Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-07-12
Mr. Clay TOMS Speech
AT THE
DELAWARE WHlG CONVENTION,
Held in Wilmington, Saturday, The l5ih
June
AT THE

Held in Wilmington, Saturday, The 18Th
June
IA vas, concourse Of the Wings Of
Delaware, and many OF the adjacent
counties Of other Sraies. met at vii
mington on Saturday. 1t was anrici
palpd that the Hon. J. NJ. Clayton would
speak upon he Compromise Act, and
great Ibteresl was maGllested 10 hear
h,m. The proceedings generally were
OF the most enthusiastic characler,-
The following report OF Mr.. CIaytoO's
speech comprehends the leading points,
and generally The precise language
which he used The delivery occupied
about Two bours --Steu Gazette.
The Hon. John NJ. Clayton present.
ed himself TO he meeting, 6Dd said lie
rose for the purpose Of rendering them
in The 6rsl instance his thanks ior the
honor they had done him 10 appointing
him to preside over so large and respec
table an assembIags Of Wing lreemeU
here convened. With a single eXcep-
iion, no had not Witnessed, at any pc
Rod o: his polilcsI I(e, so great Con-
venlon Of any political party as he then
saw before him HIS chiel objsct 10 at.
tending The Convention to- day was ior
the purpose of endeaVoring TO bring
back their attention and that OF the
country from the many dislractIng top
ics which now sgilaled and dislurbe J lht
public mlnd-to that greatest ol all ia
sues involved in The approaching Presl
denua election In his view, that ques
ton was one Of the highest and mos
important that could engage the consd
GRAFTON Of the country.
1t was a question whether We ShouI,
surrender the protection oil the VIII,
Tarif'of l842; whether we should aban
don that Act which had extended to ne
IabOrer. Tor The first time in ten year
al least, that protection which iaIrIy be
louged to him; whether we should re
turn 10 that state ol colonial VassaIag
IN which this country existed before tn
Wings Of the American Revolution ha
achieved our liberty and independence
by the great struggle oil The Revolution
Ary War.
He had received many cOmmunict
tions from different paris OF the Unl,e
States, inviting him to eXp'an the iac
iu relation to the course pursued b
Henry Clay OF Kentucky, asd Fhsodo
Frslinghuys Of New Jersey, iu role
ence to the Acto( the 21 OF March, 83
commonly called tho Compromise
Strange as 1t might seem, these lrlt
patriots and able statesmen had bee
charged by our opponents with aba
donlng the Protective poIcy Of the cou
try! tie found it impossible to answ
all the letters that he had received
The subject; bu if his fellow cl,zo
would have patience, he would stem
reply 10 all those inlerrogaiores
what he was now about to say
voice certainly ceranly, we wlIl.)
lie sad
"A chiefs among them iakin nolee
An hllh ho', prent 'em:"
Therelore he hoped all who felt an
Ieres, IN what he had 10 saV, would +
ceive the Information through 'he Pu
lie prints. s(Applouss)
He was a member Of the Sonate
the u. States nj the time Of the pa'sH
Of the Compromlse Act, and was a
a member OF the committee to wh
twas referred. lie was one OF tn
who voted for it IN all it stages,
for lie passage; and thought he had
great an opportunity OF knowing
motives and objects OF Mr.. Clay aud
Frelinghuyeen, as any other man
longing 10 that honorable body aud
would now say briefly before he
ceeded further, that the great obJ
they had in view, were not only to 8
the honor of the States then in dams
but alAo 10 save the Protective prime
and the Protective policy nSoiE
It was quite common error, e
among intelligent men, 10 suppose
the act which those gentlemen VI
for, did, jn some part Of II, abandon
protective principle 1t was by ST
supposed- indeed, il ~0s by many
heved, that the act was an act TO
ducs the duties down 10 20 per cen
The end OF the nine years and
months, and hat the act contained b
ing stipulation that after the 3Oth DO
June, 1919, the duties should not be
biphpr ihan twenty per cen'--a
insuficien, for ptotecIlon, and IN
insufficient for the purposes ol rev.
itself. lie knew that IN order that
meeting should understand the sui
thcv mvst accompany him 'hroOE
du.i detail OF drOwsy lasts, but the