Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-05-23
INTERESTING LETTER FROM Mr..
CLAY, TO TIE CENTRAL CLAY
CLUB OF DAUPHlN Co., Pa.
WASHINGTON. Nav IL. 1874.


WASHINGTON, May IL, 1874.
Geatlemen:--I received the letter which
you did me The honor to address to me,
inviting me, prior 10 my return home, to
visit the capitol of Pennsylvania. Subse-
quent to lis date, thought it right to On.
nounce to the public my determination TO
make no visits, nor attend any public
meetings which might be deemed poiti.
cal, until the Presidential Election was
decided. To tnai determination | shall
adhere. Ii depIives me of the pleasure
of accepting your friendly invitation.
Gentlemen, agree with you-"No
State IN this Union would be benefited
more by the permanent establishment OF
a sound Wing policy than Pennsylvania.
have had the great satisfaction, always,
to agree with Pennsylvania in regard to
public measures, whenever the genuine
feelings of Pennsylvania have Been fairly
expressed. There was not merely cor.
dial concurrence, but an intimate friend
ship, between her FindIay, Smile, Lacock,
Roberts, Brown, and other distinguished
sons, and me in the Congress which de-
cared the last war. | united also with
the survivors Of them, or other eminent
citizens of that State, in laying the foun-
dation Of the National prosperity, after
return of peace. have no recollection
of any important public measure respect
ing what have differed from Pennsylva-
MIA. | was perfectly aware that "the
time was when the people of Pennsylva.
MIA were made to believe that you were
not their friend" Acting under the max.
i'm that honesty was the bes, policy, and
upon the conviction that truth is omnipo- |
tent, and public justice certain, bore the
unmer,ed reproaches cast upon me, as
became me. have not been disappoint-
ed. stand indicated, in the hearts,
and by the spontaneous acclamations Of
my citizens. The industry and |
malignty of my enemies will no doubt |
prompt perseverance, in these attacks
Perversions of my language, msrepresen-
tatlons OF my, course, old scraps from tat. |
tered and obsolete ewspapers--even fab
ricaton and forgery are and will continue
TO be employed TO vituperate and villify |
me. But like all preceding assaults, they |
will be unavailable, and shall remain in
vulnerable 10 them all. |
In the meantime, congratulate you
on the bright and cheering prospects Of
the establishment Of that Wing Policy so
essential, believe, not only to the pros
perity Of Pennsylvania, but 20 that of the
whole Union. happened to be in the
House of Representatives when an impor. |
tant part Of that policy signally triumphed.
The Tariff of 1912 has been bitterly de.
nounced, and gross epithets applied to it.
Its repeal was pronounced to be favor
ite object of our political opponents
They have a majority Of some fifty or
sixty 10 the House. A bill to repeal that
Tariff has been pending great part of
the present session of Congress. And
yet, yesterday, on test vote, a majority
of the House decided against the repeal
ing bill, learing the Tariff of ls42 in
FULL and sALUTARY OPERATION This
decision was an involuntary concession of
our political opponents to the wisdom and
benifcence of Wing policy produced by
the returning prosperity Of the country,
and the enlightened opinion OF the PEG.
pie.
But, gentlemen, have much higher
qualification than any which coulo be de-
rived from that decision Of the House of
Representatives. 1t is that the People of
the United States, from the St. Johns 10
the Sabine, who have been so long divid-
ed and agitated on the question Of the en-
courdgement Of Domestic Industry, are
about to settle down in union and harmo-
ny, upon the equitable basis of raising, in
time Of peace, the amount of revenue re-
quiste 10 an economical administration
Of the Government exclusively from for.
eign imports, by Tariff so adjusted as
that, by proper determinations; just and
reasonable encouragement shall be ertend.
ed 10 American Industry. May this hap
Ply union and harmony pervade all other
great measures of public policy and moth
ing occur to disturb the peace, to sully
the character, or check the onward and
glorious march of our country.
am your friend and obedient servant,
II. CLAY.
Messrs. Samuel II. Clark, &c.