The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-12-04
Mr.. Claws Position.

The Speech OF Mr.. Clay, so anxiously looked
for by the Wings, has at length made its appear
ance. This speech, and the resolutions offered by
him, will now, most probably, afford to the great
majority of the opposition, a textbook for their fu-
ture guidance. True, some of his friends have al
ready expressed dissatisfaction at the issues
made by him, yet time will show that they will
submissively bow to the mandate of the great
"embodiment."
1t will, no doubt, be deemed presumption for us
to express an opinion in relation to the course Of
Mr.. Clay; yet as we live in a country and under
institutions that tolerate free discussion, we will
take it upon ourselves to present to our readers a
few remarks in relation to some of the positions
occupied by Mr.. Clay.
Mr.. Clay, in his Raleigh letter, (and if any of
our Wing readers have that letter we ask them to
refer to it and see if we are not %correct,) says that
Texas, as coded by our Government by the treaty
of 1919, extended to the Rio Grande. And yet by
his late speech and resolutions he takes the posi-.
ton that the immediate cause of the war was the
removal of the army, under Gen. Taylor, from
Corpus Christi TO a point opposite Matamoras,
within our own territory, or as he says, "within ter
ritory claimed by both republics" He further
says that it is the duty of this country "to abstain
from seeking to conquer and annex to the United
States, Mexico or any part Of ii; and, especially,
to disabuse the public mind in any quarter Of the
Union of the impression, fit any where exists, that
a desire for such conquest is cherished for the pur-
pose of propagating or extending slavery" Now
we take the position that slavery never will, con-
siderine from whence the tide Of emigration flows,
in the nature Of things, existin any territory which
we may acquire from Mexico. This Mr.. Clay
knows as well as he knows any thing, and there
fore his opposition to the acquisition Of territory;
knowing that slave influence must decrease in pro-
portion TO the extension Of free territory. His OBJ
ject in introducing this clause is merely TO throw
out a bait to the North. Most certainly the North
has no interest in introducing slavery into any
territory we may acquire from Mexico. This
however by the way.
From the above it viii be seen that Mr.. Clay's
original position was that the boundary of Texas
extended to the Rio Grande; if SO it was no cause
of wal for General Taylor to move the army under
his command to ga paint opposite Matamoras. =
If Texas was free and independent at the time OF
annexation, she had the undoubted right to dis
pose of herself as she thought proper; therefore
annexation was truly no cause of war. Hence il
follows, that il annexation was made the cause oil
war, as Mr.. Clay says, it existed by the act o
Mexico, and therefore another position pf Mr.
Clay's falls to the ground.
Tlo ,rhol enaach of NJ ftIax 10 q 1ahorp1 afTorI
to prove that our country is in the wrong. Had
he been the feed attorney of Mexico, he could no
have made a better case for her. And we doub
whether the professional speech, which he says h
made only a few days before, of more than thre
hours in length, was a more able argument in favo
of his then client, than is this speech in favor o
Mexico.
Any person can see by a perusal Of Mr.. Clay
arguments that he deprecates the idea OF fighting
for the territory between the Nueces and the RI
Grande, or Rio Bravo, as he generally calls tina
river. He seems willing to yield net only all ide
of a just indemnity for the expenses of the wal
but actually to give up to Mexico an integral par
of this Union, as the ''dxation of the limits Q
Texas!" He favors p%eace-and how! BY yield
ing to Mexico every thing she asks. Who coul
not effect such a dishonorable peace!
To show our readers with what pertinacity MI
! Clay sticks to truth. We introduce the followin
: passages. He says that the bill alleging that 18th
/ war existed by the act of Mexico, I" has ''palpabl
> falsehood stamped on its face" and that, as he "a
q most idolized truth" emo earthly considerable
would have ever tempted him to vote for tina
8 bill" These are pretty sentiments, but how the
o comport-aith other parts of his speech we wi
soon show. Mr.. Clay, in his speech, says:
J "It General Taylor had been permit
ted to remain, where his own goo
sense prompted him to believe he ough
,e to remain, at the point of Corpus Chris
Ii ii; and if a negotiation had been ope
ed with Mexico, in a true spirit Of am
)ty and cancellation, war possibly migt