The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1847-11-19

"Free Trade and Sailors Rights" We sought
to defend our sailors from being dragged from
our ships, and compelled to fight against a
country with which we were in amity. We
sought to preserve our rights upon the high
seas, and not to allow Great Britain to sweep
us off that highway of all the nations. That
was War of the people. They w'lled It,
and they were in favor of its being carried on
He spoke from actual knowledge, when he
stated that Mr.. Madison was personally OPP
posed to che War.
How would the present War compare with
that For what object was it declareds 1t
was created by the act of Mr.. Polk-ratiied
it is true, BY the act of Congress. 1t was
created in consequence of the order OF the
President to Gen. Taylor to march upon the
Rio Bravo, to a point opposite Matamoras.-
The President acted thus while Congress was
in session, without consulting that body
When. however, the perilous condition of ou'
army was made known, and supplies were de-
manded for it, they were voted by Congress
nv the Wings, as we'll as others. In this, they
acted as he would have acted. They voted
the supplies which were needed for the safety
of the army. But they went beyond this
and they were wrong in voting for the pream
BILE to that bill. Never, so help him God
would he have given such vote They
were wrong in Uoti',g for soAat they k''e'o TO 6e
Ee-for the declaration that "war existed by
the act of Mexico So great was his regard
for truth. that he would have laid down life
ITSELF before he would have suoscrioeo MS
name to such falsehood
The people had been warned. when the
movement for the annexation of Texas was
first commenced, that if they took Texas they
would also take her war. The assertion was
hooted at. No such fears, it was said, need
he entertained. The boundary difficulties. it
was declared, could be amicably settled. And
now what had proved to be the fact! Was
not the present war, in consequence OF oouh-
dary dispute: At the very time when our
army was ordered to march on Matamoras. to
take possession of the disputed territory, Mr.
Sldeil was ON his way to the city of Mexico
to enter into negotiations for the settlement OF
the same dispute. Why not wait until his
mission had been fulfilled?
It had been stated over and over again, that
the Wings were the enemies of their country
for speaking against the war,-that they hac
deserted her. Was this the case: Have moi
the Wings. he asked, been as prominent as thu
Democrats, in fighting on the bloody helds Of
Mexico. Have they not shed their blood a!
freelys
War now exists-but we have as yet made
no declaration of the objects of that war. 1t
therefore, behooves Congress to declare What
are those objects, and upon what terms the
war with Mexico will cease. In monarchies
the war making power is vested In the king
Tn this country, it rests with the people
through their representatives IN Congress as
sembled. This is distinctly stated in the Con
stitution itself. 1t is true the President has
the power of making treaties but these trea'
ties are always founded on the acts or resolu'
tions of Congress In support OF this state
ment, he referred to certain resolutions OF Con
gress regarding Reciprocity in Trade, upor
which some ten OF dozen treaties have since
been founded. If therefore. on such compar
atively unimportant subjects as Trade ano
Commerce. the President takes his instruc
tons from the People, through their represent
atives in Congress- much stronger is the argu'
ment for his doing so, in regard to the pro
longation of war. If Congress remain silent
shall the President have power, when war ha:
been once declared, to say what are its objects
and when it shall stopi If so, then you may
call the President by what name you please
but he will be in fact as powerful as Caesar
an Emperor or a King. You give to one mar
apower which the Constitution never intend
ed should belong to him.
Mr.. CLAY continued to dilate at considerable
length upon this topic expressing his convic'
ton that Congress should declare, at the com
ing Session. what are the objects of the War
and what should be the conditions of Peace
If the President then remains opposed to {
Treaty upon the terms Indicated by Congress
and refuse to conclude one, there was way
by which even he could be reached, and made
to feel that the will of the people is the SOW
ereign power. He meant by impeachment.
Mr.. Clay said he was entirely oppos "a to the
annexation of Mexican territory. One nall o
our'own territory still remained unoccupled
Millions Of acres of land are still in the mark
ct. We do not want more, although some
desire that our limits should be extended from
the Atlantic to the Pacific seas. If Congress
should pass resolutions, declaring that Peace
should be concluded upon certain terms, fix
ing the boundaries of Texas at what they con-