8

[23 March 1824/3]
but becuase of his views and sentiments would become official and known
to the community. Great pains have been taken, as I think, to make
Clay inimical, personally, to Crawford, but as I believe, without
success. his course is "erectus in curia" as Ch. Jms. Taylor woud say.
My opinion is, that personally he is friendsly and I have litter doubt
that if he is brought to throw his wieght i nthe H.R. in the presiden-
tial election that it will be in Crawfords scale. it is asserted with
much confidence here that Jackson is to get the vote of No Carolina.
he is without doubt a tariff man, though it is possible his objections
to some of the details may induce him to vote against it. The people
of our state ought to be informed that the principle of the tariff
bill is exclusion or prohibition, and that consequently the govern-
ment is to be supported not from revenue raised by impost, but direct
taxes. if the importations are prohibited from foreign countries, they
in return will prohibit the introduction of our products, the effect
then is to cut off all market, and whence are we to pay these taxes?
And is it any consolation for all these evils brought upon us, that
it was ncessary to pay the debt of gratitude due to the Hero? I
admire the soldier who has exposed his life in the servicee of his coun-
try. I venerate the patriot in whatever way he may have manifested
his zeal for his coutnry's good, and as an officer, I know no man more
deservedly entitled to the confidence of the government, and who would
so generally be sustained by the voices of his fellow citizens as
Jackson, but I cannot be conviced that because he is a good officer;
because he is a patriotic and has the confidence of the people, there-
fore he is [??] to be the rulter of their civil affairs and therefor his views of the true policy of the government is right.
Accept by kind wishes, remember me affectionately to
all my brethern and believe me very sincerely
Henry Seawell

Mr Ruffin