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
