Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-07-16
CASSIUS NJ. CLAY.

late number Of the True American" the pa.
per Of which Cassius NJ Clay is the editor and pro.
pretor, contains the following leading article in
which he assigns the reasons that have induced him
TO buckle on his armor, and engage himself in the
armies of his country, in the war with Mexico.
TO OUR READERS
We have volunteered for the war, and will say a
word, in parting, TO our friends.
We have denounced unsparingy the annexation
OF Texas as a boldly nagitious scheme, and war
with Mexico as kindred with that disgraceful and
degrading act-degradng alike to the Government
that consummated, and the people that submitted
10 it.
The one is perfected; Texas, unfort Inaely, is a
part OF our Union. The other is Just begun. That
the war with Mexico might easily have been avoid
ed-that the commonest regard for justice, and
moderate share Of prudence, the part of the
Government, could have prevented it's palpable
as the day.
But though this be so, we cannot change the fact.
War crisis. II has bsen declared by Government
chosen by the people themselves. We submit,
therefore, good citizens, TO the law Of the land,
and give that government our support Resistance
to i, now would be rebellion !; il general, anarchy,
in its worst form, would be the result.
Congress, as well as the country, is Of this opin-
ion The Wings, predicting the result long ago,
have steadily opposed the policy that led 10 this
war I; yet when il was forced upon them, and hos
tilities avowed they rallied as one man in support
of the government. The preamble TO the resolu-
tions in Congress, declaring that exists by the
act of Mexico, is liza nefarious trap set by
demagogues to catch their opponents As such,
we have denounced, and do denounce il but,
making this protest, we should have done as the
Wings did-have voted whatever supplies of men
aud money were asked for, holding the President
responsible before the country and the world
Our opinion is, that the war, SO unjustly and
wickedly begun, should be pressed with vigor. It
is the only alternative leh Clouds and darkness,
in consequence, rest upon our path in the future;
but il has to be tod We act upon this necessity
and do not hesitate to support the Government ito
peril all to sustain il for not against the
South, nor the people of the South. but against
slavery; and when there is common foe in the
field and as the summons comes to the citizen
soldier we know, and can know but one country
and one duty, and would not urge another to 60
where we are not willing ourselves to lead.
But in taking this step, we shall neither shut our
eyes to vile and wicked policy, nor close our lips
against the mercenary spirit which has involved the
country in the horrors Of war. With our harness
on we feel, indeed, more uncomfortable determi-
nation TO resist the giant cause Of all this mischief;
a stronger will than ever to overturn corrupt dy-
nasty and elect as rulers. freemen who will stand
by and defend the free Not a jot Of principle do
we give up Not hairs breadth Of sentiment, OF
opinion, or oil oppOsluoni snd we Jltu 10 tue curse
which, vampire like, is sucking away the fe-blood
| of the nation, and which, unless shaken of for
ever, will destroy the Republic, while gluiting its
internal lust
The people of the United States have hard task
before them The public offices Of the country,
these many years, have been filled, Tor the most
part, by demagogues who have sported with the
public veal, as children with their holiday Purchaa-
es And paid adherents, and hreng press,
al s.a.. lG.h.
and. even while perpetrating and perfecting their
gigantic schemes Of fraud to embody their names
IN the public mind, the essence of American
greatness. We must be purged Of this rotienness
There can he no safety, security, or stability to
liberty or property, until we are. Now, as the on
ly constitutional remedy the people have is through
the ballot box, there must be established sound
and healthy public opinion, whereby worthy and
honest men shall be put in the places OF The IN
worthy and dishonest For this end. LEI all who
are for peace aud proeress--le,. especially. every
friend Of freedom, to whateyer party he maI belong