Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-07
THE ENQUIRER.
RICH OND, VA.
saturday Morning, December 4. is47.

The acts of MI. Clay. more Than 'h'r'y years
ago when he was prominent leader oil Inc ne
nublican party, and when all his efforts were no.
hlv devoted TO the vndcalion OF The rights and
honor Of the country, now rise in judgment against
the narrow views and unpalriot'c POSITIONS winch
he has thought proper to pursue on the Mexican
war. In The last war he insisted upon "ihueinn''
~ for the past and security for the future" NOW
he woud surrender all claim upon Mexico ior
The wrongs and insults she has heaped upon US,
and would Withdraw our army at the very mo-
ment when we have Mexico in our power, and
when few months must satisfy that nation Of
the folly OF holding out against negotiation. Inc"
he mapfully maintained that he snrest means OF
attaining permanent peace was 10 prosecute 'he
war with visor Now, he completely changes
his ground and would have Us make dis
honorable retreat not only rejecting all in
demn,y, but virtually admitting 10 The world
,ba, our noble victories were ruthless "aggres.
sjons," that the deeds Of our gallan! troops were
criminal in the eyes OF civilized nations, and our
whole proceedings based upon wrong and vio'
encc Such policy would destroy the mora IN
Huence OF The campaign in Mexico, than which
history can show none more brilliant, none more
ennobled by the highest moral attributes OF hu'
mainly, forbearance and respect Tor the rights OF
property and religion.
But in nothing is the contrast between MT.
Clay's past and present course more glaTing than
in regard to his charge that The President is gull
ty OF having produced The war by marching the
troops into what he calls 'the disputed territory
between the Nueces and the Rio Grande. What
was his position in 1910 in relation 10 Mr.. Madi-
sons occupation OF what then yas territory
really IL. dispute between ourselves and Spain T.
The facts are forcibly sci forth in The Union, and
convict Mr. Clay OF the grossest Inconsistency;
In 1910 we owned the territory OF Louisiana
by purchase from France in 1903. Spain then
owned and held under her jurisdict0n The Ierfito.
~ of Eas, and West Florida. Spain commended
that her territory Of Florida, extended 10s 10 the
Mississippi river. We commended that our terri-
tory OF Louisiana extended cast OF the Perdido,
small river running southwark into the Gull OF
Mexico about so miles east OF Mobile. Spain
,pas in possession Of large portion OF The terrific
nv thus in dispute, when, (says the Introductory
ncte 10 Mr.. Clay's speech, in The authorised edi'
lion OF "Clay's Life and speeches" published by
The editors of the Tribune. president MADISON
,olvsd The dispute in 1910, by taking possession Of
Baton Rouge and MOb,is AND EXTENDING TIE JU-
stspIcTIoN Of THE UNITED STATES To TIE Per-
DIDO"
Mr.. Clay's speech made on lha. occasion "in
defence of Mr.. Madison's course" contains a
scathing rebuke OF "cerlaln gentlemen" Who I'm
a question of territorial tile bsi,ceen he United
States and foreign nation, are indnccdt0 EsPoUsE
THIS paETeNsIoNs OF TIE FOREIGN NATION"
In reply 10 those who then commended that Mr.
Madiscn's measure in taking forcibe possession
of Mobile and opsling the Spanish authorities,
was ian unauiho,azed actO, lcar and OF legislation,
Mr. Clay said, that il The President had then iaii-
ed TO exercise his discretionary poicer" IN the
premises, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN calMINALLY IN
ATTENTIVE TO THE DEAREST INTERESTS u HIS couN
TRY! !"
Such were Mr. Gays opinions in 1910, with
rcea d to the management Of a question CT DIS
puieG ier7iioru. Yet al that time Spain had not
insullinglv and perfdiously refused either TO hear
or 10 make any propositions for a peaceful adj
iusmeut OF difficulties, as Mexico had done be-
fore Gen. Taylor look post on the Rio Grande.
The Republican frequently INDUCES its read
ers with glowing speeulations upon the sweeping
prospects Of the Wing mo party" Taylor party,
which is destined 10 crush the utras Of the two
other parties and ring a severe warning INTO The
ears of the "polilicians Beyond The Taylor or.
pans We look in vain for evidence OF this poliIi.
cal "tornado.p Indeed we observe that seve.
raj of the "never surrender" party, with The
name of "lhc Thunderer of Buena Vista" al The
head OF their columns, are gradually sliding OFT
from the "no party" platform, and ranging them
selves with the "Convsnilun" presses VI wv p.
iticians." Among Inc Taylor papers III f"s
-. .ho,, tho po,orsburg Intelligencer
and The Wheeling Times declare themselves to
be welded 10 no man, but will support the Wing
candidate, whom The "abominabIe" Wing conyen-
ton will select. The National Wing, The great
Metropolitan Taylor organ in Washington, fol-
lows The same current. Under the head OF ''lhe
press and the people" The New York Tribune
quotes with delight the fac, that "ont oil great
number OF Wing journals lying before u.s. which
warmly commend and applaud the positions la
ken by MIR. Clay in his Lexington speech, not
less than hall dozen are journals which have
The name of Gen. Taylor displayed a. their can.
didae for mex! President. The Harrisburg In.
lelieencer, Pot,sville Miners Journal, Pa, and
Syracuse Stale Journal, New York, are OF this
class. Very many presses hitherto unlrIendly.
or al least Indifferent, 10 MIR. Clay, unite in hear
iy commentator Of The Speech its spirit, tenden-
cy and positions"
In the Fredericksburg News we find the fol-
lowing extract of letter 10 the editor "from an
Influential and leading Wing in The lower coun-
try" II, by The admission Of this Taylor Wing,
'the Whigs (ot Virginia. are so 'low in coming
in,o measures" We should like 10 know OF what
materials the tremendous mo party" party is
composed. No one will contend that The De-
mocracy of Virginia have deserted their princi.
pies and mean 10 supper! "Henry Clay Wing
But 10 The qucruous and gloomy letter OF "lhc
lower country" Taylor Wing:
81 am delighted that you and the Republican
have AIKEN grounds so decidedly in favor of Gen.
TAYLOR, and why is il lhalthe Wings is (areU so
slow in coming into neasures2 cannot see what
genuine true hearted conservative WMgs can there
lie in the whole land that does not prefer Taylor
and victory 10 Clay and defeat. We have tried
and lried n vain, repeatedly 10 elevate TO The Pre-
sdency him who we all love and admire. IT'S
now time 10 Try some one else"
NEW ERA IN STEAM NAVIGATION.
In Wednesday nights Union is long and
able scientific Report from Board OF profession
al Engineers and others, appointed by the Secre-
tary of The Treasury TO test an important i'm
provement, which has been introduced into The
Revenue Service by Mr. Walker Of whom his
admirng friends say, mil tetg4 quod non oTnopi.'
The Report shows that The experiment has
been triumphantIy conclusive; and ifhe accounts
we hear are to be relied on, the improvement
will establish the reputation Of Capt. John Erics-
son as one of The srea, berefactors OF mankind,
and may confirm the impression already ex'en-
svely prevalent, that he is The first mechanical
genius OF the age.
There appears to be an apparatus called an