Adams's first mistake was the appointment of Clay as Secretary of State. 亚当斯的第一个错误是任命克雷为国务卿，

　　It was a mistake, because it gave the Jackson men a chance to assert that there had been a "deal" between Adams and Clay. 说这是一个错误是因为这给了杰克森一个机会，让杰克森声称亚当斯与克雷之间早就有一个"交易"，

　　They called Clay the "Judas of the West." 他们把克雷叫做"西部人的犹大"，

　　They said that the "will of the people" had been defeated by a "corrupt bargain." 他们说"人民的意愿"已经被"肮脏的交易"所挫败。

　　These charges were repeated over and over again until many people really began to think that there must be some reason for them. 这些指责被一遍又一遍地重复，一直到许多人真正开始想到必定有什么理由才产生这些指责。

　　The Jackson men also most unjustly accused Adams of stealing the nation's money. 杰克森的人还极不公正地指责亚当斯窃取国家的钱。

　　The British government seized the opportunity of Adams's weak administration to close the West India ports to American shipping. 英国政府乘机抓住亚当斯管理的薄弱之处，不再允许美国商船进入西印度群岛的港口。

　　290. Early Tariffs. 290．早期的关税

　　Ever since 1789 manufactures had been protected. 自从1789年以来，美国就在保护制造业，

　　The first tariff rates were very low.  最初的关税税率很低，

　　But the Embargo Act, the non-intercourse law, and the War of 1812 put an end to the importation of foreign goods. 但《封港令法案》、禁止与英法贸易交流的法律以及1812年的战争中止了外国货物的进口。

　　Capitalists invested large amounts of money in cotton mills, woolen mills, and iron mills. 资本家将大量的钱投资到棉花作坊、羊毛作坊和铁作坊。

　　With the return of peace in 1815, British merchants flooded the American markets with cheap goods. 随着1815年和平的到来，英国商人带着廉价品如潮水一样涌进美国的市场。

　　The manufacturers appealed to Congress for more protection, and Congress promptly passed a new tariff act (1816). 制造业者要求国会给予更多的保护，国会马上通过新的海关法案，

　　This increased the duties over the earlier laws. 这个法案越出之前的法律提高关税，

　　But it did not give the manufacturers all the protection that they desired. 但是，它并没有给予制造业者所要求的所有保护。

　　In 1824 another law was drawn up. 1824年国会起草了另一部法律，

　　It raised the duties still higher. 将关税提得更高。

　　The Southerners opposed the passage of this last law. 南方各州的人反对通过这部法律，

　　For they clearly saw that protection did them no good. 因为他们显然已经看到这种保护对他们没有什么好处，

　　But the Northerners and the Westerners were heartily in favor of the increased duties, and the law was passed. 但是，北方各州及西部各州的人衷心支持提高关税，这部法律得以通过。