The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-01-15
Clay and Frelinghuysen.
CORRESPONDENCE.

excellent letters from Mr.. clay ana MI
srelinghu, sen in answer to those address,
ed to them by committee of our citizens
and in response to the Resolutions adop-
ted at whig meeting held in this city at
tie Exchange Saloon, on the eveningof
tie 18th ult. By vote of that meeting
ne proceedings were ordered to be sent
80 the distinguished gentlemen above
named -New Haren Palladium.
MR.. CLAY'S ANSWER.
ASHLAND, 18th Dec, 1S44.
GENTLEMEN Il duly received your
friendly letter, transmitting the proceed
ings ola public meeting held in the city
ST New Haven, in respect to the late Pres.
idential election. The patriotic spirit
manifested in the whole Of them is worthy
of Connecticut, worthy of its renowned
seat of learning, and worthy ofthe Wing
cause. Fer the sentiments of attach
rnent confidence and friendship towards
myself, which they exhibit, and which
vou so kindly reiterate in your letter, |
offer the warm acknowledgements of
Eeatful heart. My obligations to Con.
necticut, and my friendly intercourses
with many of her emminent sons, during
. long period of time, will be faithfully
remembered while / continue to live.
l share with you, gentlemen, in regrets
Oh account of the unexpected issue of the
recent election. My own personal con-
Germ in it, is entitled to very little con-
sideration, although l affect no indiffer-
ence in that respect. The great impor-
lance of the event arises out OF the re-
spectiye principles in contest between the
Two parties, the consequences TO which 1t
may lead, and the alleged means by which
it was brought about, Of which however, |
do not allow myselfparticularly to speak
The policy of the country III regard to
the protection of American industry, a
few months ago seemed to be rapidly ac-
quiring permanent and fixed character.
'rhe Southern and South Western por-
tions Of the Union has been reproached at
the North for want of Sufficient interest
and sympathy in its welfare. Yielding to
the Joint influence of their own reflections
and experience, the slave States were fast
subscribing to the Justice and expediency of
aTarif' for Revenue, with discr lmlna-
tons for protection. At such an auspi-
cous moment, instead of cordially meet
jnr the Slave Stutes and placing the prin-
ciple of protection upon impregnable and
durable ground, nt.number of the
Free States to be decisive of the contest,
abandoned what was believed to be their
own cherished policy and have aided, if
not in its total subversion, in exposing 1t
TO imminent hazard and uncertainty.
DiscoGragement has taken the place of
confidence, in the business of the coun-
try, enterprise is checked, and no one
knows TO what employment he can safely
direct his exertions. Instead of constan-
tiy auglnentiug Home market, we are in
danger of experiencing its decline at
time when the foreign market is absolu-
lelv glutted with American productions,
cotton especially. which is now selling at
lower price than was ever before known
II is probably destined to fall still lower.
The final and not distant result will be,
especially if large Importations shall be
stimulated by low duties, a drain of the
specie of the country, with all its train of
terrible consequences, on which | have
neither inclination nor time to dwell
1.-THE cause of the Wings have tri-
nmphcd, the distribution ofthe proceeds
of the sales of the public lands would have
been secured, and that great national in
,,-o,,IJ bo,-o baan eoonroJ ,nI
that great national inheritance would
have been preserved for the benefit of the
present and future generations. shall
b. most agreeably disappointed if it be
not wasted in few years by graduation
and other projects of alienation, leaving
no traces of permanent benefit behind.
could not touch upon other great
measures of public policy, which it was
the purpose of the Wings to endeavor to
establish, without giving TO this letter an
un able length. They may be briefly
stated to have aimed at the purity of the
Government, the greater prosperity of the
People, and additional security TO their
liberties aud to the Union. And, with
all, the preservation of the peace, the hon
or and the good faith of the Nation The
Wings were most anxious to avoid For
egn War for the sake of acquiring
Foreign territory, which under the cir
cumstances of the acquisition, could not
fail TO produce domestic discord and ex-
pose the character of the country, in the
ewes of an impartial World. 10 severe an
imadEersion-
But our opponents have prevailed in
the late contest, and the Wings are, for
the present, denied the satisfaction Of
carrying ont their measures of National
policy. Believi ng that they arc indispen-
sable to the welfare of the country, am
unwilling to relinquish the fond hope that
they may be finally established, whether
live to witness that event or
not. in the meantime those TO whose
hands the administration of public affairs
is confided ought to have a fair trial. Let
US even indulge an anxious desire that the
evils which We have apprehended may not
e