The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-07-01
POLITICAL.
MR.. ] CLAYTON'S SPEECH

!, AT WILMINGTON, ON SATURDA
THE 18TH ULTIMO. fg sst .,f.
aa FELLow-cITIzENs The chief object have in
view in this day addressing yon, is to call back
your attention, and that OF the country at large,
from the many distracting topics which now agi.
tate the public mind, to the greatest of all the
issues involved in the Presidential Election. The
great question to be decided by that election is a
question of BREAD question whether we
shall abandon the whole principle of protection
extended to the laboring classes of this country
by the tariff act of l642, and adopt in lieu Of it,
tariff discriminating for revenue and against
by our own voluntary act to that state Of colonial
vassalage which existed in this country while
England held us in subsection, and her statesmen
boasted that they would not permit US to manu-
facture hob.nail for ourselves--a question whe-
Their we shall now surrender to England one of
the most essential blessings resulting from that
independence for which the Wings OF the Revo-
luton successfully commended To every reflect
ing mind it must be apparent. that but few SUBJ
jects can be decided to the satisfaction of ma
jority Of thepeople, at single election |; and it
is the old trick of designing politicians, to escape
defeat upon subjects in controversy, vitality affect
ing the country, by multiplying the issues to ba
decided, dstracting the attention of the people,
and dividing the majority on the dreaded qles-
tons, by others of inferior importance. These
are the tricks Of all the enemies of Wing princi.
pies of the present day. Those gentlemen are
well aware that vast majesty Of the freamen Of
this country are decidedly hostile 70 the modern
free trade doctrines, and al decidedly friendlyto
the Wing tariff of 1642, embracing the Wing
prncipIe'of protection to home labor. With thsir
new Democratic doctrine of free trade. all the
leaders among them are conscious that they cam
not 70 to trial before tina country without incur-
ring inevitable defeat. Within the past year, the
friends of the protective policy have, eveFywhere
routed their opponents when this queEti01 has
been raised in tho eleciions Our friends have
unfrocked tie partisans and advocates of Bfitish
interests in this nation. They have torn the,
masks from the faces of those who prefer English
to American labor. The sheep skins have been
stripped from their backs and the wolves, every.
where, now stand out in their naked deformity..
To insure our triumph in this great question, our
friends have at last adopted determination, upon
which our welfare emnenty depends, to reject,
with scorn, alliance with, or assistance from, all
coto-boys, and such as pretend to occupy neu-
trail position between the contending parties on
this question. This is subject upon which the
American people can no longer be deceived by
pretended friends or by enemies. And, at this
moment, you see the foes of the American syS-
tenn, conscious of their approaching destiny, if the
two issues shall be submitted to the people, are,
euery,ohere, endeavorng to direct public attention
from it to other subjects presented for the purpose
of exciting popular feeling. Let us guard against
the wiles of our adversaries. Our situation, at
this time, may be compared to that Of large
family about to emigrate to the West We have
one wagon belonging to oar concern, with an ex-
cellent team attached to it. We can carry init
all that is really necessary for safety and hap
piness. But we cannot carry everything which
the caprice or fancy of every member OF the Ia
mily might induce him to throw into It. II we
suffer every one to pile in, among our necessarles
of life, all the trumpery which he may have pur-
chased to carry with him, we shall soon find that
there is not room enough for hundredth part OF
il, and that one team IS utterly unable to hduI H.
In this state of things, the only course left us, as
sensible men, is to restrict the freight in the wa
gon to such things necessary to our safety and
comfort, as we can certainly transport. But we
will leave every one, who thinks he has the means
of transportation, independently Of us, to lug alone
what he peases; and we will promise not to fall
out by the way or quarrel with any friend who
may choose to GO the journey with us, because ne
thinks proper to load himself down with articles
which we are unable or unwilling TO carry. The
wagon and the whole cavacade are now before
me- about to start for the West Henry Clay,
the driver, knows the road well, and by his side
sits Theodore Frelinghuysen, who is good guide
and experienced traveller himself. Inside of the
wagon ] see the Proceeds of the Sales of the Pub
Tic Lands, 10Th duties laid for Protection TO home
labor, a sound Currency, an economical Adrnin's-
tration of the Government, and divers other good
articles, necessary for our safety and prosperity.
But there goes fellow behind, driving an unbro-
ken colt in cart of his own, filed up with Texas
Bonds and Teras Land Scrip. AS he wishes to
90 along with us, we shall not dispute with him
about his Freight though think he will not drive
his cart over the mountains this year There
comes another man, Juggling in the rear with a
wheelbarrow, loaded down with two hundred mil
lions of Government Scrip 10 pay oft the Stale
Debts. .b.s, s 4s .=f4 .sg
He is good fellow in the main, and decidedly
in favor of our taking along every article IN the
wagon, but will insist on his peculiar notion tnat
these State debts must go in company WIN us )
and while he works on his own hook, at MS own
barrow, l shall never quarrel with him, or a.temPt
to drive him back; though, if must express my
opinion, think his freight will be swampea amog
the fens of Salt River. There comes another tel