The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-07-10
MIR. CLAYTON,S SPEECH.


in his speech last week at the great Wing
meeting in Wilmington, gave the following
history of the Compromise Act:
lie would not predict the fate of James X.
Polk and his followers. He invoked the at
tention of the meeting to the issue which
must be decided at the next election. IL the
election goes against us, as a Republican he
was willing to submit TO the majority of his
countrymen, and he would down with what
ever of patience and resignation he could
command. When, he repeated, that decis
ion should have been made, then as a Repub-
hcan he would submit to it. He, however,
often thought he would be glad to drive bar
gain with the opposite party, in order that we
should get rid entirely and forever Of the Ia
riff question. Indeed, in his opinion, such
are the prospects of the Wing party that he
would be willing TO risk the final decision Of
the matter on the approaching election. He
had received many communications from DIFF
ferent parts of the United states, inviting him
to explain the facts in relation TO the course
pursued by Henry Clay, Of Kentucky. and
Theodore Frelins huysen, OF New Jersey, in
reference to the Act of the I'd Of March, lS33,
commonly called the Compromise. Strange
as it may seem, these tried Patriots and able
Statesmen had been charged by our oppo-
nents with abandoning the Protective Policy
of the country lie found it impossible to
answer all the letters that he had received
on the subject; but il his fellow citizens would
have patience, he would attempt reply to
all those interrosatories in what he was now
about to say.
He was member of the Senate of the
United States at the time of the passage Of
the Compromise Act, and was also a mem-
Der of the Committee to which it was refer
red. He was one Of those who voted for it
in all its stages, and for its passage; and he
thought he had as great an opportunity of
knowing the motives and objects Of Mr.. Clay
and Mr.. Frelinghuysen, as any other man ~
longing to that hone: aDie Dody; and he would
now say briefly before he proceeded farther,
that the great objects they had in view, were
not only to save the honor of the States then
in danger, but also to save the Protective
Principle and the Protective Policy itself.
1t was quite a common error, even among
intelligent men, TO suppose that the act which
these gentlemen voted for, did, in some part
OF it, abandon the Protective Principle. 1t
was by some upposed-indeed, it was by
many believed, that the act was an act to re-
duce the duties down TO 90 per cent. at the
end of nine years and four months, and that
the act contained binding stipulation that
after the 30th day Of June, 1912, the duties
should not be laid higher than twenty per
cent-a duty insufficient for protection, and in
fact insufficient for purposes Of revenue itself.
He knew that in order that the meeting should
understand the subject, they must accompa-
ny him through dull detail of drowsy facts,
but the question assumed an interest it had
never assumed before, and it was very impor-
tant, nay absolutely necessary that il should
be placed in proper light before tile People
as well for their information DIS in Justice to
the great Statesman and Patriot whom the
country delighted TO honor. (Great and en-
thusiastic cheerine.)
1t was not true that the Act called the
Compromise Act was bill to reduce duties
merely at the end of stipulated period down
to 90 per cent The first section of the Act
provides for such a reduction; but the third
section positively provides that after The 30H
Of June, 1872, such duties only shall be laid
as will raise sufficient revenue for the eco
nomical administration of the Government,
and that those duties shall be assessed OH the
Home valuation and be made payable in cash.
Now the act, when fairly explained, was an
act to reduce the duties to 90 per cent. at the
time specified, unless, at that time it should
be found that duties were insufficient for the
wants of the Government; and if they were,
then the Act positively provided that duties
should be laid to meet those wants, and far
Their, that they should be collected in the man
ner that he had Just described.
Observe, that according to the language OF
the bill, which he had just quoted, all reve-
nue. necessary for the support of the Govern
ment must be derived from import duties, and
import duties alone, after the Both Of June.
1912. Well, how is the revenue derived I'M
der the Act Of 1892! Not from import du-
ties alone, but from import duties and the pro-
ceeds of the sales of the Public Lands: but.
simultaneously, he might say, with the pas
sage of the Compromise Act, Congress pass
ed bill to distribute the proceeds of the sales
of Public Lands, for a limited time; and it
was part Of one great system of Finance and
Revenue, designed by those who voted for
the Compromise, to withdraw the proceeds Of
the sales Of the Public Lands. from the Gen |
eraI Revenue of the Country for ever, to dis
tribute them among the State, and for a GER
tain period, which he had already mentioned, |
to Law duties-sufcient duties-for the sup
necessary expenses of it. According to the |
scheme and general system of the Comprom- |
Use, the Land Bill was as much part Of it as |
the Act of 1888 ITSELF The understanding
was, that all revenue should be collected from |
imports, and that so much should always be |
collected for the economical administration |
of the Government. As Wings, we wanted
no extravagant administration Of it. General |
Jackson, in his previous Message,had said that
the Land Fund should cease to be a source |
of revenue. We took him at his word; and |
we passed a bill in both Houses, having that
object in view. 1t was then sent TO the Pres |
ident, at the time the Compromise Act was
in his hands. He returned the Compromise |
Act with his approval; but he retained the
Land Bill. He retained it, too. under circum-
stances which no means could justify. He |
kept that bill in opposition to that which be |
(Mr. C.) conceived was his duty, and that |