchanged
Intelligence suaoe forever. At this day gentlemen of
inn to