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Henry Clay's Defense of the American System: Prosperity and Protectionism in 1832, Slides of Mechanics

Henry clay's 'defense of the american system' (1832) outlines the economic transformation of the united states from distress to prosperity, attributing this success to american legislation and industry protection. The document refutes opponents' predictions of financial ruin, destruction of navigation, commercial city desolation, and price increases. It highlights the benefits of the american system for various industries and regions, and argues against the adoption of free trade, which clay believes would lead to the re-colonization of the us under british commercial dominance.

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Henry Clay, "Defense of the American System" (1832)
I have now to perform the more pleasing task of exhibiting an imperfect sketch of the
existing state of the unparalleled prosperity of the country. On a general survey, we
behold cultivation extended, the arts flourishing, the face of the country improved; our
people fully and profitably employed, and the public countenance exhibiting tranquility,
contentment and happiness. And if we descend into particulars, we have the agreeable
contemplation of a people out of debt, land rising slowly in value, but in a secure and
salutary degree; a ready though not extravagant market for all the surplus productions of
our industry; innumerable flocks and herds browsing and gamboling on ten thousand hills
and plains, covered with rich and verdant grasses; our cities expanded, and whole villages
springing up, as it were, by enchantment; our exports and imports increased and
increasing; our tonnage, foreign and coastwise, swelling and fully occupied; the rivers of
our interior animated by the perpetual thunder and lightning of countless steam-boats; the
currency sound and abundant; the public debt of two wars nearly redeemed; and, to
crown all, the public treasury overflowing, embarrassing Congress, not to find subjects of
taxation, but to select the objects which shall be liberated from the impost. If the term of
seven years were to be selected, of the greatest prosperity which this people have enjoyed
since the establishment of their present constitution, it would be exactly that period of
seven years which immediately followed the passage of the tariff of 1824.
This transformation of the condition of the country from gloom and distress to brightness
and prosperity, has been mainly the work of American legislation, fostering American
industry, instead of allowing it to be controlled by foreign legislation, cherishing foreign
industry. The foes of the American System, in 1824, with great boldness and confidence,
predicted, 1st. The ruin of the public revenue, and the creation of a necessity to resort to
direct taxation. The gentleman from South Carolina, (General Hayne,) I believe, thought
that the tariff of 1824 would operate a reduction of revenue to the large amount of eight
millions of dollars. 2d. The destruction of our navigation. 3d. The desolation of
commercial cities. And 4th. The augmentation of the price of objects of consumption, and
further decline in that of the articles of our exports. Every prediction which they made
has failed-utterly failed. Instead of the ruin of the public revenue, with which they then
sought to deter us from the adoption of the American System, we are now threatened with
its subversion, by the vast amount of the public revenue produced by that system. . . .
If the system of protection be founded on principles erroneous in theory, pernicious in
practice-above all if it be unconstitutional, as is alledged, it ought to be forthwith
abolished, and not a vestage of it suffered to remain. But, before we sanction this
sweeping denunciation, let us look a little at this system, its magnitude, its ramifications,
its duration, and the high authorities which have sustained it. We shall see that its foes
will have accomplished comparatively nothing, after having achieved their present aim of
breaking down our iron-founderies, our woollen, cotton, and hemp manufactories, and
our sugar plantations. The destruction of these would, undoubtedly, lead to the sacrifice
of immense capital, the ruin of many thousands of our fellow citizens, and incalculable
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Henry Clay, "Defense of the American System" (1832)

I have now to perform the more pleasing task of exhibiting an imperfect sketch of the existing state of the unparalleled prosperity of the country. On a general survey, we behold cultivation extended, the arts flourishing, the face of the country improved; our people fully and profitably employed, and the public countenance exhibiting tranquility, contentment and happiness. And if we descend into particulars, we have the agreeable contemplation of a people out of debt, land rising slowly in value, but in a secure and salutary degree; a ready though not extravagant market for all the surplus productions of our industry; innumerable flocks and herds browsing and gamboling on ten thousand hills and plains, covered with rich and verdant grasses; our cities expanded, and whole villages springing up, as it were, by enchantment; our exports and imports increased and increasing; our tonnage, foreign and coastwise, swelling and fully occupied; the rivers of our interior animated by the perpetual thunder and lightning of countless steam-boats; the currency sound and abundant; the public debt of two wars nearly redeemed; and, to crown all, the public treasury overflowing, embarrassing Congress, not to find subjects of taxation, but to select the objects which shall be liberated from the impost. If the term of seven years were to be selected, of the greatest prosperity which this people have enjoyed since the establishment of their present constitution, it would be exactly that period of seven years which immediately followed the passage of the tariff of 1824.

