Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-11-20
NJ ME-. CLAr,, s,.rcn Ar t.,lnoron K1.-

Mr.. Clay, according to appointment, dsiivefed |
Ass speech on The subject Of the present war with
Mexico, a, Lexington, on Saturday last A vast
Of people had ssscmbled-some hav.
Ing travelled thousand miles to hear him. The
reporters Of the Press from Philadelphia. New
York, &c, were present, but Mr.. Clay refused
to berepctted, stating that he would have his
speech printed under his own supervision. 1t
had rained all morning, and the weather was
gloomy At o'clock Mr.. Clay mounted the
stage, and read the following resolutions, upon
which he grounded his speech, which occupied
two hours and halfin its delivery. Mr.. Clay
adhered very closely to his resolutions, and they
contain his views and embody all the great prin.
cples he advocated in his speech.
He protests against the annexation Of Mexico
Compares the war Of 1919 with the present
war--compiments on. troops, and protests T.
gainst the further extentiou or slave territory.
Resolutions,
Submitted By the Honorable Henry Clay. at the
Public Meeting held IN Lerisgton, Kentucky
November l3. ls47.
lst Resolved, As the opinion of this meeting,
that the primary cause Of the present unhappy
war existing between the United States of A
merica and the United States Of the Republic Of
Mexico, was the ANsfxA1ios OF Texas TO the
former, and the immediate occasion Of hostilities
between the two Republics, arose out of the or.
der of the President of the United States, for the
removal of the army under the command Of Gen.
Taylor, from its position at Corpus Christi, a
point opposite to Matamoros, on the east bank
Of the Rio Bravo. within the territory claimed
by both republics, but then under the jursdic.
that the order of the President for the removal
Of the army to that point was improvident and
unconstitutional, il being without the concur.
renee Of Congresa, or any consultation with 1t,
although il was in session but that Congress
having by subsequent acts recognized the war
thus brought into existence without its previous
authority or consent, the prosecution Of it be.
came thereby national.
I'd Resolved, That in the absence Of any for.
NAL and public declaration by Congress Of the
objects for which the war ought to be prosecuted
the Presden, of the United States as Chief Ma
gistrate and az Commander in Chief Of the army
and navy Of the United States. is left to the gu
dance Of his own Judgment. to prosecute to such
parposes and objects as be may deem the honor
and interests Of the nation to require.
%. Resolved, That by the Constitution Of the
United States, Congress being invested with
powers TO declare war and grant letters Of uarque
ma rsnris.l IN m.ke rulc, .oor svn;oo =. o,,, -.
on land and water. to raise and support armies
to provide and maintain 4 navy, and to make
rules for the government ef the land and nava
forces, has the fullest complete war making pow
er OF the United States. and so possessing it ha,
a right to determine upon the motives, causes
and objects Of war. when once commenced, or a
any time during the progress Of its existence.
4th Resolved, As the further opinion of tn,
meeting, that it i, tn. duty of Congress to de
clare, by some authentic act, for what purpos,
and object the existing war ought to be furth.
prosecuted; that il is the duty Of the President
in his official conduct, 10 conform TO such de
claIation Of Congress, and ii. after snch declsra
tion, the President should decline or refuse (.
military, in his power. TO execute the announces
will of Congress, and in defiance of its authorit,
should continue TO prosecute the war TO the pnr
poses and objects other than those declared b,
that body, it would become the right and duty o
Congress to adopt the most eficseious measure
to arrest further progress Of the war, taking car
to make ample provisions for the honor the safe
fy and security Of our armies 10 Mexico in ever
contingency, and il Mexico should decline or re
fuse to conclude treaty with US stipulating 70
the purpose and objects so declared by Congres.
it would be the duty of the government to pro
secute the war with the utmost vigilance, unit
they were attained by treaty Of peace.
5th. Resolved. That we view with serious a
larm, and are utterly opposed to any purpose o
annexation of Mexico TO the United States, in an
mode. especially BY eonquest-that we believ
the two nations could not be happily governe
by one common authority, owing to their gres
difference Of race, law, language and religion
and the vast extent Of their respective terrtorie
and large amount Of their respective population
that such 4 union against the current Of tn
exa'perated Mexican people, could only be ei
fected and preserved by large standing armie,
the constant application of military force. in 9th
er words, by despotic sway exercised over III
Mexican people in the fret instance. but whic
there would be just cause to spprehend it Nigh
in process OF time be extended over the Who'll
people Of the United States-that we deprecats
therefore, such union as wholly incompatible
With the genius Of our government, and with III