Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-07-04
Letter from, ur. CLAW.

In another column publish seasonabe letter from
the Patriot Sage OF Ashland 4 gentleman in New York.
in which he dwes with Just pride, upon the beneficial
results OF that great Of national policy, of which,
conjunction with Mr. Calhoun lamened Lowndes
he OF the founders, and which, while others have
wayered and fallen Off he has than quarter OF
century, given firm, consistent and efficient support
This letter will doubtless provoke harsh criticism, and
perhaps subject Mr. Clay ungenerous and unjust npu
Aons. Ii will be said, doubtless, that he is again P,e
pairing take the field candidate for the Presidency.
and that this letter sinended keep his fresh the
memory the people-nnd thus his assaants will hope
impair its effect, by ussang the OF the writer But
the letter itself will show that naturally elected by
the occasion, and presume without any design TO its
publication. We have idea, indeed that Mr. Clay will
again permit his be brought before the Amer
lean people n candidate for the Presidency; and while
would as cheerfuly give him our humble sup
port If he should occupy that position,
hesaungly, a, the same ume express the hope that,
less there should be great and scarcely be anticipated
change in public feeling he will again abandon the
retirement to which the voice OF his eounty-by most
unfair expression OF it, however-has consigned him
The Presidency add nothing his fame, which will
be enduring the annals OF his county every page
Of which, for nearly half century, il is conspicuous
ly and glorously emblazoned. His already hisor.
ic like that of Washington WAY should he desire posi-
uon-or why should his friends desire it for him-which
deaet from the colossal grandeur OF his character
One remark in Mr. Cays letter is entitled the
consideration OF the country. il is his-thai every pre-
dcuon Of the opponents OF the Protective System has been
uniformly falsied by results They declared that the re-
would be much diminished as TO lead to direc;
a1aton-yet the has always been larger while
system adhered to than when duties have been re-
duced the revenue standard" They asserted that
prices OF the articles upon which the duties imposed
IgOu he IN have bepn
invariably reduced. They affirmed that it would destroy
commerce"-while the Annual Reports OF the Treasury
Department show that its influence upon that branch OF
national industry has been less benign than upon all
others. The New York Express furnishe. conclusive
proof OF this, by the following comparative statement, de-
rived from official sources, which public aen-
ton
IMPORTS.
Year ending Sept 1912. Do. in ls45. Increase.
SIOO,l620S7 Sll7,25456i Sl7,O92 Az
increase Of IL per cent.
Year ending Sept. 30. ls42 Do. in ls45. Increase.
SI04,69l534 Sll4G46,606 S9,S55,O72
Ora increase vi 10 per cent, wanting small fraction.
TONNAGE OWNED
Year ending Sept. 80 1912 Do. in ls45. Increase.
2O92, $3.50 tons. 2.4I7,OO2 tons, S24,6l2 tons.
or fifteen and one-half per cent.
TONNAGE BUILT.
Year ending Sept. 80, 1912. Do in ls45 Increase.
l29,Us3 tons. l46,Ols tons. 1896 tons.
or an increase OF ~ por cent wanting small fraction.
The resuI, of the iOss to commerce may be shown
Is follows
Increase OF imports Sl7O92,477 equal TO II per CT
Increase OF exports g.9j5,O72 equal to 10 per Ct
Increase of tonnage owned 3246 equal to l55 pr Ct
Increase OF tonnage built 1926 equal 81 per Ct
Losses.
For any thing 10 put under tins head we look in vain
hence we come 10 the conclusion that losses are moi
shown by the official tables they do exist except tue
brains OF ignorant and dishonest and politicians
who were they able, would disturb the policy under which
we prosperous.