Besides all this, there were questions to be discussed and settled by Congress, important to the public, and very interesting to politicians.  The war had bequeathed a debt.  To provide for its payment, taxes must be imposed.  But all taxation is unpopular.  The problem was, to make taxes as easy as possible.  Should they be direct or indirect?  Should they be imposed for a revenue only, or to stimulate and protect infant manufactures?  The country was expanding; should there be national provision for internal improvements,—­roads, canals, etc.?  There were questions about the currency, about commerce, about the Indians, about education, about foreign relations, about the territories, which demanded the attention of Congress.  The most important of these were those connected with revenues and tariffs.

It was this latter question, connected with internal improvements and the sales of public lands, in which Clay was most interested, and which, more than any other, brought out and developed his genius.  He is generally quoted as “the father of the protective policy,” to develop American manufactures.  The genius of Hamilton had been directed to the best way to raise a revenue for a new and impoverished country; that of Clay sought to secure independence of those foreign products which go so far to enrich nations.

Webster, when reproached for his change of views respecting tariffs, is said to have coolly remarked that when he advocated the shipping interest he represented a great commercial city; and when he afterwards advocated tariffs, he spoke as the representative of a manufacturing State,—­a sophistical reply which showed that he was more desirous of popularity with his constituents than of being the advocate of abstract truth.

Calhoun advocated the new tariff as a means to advance the cotton interests of the South, and the defence of the country in time of war.  Thus neither of the great political leaders had in view national interests, but only sectional, except Clay, whose policy was more far-reaching.  And here began his great career as a statesman.  Before this he was rather a politician, greedy of popularity, and desirous to make friends.

The war of 1812 had, by shutting out foreign products, stimulated certain manufactures difficult to import, but necessary for military operations, like cheap clothing for soldiers, blankets, gunpowder, and certain other articles for general use, especially such as are made of iron.  When the war closed and the ports opened, the country received a great inflow of British products.  Hence the tariff of 1816, the earliest for protection, imposed a tax of about thirty-five per cent on articles for which the home industry was unable to supply the demand, and twenty per cent on coarse fabrics of cotton and wool, distilled spirits, and iron; while those industries which were in small demand were admitted free or paid a mere revenue tax.  This tariff, substantially proposed by George M. Dallas, Secretary of the Treasury, was ably supported by Clay.  But his mind was not yet fully opened to the magnitude and consequences of this measure,—­his chief arguments being based on the safety of the country in time of war.  In this movement he joined hands with Calhoun, one of his warmest friends, and one from whose greater logical genius he perhaps drew his conclusions.