Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-08-29
OPINION IN ENGLAND-OUR
CONTEST.

The London Atlas. well informed
and high toned Free Trade journal, moi
very tightly harnessed to the car OF Par
~, has Jolly 20th) the following Editori-
oil leader on our Presidential contest
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.
As far as it is possible to anticipate
from the accounts receh,ly received from
the United States. the triumph oil III,
Wing candidate Clay, in the spprosch
ing struggle for thu Presidency. appear
almost assured. The Democratic party
have unaccnuntably passed over he on }
Two public men whose names could have
been put n comp. tition with that OF Mr..
CLAY as statesmen and men OF ability
n .mely, VAN buren, and CALHOUN, and
nave selected rtain Mr.. POLK, Of
whom u, DO ~ ever heard, and Who com
mands no confidence and respect. Their
strength, also, is divided by the presence
of third candidate, the present President
TYLER, who. without much chance OF
success, will carry with him the official
influence that might otherwise have turn
ed the scale in an evenly balanced contest
between the two parties.
As regards English interests, we look
upon the probable return of MIR. CLAY
with mixed feelings. On the one hand
ne is certainly by far the most respectable
candidate, and the Wing party on the
other side Of the Atlantic are by far the
most intelligent, reasonable, and respec.
table party. A Democratic President is
som thing like FEaRGUs O'CoNNoR or
Tom DUNCoMBE 10 power, who may ut
any m pm"nt dash through all the laws af
nations, violate all officinl etiquette, and
involve Us in war for some North-wes
tern boundary or Oregon territory, in or
der to get up popular clamor and carry
an election.
Reputation. also, is doctrine which
finds much more favor among the whole
hog Democrats than with the s.aid and
respectable Wing, who has sufficient in.
teIligence to comprehend the maxim that
in the long run "honesty is the best poll
cy." Undoubtedly. therefore, with Mr..
CLAY as President, and the Wing party in
the ascendant in Congress, we should
feel much more comfortable in regard 10
our foreign relations, and might look for.
ward with more confidence to an ADJUST.
ment Of the awkward questions respect.
ing the Oregon frontier, which, ifneglec,-
ed, may at some future period lead to 50.
rious embarrassments. On the other
hand, the election Of Mr.. CLAY must, we
fear, be looked upon as, to considerable
extent, confirmation Of the principle of
commercial restriction. He has always
been the consistent advocate of Protec-
tive Tariff, and the cause of the Wings
has always been identified with that Of
the New England manufacturers, who
aim at acquiring monopoly Of the home
market by the aid of prohibitory duties.
Nor can we wonder that such is the DO.
Icy OF the most respecta BILE and inteligen.
statesmen OF America, when we consider
that by our corn laws we shut the door
IN the face of any attempt to negotiate
commercial arrangement on the footing
OF fair and substantial reciprocity
We take nothing from the United States
but that which we cannot possibly do
wiibou,-their cotton and tobacco, ex.
GLIDING the staple produce Of the great
agricultural States Of the West by slid
ing scale ingenously framed SO as to
throw tho narimum amount Of impeachment
IN the way Of access TO the English mark
ct. Is it to be wondered at, then, that
they rstaliate and meet high duties on
American flour by high duties on English
manufactured At present the corn law
question seems TO have gone to sleep, no
one feeling the pressure sufficiently in
years of abundance and commercial pros.