Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-09-03
THE VIOLATED PLEDGE!

We have letter in the Wilmington (Dela-
ware) Gazette of the Both August, from General
Benjamin G. Howard of Baltimore. No man IN
the country bears higher character for honor
and Sagacity. The object vi il is To set Mr..
Clayton right in some Of the erroneous positions
OF his late Wilmington speech. The developments
of Gen. H., broush, up from his own knowledge,
as well as from the Journals and Debates OF
Congress, are calculated 10 Staflle us still more
about the violated faith of Mr.. Clay and some
Of his associates who voted for The Compromise
act of 33, lie quotes Il strong and remarkable
expression from the speech OF "honest John
Davis" OF Massachusetts delivered in the House
of Representatives in February, 1883. And il is
this:
Suppose then, that South Carolina should
abide by the Compromise while She supposes II
beneficial 10 the Tariff States and injurious 10 her;
and when that period shall close, the friends of
protection shall then propose 10 rc-establish The
system. WHT HONORABLE MAN WHO VOTES FOR
THIS BILL COULD SUSTAIN SUCH A MEASURE p
Would not South Carolina say, you have no right
TO change this law: il was founded ON Compro-
mise, YOU have had The benefit OF your side Of
the bargain. and now demand mine. Who
could answer such declaration II, undCY such
circumstances uon ,~cyc /" procccd 10 aboiiM fl.io'
monM nat .S0uh Caf0hna hare much more juI
capse Of coaqp'aini and diaDtction Hdn Sfc n1r
huSr RI Rc.jNc,' ii Debates IoL Q, Part = pare
HI
And now (says Gen. Howar,O eff the Tarih'ot'
1912 is a deviation from the Compromise Act,
letter Rivcss, and Andrew Stewards, ard
Willis Green's, Spcecles) the South has Il
right TO complain that she has been deceived
and BETRAYED BY the friends of the proec-
tive system. She abidcd by the Compromise
while il was beneficial 10 the Tariff States and
when she claims tic iulflment Of the promises
made 10 her, she is laush he'd 10 scorn. In vain
does she plead the sancti,v of contracts; in vain
does She present the covenant ot reconciliation
with the great seal attached 10 il; the fruit which
seemed 50 pleasant 10 the eye in 1888 has turned
10 ashes on their lips We hear the voice Of
complaint ringing in our ears in harsh and dis
sonant tones What is She To do2 Repeat the
experiment of nullillcation2 | trust not But
lie, us take care that The heavy charge OF broken
faith shall not Justly be hroush, again>, us. You
will observe, by preceding quotation, that Mr.
CLAY said in the course of the debate IN the Sen
ate upon the compromise bill, that it should pass
'we Shall have &Mcd tro ifno three, the que>
tons which agitatc The country The bill was
truly intended to settle the rctcd queaon of The
Tariff; and dv0 wopr interpretation ot Il. this de-
sirabe result will yet bc obtained. But look
abroad thoughout the land and say whether the
question mas IN TACT peen 'sclll.i no" Ids IL
happened, that 'ihe sepulchre,
Wherein we saw it quietly numc,
Has ope'd lis ponderons and marble jaws
And cast itup again"
"I.ook at The scene Of strife and disscnson
which the whole hand presents, through all lis
broad expan>e. The dragons teeth are sown
everywhere The whole mass of society is pcne-
lrated, to its deepest recesseS, by bitterness and
contention. All the lasering classes OF society
are told that the Democratic party are warrng
against their means oi .u>tenance il Is said to he
a question of bread
against all such charges, in,crroSe, as shield
the declaration Of Mr. Clay before quoted The
PROTECTION TO THE MECHANIC ARTS WAS ONLY RE
DvcEp, ~ THE WHOLE OPERATION OF the bill TO
twenty six per cent. and he did not know there
would be any just ground for complaint, as some
Of The mechanic arts now enjoy only twenty-five
per cent" And all this present excitement, and
what is TO come, is 10 be exasperacd hv Mr.
CLAWS failhle>sness 10 the South! Nothing can
excuse him.