The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1847-11-19
Correspondence of the Courier and Enquirer
MR.. CLAY'S SPEECH.

LEXINGTON, KY, Saturday, Nov. Is, 1S47.
The meeting of the citizens of Lexington
and others, which was announced few days
since assembled this morning and at precise
ly ii o'clock, the hour designated, Henry
Clay mounted the platform, amidst the shouts
and cheers of the assembled thousands. 1t
had rained all the morning, and every thing
looked like November. With several other
gentlemen, had seated myself at table on
the platform, with pens, ink, and paper-pre-
pared to make full report of his remarks,
when Mr.. Clay came forward, and stated that
he YVES opposed to have any report of his
speech made for the press, as he had been fire.
quently misrepresented. He said he intended
to have it printed under his own supervision,
and would furnish copies then to all who
wished them. In vain we rem onstrated, and
offered to submit our report to his revision
He declined peremp,orily, and said if we per-
sisted in reporting him, he would not speak.
Under these circumstances, of course, we
could take no notes of any consequence ; and
hence, the sketch will be found more brief
than had hoped and intended to send. 1t
will give you, however, an impression of the
general tenor and spirit of his remarks.
Gen. Leslie Combs called the meeting to
order, and said he hoped that perfect silence
would be observed, as it was probably the last
time that the illustrious individual now before
them would address a popular assembly and
he resolved to do it on this occasion from
high sense of duty to himself and to the coun-
try. The momentous question now presented
to the People, of the annexation, by conquest
or purchase, of an immense foreign territory,
inhabited by millions of people of different
races and colors, and placing them on an equal
footing with the free white citizens of this
Republic, permitted no man who loved his
country to remain silent; and Henry Clay
would have been unworthy of his past history,
if he had allowed any selfish considerations to
palsy his tongue. He had rather be right than
be President.
On motion of Gen. Combs, the Hon. George
Robertson was appointed President, with a
long array of Vice Presidents and Secretaries
Mr.. Clay then rose, and offered the follow
ing resolutions
lst Resolved, AS the opinion of this meet
ing, that the primary cause of the present un.
happy war existing between the United States
of America and the United States of the Re-
public of Mexico, was the annexation of Texas
to the former; and the immediate occasion Of
hostilities between the two Republics arose out
of the order of the President of the United
States for the removal of the Army, under the
command of General Taylor, from its position
at Corpus Christi, to point opposite Matamo-
ras, on the east bank of the Rio Grande. with
in the territory claimed by both Republics, but
then under jurisdiction of Mexico and inhab-
tied by its citizens; that the order of the
President for the removal of the army to that
point, was improvident and unconstitutional,
it being without the concurrence of Congress,
or even consultation with it, although it was
in session; but that Congress having by its
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
formal and public declaration by Congress- of
the objects for which the war ought to be
prosecuted, the President of the United States,
as Chief Magistrate, and as Commander in