Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-07-30
Letter from Henry Clay to a Firm in
New York.
ashland, June 5,h, 1916


Ashland, June 5,h, 1916.
Gentlemen:-I postponed answering
your favor until the arrival of the articles
TO which it refers. which you have been
kind to present ne. They reached here
yesterday in safety, and request your
acceptance OF my thanks for them. The
pleasure which we shall derive from us.
ing them, will be much increased BY The
fact, that both the raw material and the
fabric are American. Their excellence
attests the perfection which this impor-
tan, branch of woolen manufactures has
attained in the United States. and il is
the more gratifying because of the grea,
difficulties with which they have con.
stanly had to contend.
On both sides of the Atlantic, the poll.
cy of ahordins protection 10 domestic
manufactures appears to be under consid-
Grafton in the national legislatures. The
British Minister has brought forward a
measure embracing the doctrines of free
trade, not. however, without exceptions
of several, and some very important, arti.
cles. The manufactures of Grea, Britain
have reached very high degree of per-
fiction, by means Of her great capital.
her improved skill and machinery, her
cheap labor, and under a system of pro-
lection, long, perseverngly aud vigorously
enforced. She moreover possesses i'm.
mense advantages for the sale and disri-
button of her numerous manufactures, in
her vast colonial possessions, from which
those OF foreign powers are either entirely
excluded or admitted on terms very une-
quail with her own.
am not therefore surprised that under
these favorable circumstances, Great
Britain should herself be DESTROYS to adopt
and to prevail on other nations TO adopt,
the principles of Free Trade. shall be
if any of the great nations Of the continent
should follow an example. the practical
effects of which, will be so beneficial 10
her and so injurious to them.
The propriety of affording protection
10 Domestic manufactures, its degree, and
and its duration, depend upon the nation
al condition and the actual progress,
which they have made. Each nation, Of
right, ought TO Judge for ITSELF | believe
that history records no instance Of any
great and prosperous nation. which did
not draw its essential supplies of food
and raiment from within its own limits.
If all nations were just commencing their
career, or if their manufactures had all
made equal progress. il might, perhaps,
be wise to throw open the markets of the
world TO the freest and most unrestricted
competition. But it is manifest, that
while The manufactures of some have
acquired all the maturity and perfection
Of which they are susceptible, and those
of others are yet in their infancy, strug-
Cling hard for existence, free competi.
ton between them must rebound to the
advantage Of the experienced and skiful,
and to the injury of those who are just
beginning to naturaize and establish the
arts.
No earthly qualification 10 the heart of
Statesman, can be greater than that Of
having contributed to the adoption of a
grea. system Of National Policy, and Of
afterwards Witnessing its complete sue
cess in its practical operation. That
qualification can be enjoyed by those who
were instrumental in establishing the pol.
icy of protecting our Domestic Manufac-
lures. Every promise which they made
has been fulfilled. 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 20 the
abundance of the public revenue, has
been fully realized. And it is no less
remarkable tina. every counter prediction,
without exception. of the opponents oil
, the policy, has, in the sequel, been en-.
tirely falsifed.
Without tracing particularly the opera.
ton of our earlier Tariffs, adjusted to
both the objects Of Revenue and Protec.
,, lion, and coming down to the last, il
seems to me that if there ever were q
beneficial effect from any public measure
fully demonstrated, i. is, that the Tariff
: Of 1912, beyond all controversy, relieved
both the Government. and the people o.
: the United States, from state of pecuni
, airy embarrassment bordering on bank
ruptcy.
entertaining these views ana Opinions
h l should deeply regret any abandonment
Of the policy of protection, or any mate
rial alteration Of the Tariff Of 1912, which
!, has worked so well. IL its operation had
, been even doubtful, would il not be wise
4 to await further Developments from ex
}, perence. before we plunge into new
and UNEMPLOYED theory! Scarcely any
/. misfortune is SO great to the business ant
pursuits Of people as that Of perpetual
change.
u am sensible that have extended THU
. letter to a most unreasonable length.
= hope you will excuse and attribute il Il
y the beautiful fruits of favorite and cher
ished policy. which you have kindly sen
e TO Your friend and obi serv't.
!, Fl. CLAY.
r.