Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-09-19
DEF. Clay and the Compromise Act.
The following letter from MIR. Clay to the
Hon. John NJ. Clayton, is deserving of alien
BLUE LlcKs, August %, 1914.

tlOn -
BLUE LlcKs, Angus, %, 1914.
My Dear Sr-Your supposion is right as
TO the oppressive extent OF my correspondence.
1t is utterly impossible TO answer all the letters
which receive. | ain afraid that cannot re-
ply TO many that deserve it, Mr. Madison once
remarked TO me hat Mr.. Jeffersons corIesp0n-
dents were killing him; but they were furnish
ed by population OF about ten millions. Mine
are supplied by population OF near twenty
Gliiious. can feel and conceive the possibil-
lty of homicide. committed in The mode which
Mr.. Madison suggested.
request you 10 attribute 10 The above cause,
my omission 10 express TO you before The salts
lacIlon | derived from the perusal Of your ad
mlrable speech on The Compromise law mol
man knew better The motives and considerations
which prompted It's passage than you did, and
you have ABLY and truly exposed them We
were upon terms o. the most confidential in,l-
macy and friendship. You daily, in the Senate
sal near me. You knew of my consultation
with the practical manufacturers, and their CO.
Incidence in opinion with US. lbellese 1t was
upon your invitation, that the lamenied Dupont
came from Delaware and conferred with US
Upon more occasions than one, whilst gazing
upon the care-worn countenances and haggard
looks of some of The delegation in Congress
from South Carolina, you said 10 me, Clay,
these are fine fellows 1t won't do 10 let Old
Jackson hang them. We must save them
Y You lived in mess OF some seven or eight
Senators, and i, was your mess that insisted
upon the Home valuation, as a Slac qua non =
Mr.. Calhoun opposed it, Your mess perse-
vered. The fate OF the bill was threatened
but he, al The last moment, Withdrew his oppo-
slion, and the bill finally passed.
have again and again asserted, on the floor
of the Senate, that Two principal objects were
aimed to be accomplished. One was to aveltI
a civil war. The other was to preserve the
policy of protection. twas threatened, by Mr..
VerpIank's bill, with total subversion and be-
lleved then, and believe now, that, il The Com
promise had not passed, at the next session of
Congress, all traces of that policy would have
been effaced from the statute book.
You and both maintained that The measure
of protection preserved by the Compromise
would be sufficient until about 1912. But we
were launed by our opponents, 10 know what
would be It's condition when that period arrived.
We replied there were the home valuation, cash
duties, a long si of free articles, &c. But
SAID also, let us lake care of ourselves now
The people of / S42 may be trusted to take care
OF themselves. Public opinion, in the mean
time, may become more enlightened. and the
wisdom Of the protective policy may be demon-
slrated. have not been disappointed. My
predictions have been fulfilled. The people OF
1912, the Wings at least, every where, and
many of the Democrats, are now fully persua-
ded lha, the industry of this country, ought not
to be proslraed al The fee, of foreign powers
Every where the cry is for Tariff of Revenue,
with determinations for protection. Every
where The preservation of The Tariff of 1912,
which has worked well, and is delivering US
from embarrassmen,s is loudly demanded
The circumstances which led TO, or attended
the enactment of the Compromise, may be Gu
rious and interesting as matters of history bu
IN respect to the policy protection, the great,
practical, absorbing question IS, shall The Tariff
of 1912 be preserved or repealed That ques-
lion is to be solved in November next. | have
repeatedly expressed my opinion UNEQUlF-
OCALLY IN FAVOR OF IT
thought we achieved great triumph in
placing the Protective policy, by the Compro-
mise act, without the reach and beyond the
term of General Jackson's administration. And
we availed ourselves of the fac, that the South
Carolina delegation were much more anxious
that the difficulty should be setlled by US than
by General Jackson.
You tell me that ! am accused of having
abandoned the protective policy. That would
distress me exceedingly, if were not accused
of all sorts of crimes and mlsdemeanors. be-
Iiere have been charged with every crime
enumerated in The Decaiogue, laugh al the
straits to which my opponents are drlven.--l
They are 10 be pitied. Shrinking from all The
issues arising oui Of The great question OF ma
lional policy, which have hitherto divided the
they have no other refuge left, but IN
abuse, deraclion, and defamation.
have lived down these attacks heretofore, and
with the blessing of Providence, hope 10 sur
vlve those which they now directing against
me. Most certainly my surprise a, he aIiempf
10 make me oul friend of free trade with Tor
eign countries. aud opponent OF the proiec-
tive policy. ought mol TO be greater than that ol
my competitor at The effort to establish his |
Tor The protective policy.
| remain, aiwayslfuIy and fanhlullyyour friend