Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-07-09
LETTER FROM MIR. CLAY.

The following letter from HENRY CLAY, address
cd to mercantile house of high standing,in this
city, under circumstances which the letter itself
sufficiently explains, will be read with thrill Of
pleasure by the hundreds of thousands of his de-
voted friends throughout the country. II relates to
the great principle Of Protection to American
Industry, aud utters words Of wisdom at a crisis
when they should not, and will not, pass UNDECIDED
In the comments upon the character and aims Of
the new commercial policy of England will be
found suggestions well worthy of attention and
the whole letter is one of marked interest and i'm
portance. y
Our readers, we are sure, will share the delight
with which we listen again to the wise and patriot
ic counsels of the great Statesman of the West
HIS letter is the more valuable, because it comes
from the quiet and eposc of his retirement and not
from the field of active public service 1t is in
every way worthy Of attention. and cannot be with
out an influence upon the current of public affairs
". Y. Courier
ASHLAND, June 5th 1916.
GENTLEMEN:-I postponed answering your IA
vor until the arrival of the articles to which it re-
fers, which you have been kind enough to present
to me. They reached here yesterday in safety.
and request your acceptance of my thanks for
them. The pleasure which we shall derive from
using them, will be much increased by the fact.
that both the raw material and the fabric are Anne
rcan Their excellence attests the perfection which
TINS important branch OF wooen manufactures has
attained in the United States, and it is the more
gratifying because of the great difficulties with
which they have constantly had to contend
On both sides of the Atlantic, the policy of afford
ing protection TO domestic manufactures appears to
be under consideration in the national legislatures
The British Minister has brought forward 4 mea-
sure embracing the doctrines of free trade not how
ever without exceptions Of several, and some very
important articles. The manufactures OF Great
Britain have reached very high degree OF perec-
ton, 10y means OF her great capital, her improved
skill and machinery, her cheap labor and under n
system OF protection long, perseverngly. and riuor-
ousy enforced. She moreover possesses immense
advantages for the sale and distribution of her nu-
merous manufactures, In her vast colonial posses
sons from which those of foreign powers are either
entirely excluded, admitted on terms very une-
quail with her own
am not therefore surprised that under these e.,
vorable circumstances, Great Britain should herself
be DESTROYS to adopt, and prevail on other nations
TO adopt the principles of Free Trade shall be sur
prlsed 1t any OF the great nations of the continent
Should follow an example, the practical effects of
which will be so beneficial to her and SO injurious TO
them.
The propriety of affording protection to Domestic
manufactures, Its degree, and its DURATION depend
upon the national condition and the actual prpres
which they have made Each nation. of ripht.
ought to Judge for itself. believe that history re-
cords no instance of any great and prosperous nation
which did not draw its essential supplies of food
and railnent from within its limits. If all ma
lions were Just commencing their career or if their
manufactures had all made equal progress it MIGHT
perhaps be wise to throw open the markets of the
world to the freest and most unrestricted competi-
ton. But it is manifest. that while the manGac
lures OF some have acquired all the maturity and
perfection OF which they are susceptible, and those
in tInr ,p,,,n \
TOR existence. free competition between them must
rebound to the advantage of the experienced and
skiiul, and to the injury of those who are lust be-
ginning to naturaze and establish the arts
NO earthly qualification TO the heart OF States
man can be greater than that of having contributed
to the adoption of great system of National Poll
cy, and OF afterwards witnessing lis complete sue
cess In Its practical operation. That qualification
can be enjoyed by those who were instrumental i'm
establishing the policy OF protecting onr Domestic
Manuiactir ssn promise, which they made
has been fulfilled-EveFy prediction which they
hazarded as to the quality and quantity Of the Do
nestle supply, as to the reduction of prices, as to
the effect OF competition at home, and as to the
abundance of the public revenue, has been fully
realized. And it is no less remarkable that every
counter prediction without exception, Of the oppo-
nents of the policy, has, in the sequel, been entire
ly Elsifed
Without tracing particularly the operation of our
earlier Tariffs, adjusted to both The objects OF Re
venue ana Protection. and coming down to the last,
1T seems to me that if there ever were beneficial
effect from any public measure fully demonstrated,
1t is, that the Tariff of 1912, beyond all controver-
sy, relieved both the Government and the PEOPLE
OF the United States, from state of pccuniary en-
barrassment bordering on bankruptcy.
Entertaining these views and opinions should
deeply regret any abandonment of the policy of
projections or any material alteration Of the Tariff
OF 1872, which has worked so well. If its opera
ton had been even doubtful, would it not be wiser
to await further developments from experience, be-
fore we plunge into and UNEMPLOYED theory
Scarcely any misfortune is 50 great 10 the business
and pursuits of people that of perpetual change
am sensible that have extended this letter to
most unreasonable length. hope you will excuse
and attribute it to the beautiful fruits of favorite
and cherished policy which you have kindly sent to
Your friend and obd't. serv't,
(Signed) III. CLAY.