This transformation of the condition of the country from gloom and distress to brightness and prosperity, has been mainly the work of American legislation, fostering American industry, instead of allowing it to be controlled by foreign legislation, cherishing foreign industry. The foes of the American System, in 1824, with great boldness and confidence, predicted, 1st. The ruin of the public revenue, and the creation of a necessity to resort to direct taxation. The gentleman from South Carolina, (General Hayne,) I believe, thought that the tariff of 1824 would operate a reduction of revenue to the large amount of eight millions of dollars. 2d. The destruction of our navigation. 3d. The desolation of commercial cities. And 4th. The augmentation of the price of objects of consumption, and further decline in that of the articles of our exports. Every prediction which they made has failed-utterly failed. Instead of the ruin of the public revenue, with which they then sought to deter us from the adoption of the American System, we are now threatened with its subversion, by the vast amount of the public revenue produced by that system....

If the system of protection be founded on principles erroneous in theory, pernicious in practice-above all if it be unconstitutional, as is alledged, it ought to be forthwith abolished, and not a vestage of it suffered to remain. But, before we sanction this sweeping denunciation, let us look a little at this system, its magnitude, its ramifications, its duration, and the high authorities which have sustained it. We shall see that its foes will have accomplished comparatively nothing, after having achieved their present aim of breaking down our iron-founderies, our woollen, cotton, and hemp manufactories, and our sugar plantations. The destruction of these would, undoubtedly, lead to the sacrifice of immense capital, the ruin of many thousands of our fellow citizens, and incalculable

loss to the whole community. But their prostration would not disfigure, nor produce greater effect upon the whole system of protection, in all its branches, than the destruction of the beautiful domes upon the capitol would occasion to the magnificent edifice which they surmount. Why, sir, there is scarcely an interest, scarcely a vocation in society, which is not embraced by the beneficence of this system.

It comprehends our coasting tonnage and trade, from which all foreign tonnage is absolutely excluded.

It includes all our foreign tonnage, with the inconsiderable exception made by the treaties of reciprocity with a few foreign powers.

It embraces our fisheries, and all our hardy and enterprising fishermen.

It extends to almost every mechanic and: to tanners, cordwainers, tailors, cabinet-makers, hatters, tinners, brass-workers, clock-makers, coach-makers, tallow-chandlers, trace- makers, rope-makers, cork-cutters, tobacconists, whip-makers, paper-makers, umbrella- makers, glass-blowers, stocking-weavers, butter-makers, saddle and harness-makers, cutlers, brush-makers, book-binders, dairy-men, milk-farmers, black-smiths, type- founders, musical instrument-makers, basket-makers, milliners, potters, chocolate- makers, floor-cloth-makers, bonnet-makers, hair-cloth-makers, copper-smiths, pencil- makers, bellows-makers, pocket book-makers, card-makers, glue-makers, mustard- makers, lumber-sawyers, saw-makers, scale-beam-makers, scythe-makers, wood-saw- makers, and many others. The mechanics enumerated, enjoy a measure of protection adapted to their several conditions, varying from twenty to fifty per cent. The extent and importance of some of these artizans may be estimated by a few particulars. The tanners, curriers, boot and shoe-makers, and other workers in hides, skins and leather, produce an ultimate value per annum of forty millions of dollars; the manufacturers of hats and caps produce an annual value of fifteen millions; the cabinet-makers twelve millions; the manufacturers of bonnets and hats for the female sex, lace, artificial flowers, combs, &c. seven millions; and the manufacturers of glass, five millions.

It extends to all lower Louisiana, the Delta of which might as well be submerged again in the Gulf of Mexico, from which it has been a gradual conquest, as now to be deprived of the protecting duty upon is great staple.

It effects the cotton planter himself, and the tobacco planter, both of whom enjoy protection.

The total amount of the capital vested in sheep, the land to sustain them, wool, woollen manufacturers, and woollen fabrics, and the subsistence of the various persons directly or indirectly employed in the growth and manufacture of the article of wool, is estimated at one hundred and sixty-seven millions of dollars, and the number of persons at one hundred and fifty thousand.

The value of iron, considered as a raw material, and of its manufacturers, is estimated at twenty-six millions of dollars per annum. Cotton goods, exclusive of the capital vested in the manufacture, and of the cost of the raw material, are believed to amount annually, to about twenty millions of dollars.

These estimates have been carefully made, by practical men of undoubted character, who