Mr. Clay believed that the association would eventually abolish _slavery_, whose existence how deeply he deplored, may be gathered from the following language. ‘If I could be instrumental in eradicating this deepest stain upon the character of our country, and removing all cause of reproach on account of it, by foreign nations; if I could only be instrumental in ridding of this foul blot that revered state that gave me birth, or that not less beloved state which kindly adopted me as her son, _I would not exchange the proud satisfaction which I should enjoy, for the honor of all the triumphs ever decreed to the most successful conqueror_.’ Mr. Clay was elected to the United States senate, by the legislature of Kentucky, in the autumn of 1831. About the same time, in a national convention, at Baltimore, he was nominated to the presidency, in opposition to general Jackson. Soon after taking his seat in the senate, the subject of the tariff came up for consideration, to which he gave his most efficient aid. The president avowed his hostility to protective measures, and in consequence of his great influence in congress, there was great danger that they would be frittered away, so as to impair very materially their utility, or be entirely destroyed. The south began to murmur their enmity towards them, which they believed operated against their interests. They were violently opposed to the policy of imposing duties on cotton fabrics, which were imported into the United States from Great Britain, the principal consumer of her staple production. From the attitude which she began to assume, in relation to the protective system, just ground of alarm for its safety was apprehended, and furnished an occasion sufficiently critical to call forth one of Mr. Clay’s mightiest efforts. He endeavored to conciliate the south, and cause, if possible, their views to harmonize with the north. On the ninth of January, 1832, he introduced a resolution, providing that the existing duties upon articles imported from foreign countries, and not coming into competition with similar articles made or produced in the United States, ought to be forthwith abolished, except the duties on wines and silks, and that they ought to be reduced, and that the committee on finance be instructed to report a bill accordingly. In defence of this resolution, he made a speech, powerfully illustrating the importance to the whole country of protective enactments. He was followed by Mr. Hayne, of South Carolina, in reply. The discussion was continued several days, during which, Mr. Clay made his brilliant speech, in which he signally sustained the American system against the British colonial system. Its delivery occupied several days, and when he ceased, this masterly production of sound and argumentative reasoning, logical deduction, and legitimate inference, presented to the delighted view of the friends of that system, a mighty monument,