The Cecil Whig., 1844-07-13
NU MBER so.

that unless we accepted that. we should
have to submit 10 the speedy destruction
of the whole manufacturing interest But
it is due to the subject, that in the answer
TO this question, the circumstances 10
\ which I have alluded skoelld be brie fly
explained At the time of the passage OF
this law, the violent opposition of many
OF our fellow citizens in the South, and OF
not Il few elsewhere, To the whole pro-
tectl"e pollcy was unparalleled in the his
tory of the Gountry.-Soath Carolina, by
her ordinance of N NuliiIcatioit, had openly
dciieG the General Government, and re-
solved that no duties should be collected
within her limits. 1t is easy at this day,
after the storm has passed over, to speak
! OF her resistance as thing that could have
been easily crushed by the exhibition OF
IA little tirmness. have never doubted,
nor do ! believe that Mr. Clay or any of
his friends ever doubted, lhet ti1e power
OF this Government was amply sufficient
to enforce Tor the time the collection OF
the duties on imports, in despite Of all
threatened hostility OF South Carolina, and
OF all other enemies of the protective poll
cy. But it is due to truth to say, that at
that time, South Carolina had many SYM
pathllers, and not few adherents in other
parts of the country. We were every dav
III danger of collision, which must ter
inmate IN boodshed; and in that event, any
man tolerabIy acquainted with the Ameri
can character, could anticipate quite as
well as can now describe, the imminent
danger of a protracted and bloody contest,
which, if it did not enylangcr the Union,
as firmly believe it would have done,
must have rendered the protective system
hateful to our countrymen, as the exciting
cause of civil war and incapable of being
maintained, except by the butchery OF
American citizens by American hands.
] never did, and do not now believe that
any such system can be long maintained
III Government like ours, il 1t cannot be
upheld without a civil war. The friends
of the Compromise, in the firm belief that
the protective policy was entitled to the
confidence and support Of the American
people, and would grow up and establish
itself in their affections if a violent civil
strife could be avoided, desired of all
things, tme-llme for reason to resume
her empire-lme for the violent passions
of men then inilamcd to the verge of i'll
sanity, to subside; and they consented to
a gradual reduction of duties for & limited
period, with view to the ultimate safety
OF the protective princip pie itself, as well
as avert the horrors OF a civil conflict, and
TO save the excited and deluded men who
were rushing into these extremilies, from
the consequences OF their own folly. In
the midst OF all these considerations, then
pressing npon the attention of the friends
OF protection, there was another staring
us IN the face which Is too often forgotten
or overlooked. At the very Commence
ment the session Of that Congress which
passed the act, President Jackson, in his
annual message threw off the cloak of a
'Judlcious" tariff, and openly arrayed the
whole power of the Executive against the
protective system Then for lie first
time we heard from him the declaration
that "experlence, our best guide on this
as on other subjects, made it doubtful
whether the advantages Of this system are
not counlerbalanCed by many evils, and
whether it did not tend 10 beget in the
minds of large portion Of our country
men, u spirit of discomfort and jealousy
dangerous 10 lie Siabiiity Of The Unon; =
that tariff designed for perpetual pro-
lection had entered into tie minds of 6u
few Of our slateslmen, and that the mos
they anticipated was a temporary protec-
nonj" and SHAT those who took an en-
larged view of !he condition Of our coun
try, must be satisfied that the policy o
protection must be ultimately limited lc
those articles of domestic manufacture
WHICH are Indispensable to our safety in
time OF war"
These and many other declarations aGains
the existing tariff in the Presidents Annua Mes
sage, almost instantaneousy aftayed the mas,
OF his party against tile protective policy through
out the country. IL required no gifted seer tc
. predict It's fate, if some conciliatory measure
were not adopted by its friends to allay the ex
isting excitement. Tie Presidents Message
against the tariff was communicated to Con
: grcSs, at that session the 4th df December
and with such expedition did his party In the
llouse OF RcprcscntatN es ACT on the occasion II
pursuance OF bis suggestions, that on the 2Sth
the sanic month the Committee of Wavs ant
, Means reported bill to tepcal the existing ia r.
if, and in lieu thereof TO collect a revenue O
but ~, 100000 by all imposls on foreign iier
cliandIze, the average duty on which as propos
; ell IN the bill, was about l6 per cent, and thai
to be assessed on the foreign patuation. This
bill, which wassometimes called Mr.. VerplanckR
bill, but which was really Measure emanaing
from the Executive, was actually far advanced
, on its passage through the House, at the time
the Compromise was under consideration in the
Senate; and its final passage in the House was
no longer probcmatical. 1t was measure
which, if successful, could not fail to prove an
! immediate death-blow to the whole protective
policy. It's passage had been forced through the
Committee Of the Whole on the State Of the