Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-08-27
From ne .Naf;osal IslslIsenecr.
HousE OF RErRrsENraTlyLs A.,
AUGUST. IN. 1915

/ ity OF Mr. Glars opinions has been freonsa,
ly quoted in both Houses Of Congress ~ srr
lport the al ratorrm principle Of thar hA
was induced by this consideration 10 collect N.
q proofs which refuie lhai position, andiness,si
h when a suitable occasion occurred. 10 preS,s,
them 10 the House in debate. By reason n
: the late day Of the session Of Congress nons
i such occurred. This misrepresentation o|N
: Glars position on the protective policy is M
continued by the Administration papers, WITH
: view 10 weaken objections to the new meas
! ure. To correct in some degree this peryey.
, sion Of MIR. CLAy's principles and opinions,
E request YOU to publish the substance and enec,
: Of the facts which collected on this point. mi
which herewith transmit 10 you. Respeet.
! fully, yours, GARRET DAVIS.
, In February, 1898, MIR. Clay presented i,
Congress his celebrated compromise bill a,
tina, time South Carolina was in a staie oC
open revolt against the execution in her bon,
. Of the existing tariff law. President JAcsso,
had, IN his annual message at the beginning
Of the session, taken strong and distinct groupg
for the overthrow Of the protective system
and before the compromise bin had been ,boi
of, Mr.. VERPLAHcK, the chairman Of he
Committee Of WAYS and Means, had viii
n,
J member OF it, reported bill to reduce the es
sting rates of duties TO an average of hess than
, sixteen per cent. BY Mr.. VAEapLsso9's bro.
ject, the protection on few articles only was
as high as twenty FIVE per cent, and but
. single one was allowed higher rate.
South Carolina had gone too far TO recede
!. without resistance or disgrace. She was re-
solved. and Gen. JACKSON was thirs,ng for
the blood, of her noblest sons. Civil war Or
such modification Of the tariff as would en-
able her to retreat with honor, was inevitable
The former nigh, have resulted in crushing
her, or il might have lighted up torch 10 te
extinguished only in years of blood, as she had
many sympathizlng spirits in all the Southern
States butt could not avert the fate that awa
ted the protective system. Gen. JACKSON had
declared war against it. AT that session il
J might not have fallen, but his relentless spii
and all-conquering popularity would have de-
| stroyed II at the next, unless IN the nternin il
was rescued by judicious compromise Mr.
CLAY undertook the generous and difficult
task Of preventing both these great calamtles
Ia civil war and the subversion Of the pro,ec.
tive system In his apprehension Of the W.
! gency Of the occasion, and the utility and eff.
cheney Of the measure which he devised, he
was sustained by many Of the most pairlotc
and intelligent manufacturers oil the Z. States
am informed by the Hon. Mr. SIMMONS, Of
the Senate, that MIR. Clay at one time had
abandoned his design, because he could not
conceive Of a mode which would give ale.
quate protection when the process of declining
duties was consummated, and which coua
get the votes Of Southern gentlemen, whose
support was necessary TO pass IT, In the diff.
Guilty, the idea of the ad yalorem duty upon
the home valuation was suggested 10 himh
the Hon. SAINT. ID. HUBBARp, a most Jud.
cious and estmable gentleman, who is now
representative from the State OF Connecticut
Mr.. CLAY seized upon it, and incorporates
into his compromise bill, which was passed
through both Houses of Congress against The
strenuous opposition of Gen. Jackson. Mr.
Polk has said that Mr.. Clay By this measure
"rescued the protective system from deslruc'
. tion.o
On introducing this measure MIR. CLAYsaid:
"My first object looks TO the tariff. | am com
PEELED 10 express the opinion. formed after the
most deliberate reflection, and on full sur.
vey of the whole country, that, whether right
fully or wrongfully, the tariff stands in I'M.
nent danger. If II should even be preserved
during this session, it must fall at the nest
session." In subsequent speech, MI CLAr
declared 81 repeat what said on the intro
duction Of it, that they (hls mo,lves) are, frs,
to preserve the manufacturing interest,"; and,
secondly, to quiet the country. ! believe he
American system to be in great danger; and
believe il can be placed on better and safz
foundation at this session than the next
"Put il off until the next session, and the al
Tentative may, and probably would be, spec
dy and ruinous reduction OF the tariff, or civ.
il war with the entire South" Mr. Clay al.
SO said that, until 1912, the compromise BILL
would give adequate protection, as the reduc
ton Of the rates Of duties until that time would
be inconsiderable. That 1912 would take cae
Of ITSELF the law might then be repealed line
cesSary and he trusted 10 the burdens Of wal,
TO the chapter Of accidents, TO returning
sense of Justice in his countrymen, 10 procure
an increase of the rates OF duty II they should
prove 200 low.
This law was framed upon these general
principles
LIST. That until 1912 there should be
small biennial reduction Of existing duties;
the minimum, the specific, and the ad yalorem
duties all 10 continue for the whole penod,
subject to the established rate OF reduction On
each. without any change of its character
Cd. That in 1912 all duties should be cd va
loren on the home radiation and, TO presefVe
uniformity of duties, that valuation to bees
tablished by Congress in the law.
Sd. The perpeiuaton OF the protective ph2'
ciple, oy charging the whole amount Of reyedue
necessary for the administration OF the CO.
eminent, in time Of peace, upon impos's q
foreign commerce, and establishing lagos
of free articles. e.
4th. The increase or diminution oil the IH
of free articles at the pleasure Of Congress
even 10 the exclusion oil all articles not coming
into competition with home industry from IN
duties, with view TO render necessary higher
rates of duty on the protected ones, TO give III
crease fprotecion TO our own producers
5ih. To vary the rates above OF below t"ea.
" per cent upon such articles as ConsreS
might declare 10 be dutiable, as TIE state oil iie
public revenue or the exigences OF home III
dustry might require.
9th. TO collect no greater amount Oh duuf'
Than the need of the Government demanda,
bur. il levying them, entire liberty TO disenn'
mate among all imported articles for the pro
lection Of American industry.
Such are the principles aud the consldeIa
lions Of the compromise act; and they Were au L
distinctly stated and strongly enforced BY M
CLAY when it passed.
| Mr.. CLAY had had larger and ireer COM
municaton with Southern gentlemen upon