The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-08
CITY OF WASHINGTON.


AOhN hN0s - AM ., 1900.
whieA l. tAs Progressive PArsys
Mr. Clay denied yesterday in bis speecb. the eorree
ness OF Gen Casss description He contended that the
democrats not the progressive party. because the,
would protect the manufactures ii the United States
because they would promote by the federal authority
the improvement OF the rivers and for the same
be might have conended that the democrats were moi he
progressive party, because they have declared war
against national bank. and have put il down The
wings have pursued the opposite sysem and therefore,
according to Mr. Clay they the progressive party
But Mi, CIays position Is sophistica and untena-
Bile. He is in favor OF the old system which the
federalists have 50 long supported. He 10 like the
Bourbons, awho learn nothing and who forget moth
ing" He favors an artificial system Of regulations,
which he Processes 10 call the "Amercan system, !"
which is contrary to the principles Of the constitu-
ton and the spirit Of the age. Restriction COM
is directly in opposition to the freedom Of trade.
II is system founded in the great that in bus
mess not such good Judges Of their interests,
those men who are called members OF Congress II a
particular line Of business, if the production Of articles for
market, be really profitable to the country who likely
find out those whose interest ii is TO prosecute the
employment And yet. because the freedom Of trade
orbids the imposition OF artificial restrictions, because
Mr.. Clay is anxious to restore the aniquated tariff.
he Affects to call himself progressive, and not sta
tionary politician Sir Robert Peel effected for the
interests OF England and the advancement Of the spirit OF
the age, by knocking away the restrictions of the corn
laws than any other English statesman. He infused
new spirit into the English operations. He impaired
new impulse TO the enterprise Of the English people And
for these reasons, doubt, Mr. Clay would call him
and not progressive statesman. similar
has been made in this country The act of AZ
was superseded by the tariff act of 46 and the i'm
pulse which country has received by the change,
demonstrated by its unparalleled prosperity Therefore,
the senator from Kentucky the authors Of the tariff
Of 49, who have superseded the old system, and advanced
an ncalculabe degree the Improvement Of the country
do not deserve to be called progressive statesmen They
are only stationary while the whgs who would follow
in the ancient footsteps Of the federal party your true
progressives. The idea is ridiculous.
So. too with another branch of the old American sys-
tem-an extensive system Of internal improvements.
They who for revving the old doctrines OF Mr. Clay
and his party-who would again usup the power,
in the face of the constitution Of raising money or run
ming into debt for the purpose Of making improve.
ments, which have been more usefuy and more safely
confded to the States and the people-are not the
but progressive politicians Is this true
Does not the very position expose the definition which he
is pleased to employi What country is more rapidly
advancing in internal improvements, and in all the arts
than all the States through the instrumenality Of their
own laws, and the capital OF their own peope In 1927
there but two railroads in the United Staies-he
Quincy railroad and the Mauch Chunck railroad-not
exceeding half dozen miles, and then, too there were
only ponies employed motive powe-the application Of
steam then unknown and now there are more than
5000 miles of railroad. upon which the whirlng car
mPeled by horses breathing fire from their nostrs is
seen to fly with astonishing rapidly. And to whom do
we owe these prodgies OF modern ingenuity Not to the
United Statesmen to that Fictitious system which Mr.
Clay would call up from the ancient codes Of federal u
sprdence-bu to the enerprising States OF this Union
and to their adventurous people. ss.
So. too. il Mr. Clay could revive the hydra head Of
he money monster IL be could abolish the independent
treasury and re-esiabsh the Bank OF the United States
be might again claim the character of the progressive
politician. But since these various branches OF the an.
sient federal policy have been exploded the country has
advanced with giant strides prosperity and greatness
Yet Mr. Clay, true, the needle to the pole, to his
ancient and artificial system, would revive all its
branches; and for this notable substitute he would lay
claim to the character Of progressive politician From
his abuse Of terms, and from this antiquity OF policy
nay the wise politicians deliver their country