The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-03
From the N. Y. Evening Post.
More from old friend, the Complete Letter.
Writer.

1t was more than we expected of Mr.. Clay, that he
should favor the public with an explanation of the rea-
why the new tariff, which, according to him, ought
to have ruined the nation, had been actually productive
OF SO much advantage. This is matter concerning
which we thought probable that politician of Mr..
Cays character would have preserved prudent silence.
He has spoken out this subject, however. A Mr..
Bagaw, of Salisbury in Connecticut, with natural
iey to advertise his wares widely possible, sent
Mr. Clay pocket knife, of American manufacture, ac-
companed with letter. to which Mr.. Clay has written
answer lately published in the wing prints Mr. Clay
gives, in the following passage. his solution of the diff
Guilty which so much embarrasses his party
'I have been very DESTROYS learn the effect upon
American manu- features produced by the last tariff But
Europe has been SO occupied with supplying herself with
the high price which all articles of subsistence have attain
ed, that the competition between foreign and domestic
otherwise have been The struggle far has been between
well fed and i'll fed operatives between capital diverted
from purchase Of the material to the purchase OF bread
and capital greatly augmented by the sale OF food and
between manufacturers working short tme and full time
again blessed by Providence (as hope il viii be) with
abundant harvests, we shall be able to sustain successful
have such deep and strong root that
they will be able to stand up and flourish against all adverse
causes"
So the ruin is postponedthe eclipse is put off till the
weather is favorable and the people are at leisure We
not TO be ruined till the potato disease has ceased its
ravages When the potato produces its usual crops in
Ireland and Belgium and Germany, the period of bank
rupcy and DISTRESS and want of employment to come
upon this country Some time after the middle of the
present century the nation is to be ruined to its hearts
tant, UNLEssfor Mr. Clay cunning enough this time
to leave opening for escapeunless manufactures
should in the time have struck such strong and
deep root that they will be able to stand up and flourish
against all adverse IT, after Europe begins to dig
its usual quantity of potatoes, the wheels of factories
still turning their spindles hummng, and their looms
cashing the reason is TO be that manufactures have
struck such deep strong root to defy adverse
That such has been the at any time within the last
years there is not doubt, and it will be just
after 1850 as it is now.
But Mr. Clay traces the success of our new tariff TO the
fact that there has been little competition between domes-
tic and foreign fabrics, account OF the deficient harvess
Of Europe. So far is this from being true, that the dearh
in Europe is one cause OF increased importation of
foreign manufactures We send out bread, and take
manufactures IN eturnnot to greet an extent per-
haps as we oughnot to great extent If the duties
they ought TO be, and hope they soon will
be- moderate; but still in considerably larger quaint
ties than if foreign countries had not purchased so largely
of our grain The circumstance, therefore, to which
Mr. Clay alludes checking competition, has actually
increased it. and the havests of Europe are
more abundant and its inhabitants become less dependent
upon for supplies, we may expect that tho competition
will in some measure decline