Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-08-02
For the Freeman.
Slavery, Free trade and Tariff.

Mr.. EDIToR:- wish to call the attention ofmy
honest fellow citizens to the consideration of few
important facts. First, the doctrine of Henry
Clay:
"Let us then adopt the measure before us, which
will benefit all classes; the farmer, the professional
man, the merchant, the manufacturer, the mechan-
ic and the COTTON PLANTER MORE
THAN ALL" [Speech of Henry Clay in ''de-
fence of the American SYSTEM" in the Senate of
the United States, Feb. end, 81 and 6th,' 1882
lie ana speeches of Henry Clay, vol. 2: New
York: Greedy s. Me- EIrath.
20 amanxiou5 to find out some principle of mu-
tual accommodation to satisfy, as far as practical
bic, both parties-to increase the stability of our
legislation, and at some distant day--but not too
distant, when we take into view the magnitude of
the interests which are involved-to bring down
the rate of duties to that revenue standard for
which our opponents have so long conended."-
[Speech of Henry Clay on Introducing the Com
promise bill into the Senate of the United States,
Feb. 18th, 1882, VOL Q, p. AL
"The gentleman from Massachusetts dislike
the measure, because it commands the concurrence
ofthose who have been hitherto opposed in regard
to the tariff; and is approved by the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Calhoun) as we'll as by
myself" Clay's Speech in support of the Com
promise Act, in the U. S. Senate, Feb %, 1888.
Vol. 2, p III.
Let us also notice what he said nine years after
wards of the Compromise Tariff.
" Nine years (from 1894 to 1889 we had the
protective policy of a high tariff, and nine years
(from 1888 to lS42) we have had the full opera
ton of free trade on more than a moety of the
whole amount Of our imports, and descending
tariff on the residue" (CIay's Speech on True
Public Policy, in u. S. Senate, March A, 1872
Vol Q, p. 547.)
Thus we see, fellow citizens, the American sys-
TEN as defined and practeed by Henry Clay in
1882 was to protect the cotton planters, VINO are
the great proprietors of slaves, more than all. Now
appeal to you; do you think any man is fit to be
entrusted with the defence of your rights and in
terests who is in favor of protecting cotton plant
ers-savehOders, who carry on war against the
dearest rights of human nature?
Mr.. Clay has often been censured for the par
he took in securing the passage of the conprom
Use bill; but the principa! excuse has uniformly
been, he did it to save the country from immediate
ruin and the danger of civil war. Well wha
made him say, then, he was anxious to have thu
tariff of duties reduced down to that revenue stan
5 dard, for which his opponents had so long con
5 tended The cotton and sugar planters have no
+ been forgotten in the tariff law of 1S42 duty o
three cents per pound being imposed on cotton i'm
} ported from foreign countries, and duty, varyn
according to the quality Of the article, from tw,
e and halt to six cents per pound on imported for
t eign sugar. Who gets the money accruing fror
this protection to cotton and sugar? the slaves
: the laborers No. 1t goes into the pockets of tn
b planters. Who pays the duties? The free labc
) of the country.
d Now let US look at the doctrine of James
:, Polk, this subject. In speaking of Distribute
), and protective tariff, he said, Measures whiC
n consider ruinous to the interests of the countr
N and especially to the INTERESTS OF'TH
5, PLANTING STATES-I have steadily, and
/ all times opposed both" April s, 1S43. am
E. favor of repeating that act and the tariff of i84
* and restoring the compromise tariff of March Q, a
Is Folks reply to citizens Of Tennessee, May
Ell lS4s. 1" j had ayowed my opinion in my pub
k, speeches, that the interests Of the country and