Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-04-26
MIR. CLAY AT CHARLESTON, s. c.

The reception Of Mr.. Clay at the chief city of
South Carolina was truly enthusiastic.
In reply to an address of welcome by DR.. VIM
Read, officer of the Revolution Mr.. Clay began
with reference to the manner Of his reception, ex
pressing his Acknowledgements in the happiest man.
ner, paying his tribute of TO the venera-
bic man who had been the organ of his welcome
and the deeds and men of other days, and after APP
propriately touching upon past times, lie addressed
himself to the present.
On the great topics of the Tariff and the cur
rency, he gave, says the Courier, frank and fear
less expression OF his views, lie said he came here
to tater no man or set Of men-that what he would
dare say on the banks of the Elhorn he would dare
say in the Palmetto State lie had ever been in
favor of the protective policy to certain extent.
To preserve at once the peace and the great inter-
ests of the country, he had been active in eecting
the Comp omise of 1888, and although he was far
from maintaining the doctrine that any Congress
could bind its SUCCESSORS, the extraordinary eXgen-
ces and state of the country which led to the pas
sage of that compromise made him feel it an obi
gation Of honor to adhere to it in good faith; and
he challenged the most diligent search of the rec
ord to shew that he had ever countenanced its vio
lation in the slightest particularnay more, he was
bold to say that during his entire service in Con
gress since, there never had been an effort to VIC
late it which had not met with his prompt and ear
nest resistance. 1t was important to understand
lhc uuc lhuIiClcI vi uluJ COIlpIOLHlSc IL
for gradual reduction OF duties down to 90 pei
cent at given time, and after that for the raising
of such revenue, by duties on imports exclusive
ly, us was necessary for an economical administra
ton of the government But the principle of the
home valuation was an essential and indispensable
feature Of that compromise without that feature i
could not have passed, nine Senatorial votes havin!
depended on that coIcession-and although dis
tingushed Senator from South Carolina first strong
y opposed it, he afterwards publicly and ponedIy
in the Senate surrendered the point, and the pas
sage Of the measure was secured.
MIR. T.. denied that the principle of the compro
mise required the maximum rate of duty to be fxe,
at 10 per cent. Its true principle was that more
revenue should be raised than necessary for al
honest and economical administration of the gov
eminent, and within that limit there might be dis
elimination in favor of domestic industry He wa
far from conceding that the Tariff Of 1912 was il
violation of this principle of the home valuation
and neither interest affected had more right to com
plain than the other. brief vindication of mod
crate protective policy next followed, as necessar
to secure The independence of the country, and it
ability for defence III time of war; and as furnish
ing to the agricultural producer home market i
addition to the foreign market--in other words tw
markets OF sale and two markets of purchase. Nj
Clay concluded this branch of his subject by de
clarlng himself IN favor of system of protection
moderate, reasonable, certain and durable Weld
ing no more revenue than Is necessary for an hon
est and economical administration of the govern
ment, and within that limit, discriminating in tn
imposition Of duties, between those articles whic
do and those which do not enter into competitio
with domestic industry throwing the heavier dut
on the former and the lighter duty on the latter.
lie said that on this basis this great question mus
be setled-that ,ce must lire together, we cannot d
otherwise-and there must be some common groun
on which we should meet That the advocates @
free trade and the advocates of prohibitory or hig
Duties occupied the two extremes; and safety an
peace could only be found by taking the middl
path. That neither interest or section could expec
TO have it all their own way-the matter must b
adjusted by concession compromise, conciliation-
such concession, compromise and Cancellation a
led to the adoption of the federal constitution; an
under the influence of which our political unio
would continue to fulfil its sacred trust and NOV
forward in It's high career u blessing to our race
Each interest must concede something, and thus
system of equivalents would give satisfaction to al
And we should be the more prompted to this result
as the concession would not be to foreigners an
foreign interests, but to domestic interests, to fe
low citizens of a common country, to brethren
the same family.