The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-07-17
LETTER FROM Mn cIAy

The following letter from Henry Clay,
addressed - mercantile house Of high
standing 10 this CITY, under circumstances
which The letter itself sufficiently explains,
VIII be read with a thrill Of pleasure by
the hundreds Of thousands Of his devoted
friends throughout the country. It relates
TO the great principle Of PROTECTION to
American Industry, and ulteIs words Of
wisdom al a crisis when they should not,
aud Will not pass unhecdcd. Ia the com
ments upon the character and aims Of the
new commercial policy Of England viii be
found suggestions wei worthy Of attention /;
and the whole letter is one Of marked in.
tercst and importance.
Our readers, We are sure, will share the
delight with which We listen again 10 the
wise and patriotic counsels Of the great
Statesman Of the West. His letter is the
more valuable because it comes from the
quiet and rrposc Of his retirement, and not
from the field of active public service. Ii
IS IN every way worthy Of attention, aud
cannot be without an influence upon the
current Of public niilrs.-N. y. Courier.
ASHLAND, J1no 9Th 1916.
Gtnitemfn. ! postponed answering our
favor uuII the arrival Of the articles 10
which Il refers, which YOU have been kind
enough 10 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
4
fact, that both the raw material and the ia
bric are American. Their excellence at
tests The perfection which this important
branch Of woolIen manufacturers has al.
tanned IN The United States, aud IL IS the
more gratifying because Of the great diff
cuties with which they have constantly
had 10 contend.
On both SIDES Of the Atlantic, tie policy
# aiiording protection to domestic mann
laclurefs appears to be under consideration
N lie national legislatures. The British
Minister has brought forward measure
embracing the doctrines Of free trade, 10,
however without exceptions of several, and
some very important articles. The man
ulacturers OF Gr-at Britain have reached a
very hl-h degree Of perfection, by means
ot her great capital, her improved skill
and machinery, her cheap labor, and under
n system Of protection long, pcrscverlngly
and vigorously enforced. She moreover
possesses immense advantages Tor the sale
and distribution ct her numerous manuiac-
lures, IN her vast colonial possessions, from
wnlch those Of foreign powers are either
excluded, or admitted on terms
very unequal with her own.
| am not there ore surprised that under
these favorable circumstances, Great Brit.
ain should herself be DESTROYS to adopt, and
10 prevail! on other nations TO adopt the
Of Free Trade | Shall be il
any Of the great nations Of the continent
should follow an example, the practical ef.
fecis Of which sill be SO beneficial TO her
aua 30 injurious to them.
The proprc'y Of atiording protection to
Domestic manufactures, us degree, and its
duration, depend upon the national condi
lion and the actual progress which they
.uyo made. Elch nation, Of right, ought
10 lid1a for itself | believe that history
records no instance Of any great and pros.
porous nation, which did not draw its es.
,cnlal supplies Of food and ralment from
within its own limits Ii all nations were
past commencing their career, or if their
had all made equal progress,
il might perhaps be wise to throw open the
markets Of tie world to the freest and most (
competition. Bu, II is manifest .
That while the manufactures Of some have
acquired all the maturity and perfection Of
winch they are susceptible, ard those Of
others are yet IN their infancy, struggling
hard idr existence, n free competition be.
tween them mus; rebound 10 the advantage
lf the experienced and skllul, and 10 the .
injury Of those who are Just beginning TO .
aa ualize and establish the arts.
No earthly qualification to the heart of
a Statesman can be greater than that Of
having contributed to the adoption of a
great system Of National Policy, and Of nt' ,
witnessing It's complete success
IN It's practical operation Thai grattlca- .
ton can be arjoy cd by those who were in.
s,-onentaI In establishing the policy Of
protecting our Domestic Manufactures.
Every promise which they made has been
Every prediction which they
hazarded as to the quality and quantity Of
the Domestic supply, as to the reduction Of
prices, as To the effect Of competition at
home, and as to the abundance Of the pub. .
lie revenue, has been fully realized. And
Il Is no less remarkable that every counter F,
prediction without exception, Of the oppo. |
aents Of the policy, has, in the sequel, been