The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-08-24
MR.. CLAY AND THE COMPROMISE ACT.


connected with the passage of the Compromise
Act in 1883, as set forth by the Hon. John H.
Clayton in his Wilmington speech, showed con-
clusivey that one of Mr. Clay's great objects in
the framing of that Act was to preserve the pro-
tectlve policy from utter destrnctlon. An attempt
has been made by writer In the Delaware Ca
zette, who asserts that he was member of the
lower House of Congress in 1928, to inval-
date some of Mr.. Clayton's POSITIONS and to de-
monstra,e that Mr.. Clay was willing at that time
to sacrifice the whole protective system
The structures of this writer have called forth
an able repy-probably from the pen of Mr..
Clayton hmself-in which it is abundantIy shown
from the records of Cong ressonal debates that
both the friends and enemies Of protection re.
garded the Compromise a measure involving
no sacrifice of the protective principle. In the
orty-fourth volume Of Niles Register the follow
ing record of the Senate's proceedings is found
tho Compromise Bill being under consideration
"Mr. Dallas then moved to amend the amend
ment as made in committee OF the whole, in the
third section by striking out the words Which
suggest The POINT 10 which The duties shall be uAi-
mateLy reduced, to be the revenue necessary TO
an economical administration OF the Government"
"A discussion took place on this motion, in
which it was contended by NIessrs. Webster, Dali
las, Dickerson and Buckner, that these words,
by SOUTHERN gentlemen, in 1912, as an abandon
maem of the protective principle, and design on
the part of those who had introduced this biillto
make reuenue alone the standard of all future du-
ties Oh imports" ..r,
MIR. Clayton and Mr.. Clay regarded the lam
guage as auTHoRIsING NO SUCH CONSTRUCTION,
and denied that ANY ONE would be justified in in
ferring that there was TO be ANY abandonment of
the system of protection. 1t was insisted by Mr..
CLAYTON, that the Gorernment could mol be kept 10.
gether, if The principle Of protection mere 10 be
discarded IN our policy; and he declared that he
would pause before he surrendered that principle,
| even to save the Union"
In his opening speech on the bill, Feb II, 1888,
Mr. Clay said ; in presenting the modification OF
the tariff laws which AN now about TO submit
have two great objects in view. My first object
looks TO the TARIEF. | am compelled to express
the opinion, formed after the most deliberate re-
Election. and full survey of the whole country,
that, whether rgh'tuy orawrongtully, the tariff
stands in imminent danger If II should even be
preserved during this session, it must fall at the
next session. BY what circumstances, aud
through what causes, has arisen the necessity for
this change in the policy of our country, will not
pretend now to eucldate."
The most pregnant symptom of danger to the
tariff, when Mr. Clay made these remarks, was
Ways and Means in the House of Representa-
tives, known as Mr.. Verplancks bill, the object
OF which was to sweep away the whole system of
protective duties. 1t was known that Gen. Jack
son favored Mr.. Verplanck's bill, and that his
powerful Influence would be exered in its behalf
Mr.. Polk of Tennessee, then member of Mr..
Verplanck's Committee, and now Candidate for
the Presidency. referring to Gen. Jacksons grow
ing hostility to the tariff, said in address to the
Ia, Of -, & IL,
stances, he (Gcn Jack>on) recommended nodii.
cations and reductions of the tariff, with view to
the final abandonment Of the o,lious and unius,
system. So etfectual were these Recommended
TONS" continues Mr.. Polk, and SO rapid the
change of public opinion, that The friends of the
tariff, aud even Mr.. Clay lis imputed father, seiz.
ed on favorable moment TO save the whole from
destruction by timely COMPROMISED
When Mr.. Clay moved for leave to introduce
the Compromise bill, the motion was opposed by
Mr.. Forsyth, OF Georgia, who was DESTROYS that
MIR. VerpIancks bill should prevail, which was
then reported in the House. We had better
wait the action of House," said Mr.. F. :" on the
bill now before them, meaning Mr. Verpanck's
blll,) than by taking up this new measure here,
produce cessation of actlon' Again, he de-
scrIbes the compromise as . bargain all OH one
side" He said, "After they (thc friends Of
protectlon) " are defeated, and can no logger sus
tam conilIct, they come TO make the best bar
gain they can. The Senator from Kentucky says
the tariff is ia dagger. Ay, Sir, it is at its last
gasp It has received the lmmedcab.e wound
no hellebure can cure it," Mr. Forsyth contin-
ued his opposition to the Compromise at every
stage OF tile BILL and declared that he should not
regard himself as pledged !" to endure it single
moment beyond the time it should be Of public
benefit" Another Senator, hostile to protection,
said of the Compromise, . in this bill there is no
thing but protection from beginning 10 end. :"
Such are some Of the facts connected with this
important subjeCt.-Bal. Amer.
REVENUE At New YoRK-The amount Of du-
ties collected at this port, from the 1st Of Angus,
to the 10Th, was two millions two hundred and
forty thousand dollars $2,240OO0
During the same period the value Of
dutiabe goods was five millions
and six hundred thousand dollars 5000, 900
Free goods during the same period,
four hundred and eighty thousand
dollars 100000